United States v. Leblanc

THIS was an appeal from the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Louisiana, being a land case arising under the acts of 1824 and 1844.

The claimants presented in the District Court a paper, of which the following is a translation:

'Don Bernardo de Galvez, Colonel, &c. Having seen the foregoing proceedings, performed by the commandant of Attacapas, Don Alexander Declobet, respecting the possession which he had given to Peter LeBlanc, of ten arpens of front on the great prairie, with the depth of forty-two, bounded on one side by the lands of Louis Roque, and on the other by vacant lands, and recognizing these proceedings as regular, and that the concession of these lands can be made without injury to others, not having been claimed, but the proceedings acquiesced in on the part of those assisting in them; approving as we do approve, and using, &c. New Orleans, 5th of January, 1777. Don Bernardo de Galvez, by order of his Lordship, Don Joseph Foucher.'

'Register's Office, New Orleans, La.

I, Louis St. Martin, Register of the Land-Office at New Orleans, Louisiana, do hereby certify the foregoing document to be a true copy, taken from one of the records of my office, entitled 'Libro 1 of French and Spanish Concessions.'

In faith whereof I hereunto subscribe my name, this 18th day of May, 1849.

(Signed) L. ST. MARTIN, Register.'

Upon this document, the District Court confirmed the claim, and the United States appealed.

It was argued by Mr. Crittenden, (Attorney-General,) for the United States, and by Messrs. Jain and Taylor for the appellees.

Mr. Chief Justice TANEY delivered the opinion of the court.