Note 105 — {73} CHAPTER IV

The grants of land in Louisiana under Spanish rule were in a marked degree irregular and heterogeneous. Only those were complete which had received endorsement by the governor-general at New Orleans. Most of the settlers were too poor to undertake the journey thither and pay the required fees; a tacit right of occupation was therefore permitted by the local officials, lands were unsurveyed, and much confusion resulted. During the last decade of Spanish authority (1794-1804) large numbers of Americans had been tempted to cross the Mississippi and stake out claims in upper Louisiana. Some of these were bona fide settlers, more mere speculators; and after the rumor of Spanish cession to France was heard, fraudulent grants were made in large numbers. Upon knowledge of this, the congress of the United States in the act of March 26, 1804, revoked all grants made since the treaty of San Ildefonso (1800) with a proviso exempting the rights of actual settlers. This law created much dissatisfaction, and petitions for redress were sent from both upper Louisiana and Orleans Territory. See American State Papers, "Miscellaneous," i, pp. 396-405. Thereupon Congress passed acts for redress—that for upper Louisiana (March 2, 1805) creating a commission, which first met in St. Louis, September 20, 1806; but its final report was not made until 1812. See American State Papers, "Public Lands," ii, pp. 388-603.

The lands set apart for the relief of sufferers by the New Madrid earthquakes were known as "New Madrid grants." Auguste Chouteau established the first distillery in St. Louis by the aid of an extensive grant.—Ed.