United States Statutes at Large/Volume 5/26th Congress/2nd Session/Chapter 26
Chap. XXVI.—An Act to confirm land patents.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,Certain patents confirmed. That all patents for public lands, which have been issued from the General Land Office since the passing of the act, entitled “An act for the establishment of a General Land Office in the department of the Treasury,” passed on the twenty-fifth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and twelve,Act of April 25, 1812, ch. 68. in the name of the President of the United States, instead of being “in the name of the United States,” as prescribed in the eighth section of said act: and all patents for public lands, which have been issued from the said General Land Office since the passing of the act entitled “An act to reorganize the General Land Office,”Act of July 4, 1836, ch. 352. passed the fourth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, and which have been countersigned by the recorder of the General Land Office, or other person acting in his stead, instead of being countersigned by the Commissioner of the General Land Office, as prescribed in the act of the twenty-fifth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and twelve; and all patents which have been issued from said General Land Office since the passing of the act entitled “An act prescribing the mode by which patents for public lands shall be signed and executed,”Act of March 2, 1833, ch. 91. passed the second day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, and which have been subscribed by a secretary duly appointed, pursuant to the provisions of said act, with the printed or written name of the President affixed to the personal signature of such secretary, in the execution of such patents, notwithstanding the name of the President may not have been written personally by the secretary, shall be deemed, taken, and held, good and valid patents in law, and shall have all the force and effect to pass from the United States to the patentee or patentees named in such patents, respectively, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, the lands described therein, as though, in each and all the respects before enumerated, the patents, in their form and manner of execution, had conformed to the requirements of law.
Patents, how to be countersigned.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That from and after the passing of this act, it shall be the duty of the recorder of the General Land Office, in addition to the duties now required of him by law, to countersign all patents issued from said office, instead of the same being countersigned by the Commissioner, as required by the eighth section of the act entitled “An act for the establishment of a General Land Office in the department of the Treasury,” passed the twenty-fifth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and twelve.
Approved, March 3, 1841.