United States Statutes at Large/Volume 4/20th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 19
Chap. XIX.—An Act granting the right of preference in the purchase of public lands, to certain settlers in the St. Helena land district, in the state of Louisiana.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That every person, his or her Every person, &c., comprised in the list of actual settlers, reported to the commissioner of the general land office, under act of March 3d, 1819, ch. 99, shall be entitled to the right of preference, on becoming the purchaser from the United States, of such tract of land.
Proviso.legal representatives, comprised in the list of actual settlers reported to the commissioner of the general land office, by the register of the land district of St. Helena, in the state of Louisiana, under the authority of the act of Congress, entitled “An act for adjusting the claims to land, and establishing land offices, in the district east of the island of New Orleans,” approved the third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, or who did actually inhabit and cultivate a tract of land in said district on the third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, not rightfully claimed by any other person, by virtue of any written evidence of claim, legally derived from either the French, British, or Spanish government, or granted as a donation by virtue of any act of Congress heretofore passed, shall be entitled to a right of preference, on becoming the purchaser, from the United States, of such tract of land, at the same price for which other public lands are sold at private sale: Provided, That such tract of land shall not contain more than one quarter section, to be located by sectional lines; and that the same shall be entered with the register of the land office in said district, within two years, or before, if the same shall be offered at public sale.
Approved, March 19, 1828.