Alabama Family Recovers Land Taken by State Decades Ago

Associated Press ^ | Published: Jun 1, 2002 | By Bill Poovey Associated Press Writer

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

[syriacus]

I'm happy for the family that they got ownership of their land back. It's sad that ownership of the land was ever taken away from them and that it took so long for justice to prevail.

[usconservative]

This is but a small bit of justice for the Williams family. Institutionalized discrimination and trickery was used to steal their land from them. Now that they have it back, the state should be bearing the financial obligation to return it to the condition it was in when the land was seized, IMO.

This is a basic property rights issue in my opinion. One small victory in the battle of property owners vs. the oppressive federal government's land grabbing tactics, IMO. We need tens of THOUSANDS of more cases like this!

[libertylover]

"Now that they have it back, the state should be bearing the financial obligation to return it to the condition it was in when the land was seized, IMO."

The government should do more than that. It should pay these people for the profits they could have earned from the use of the land plus 40+ years of interest.

[usconservative]

You are absolutely correct. I missed that point. Thank you.

[jimtorr]

An early land grab by eco-freaks. Swampland indeed, they grew beans and cotton on it.

[backhoe]

For once, I'm happy to add to this index:

landgrab:

To find all articles tagged or indexed using landgrab, click below:
	click here >>>	landgrab	<<< click here
(To view all FR Bump Lists, click here)

[jimtorr]

The government should do more than that. It should pay these people for the profits they could have earned from the use of the land plus 40+ years of interest.

Well stated. Note, however, that Lemon Williams retained possesion of the land until his death in 1983. His son says that he continued to grow beans and cotton until then. Not an exculpation of federal and state crimes, but it has bearing on damages perhaps owed.

[metesky]

us; it was the state government that took this land using an obscure federal law for their excuse.

mh; I've always blamed these damn cracker southern governments for putting us in the position we are today concerning our rights of free association. If they had protected all of their citizens back then, the feds never would have been able to step in.

[mhking]

Now to really stir the pot up, you notice that Jesse Jackson and the rest of the racial warlords are nowhere to be seen in regards to a true case of injustice?

[gitmo]

Don't you love it when something works to protect the people from the government as the Founders intended?

[countrydummy]

I so agree with you! Wonder how long the patent will last though????

[countrydummy]

ping

[connectthedots]

Wonder how long the patent will last though????

Is forever long enough for you?

[EverOnward]

About 18 years ago, the town of Murray, Utah forced an older couple to sell their small family farm to the city because the city deemed it a "flood plain." The poor woman was suffering from colon cancer at the time. The city used federal monies for the transaction. There has NEVER been a flood remotely near that land though it bordered the ditch known as the Jordan River. The City built a golf course out of it and is raking in lots of money. Never mind the city cooked their books for auditors. The couple found one dirty lawyer to help them get screwed by the city, then another lawyer that advised them not to sue the first lawyer -- “not worth throwing good money after bad.” Just one big stinking mess. It put both of these good people 6 feet under. The political crooks in Washington DC have nothing over the crooks in Murray.

[RGSpincich]

I don't think a "land patent" was used to convey this property. An "unprecedented land grant" was issued by the state according to the governor article. It's my understanding that only the Federal government issues or issued land patents.

[mickie]

That sounds like what the local 'officals' are trying to do to a family in Coatesville, Pa. Claim their farm to built a golf course and playing fields.
This story was posted a couple of days ago here.

[countrydummy]

My land patent was signed by the then Governor of the Common Wealth of Va, James Munroe.

[Gumlegs]

Now to really stir the pot up, you notice that Jesse Jackson and the rest of the racial warlords are nowhere to be seen in regards to a true case of injustice?

Hmmm. Maybe it's because Jesse would rather have another Budweiser distributorship than a couple of acres of farm land in Alabama ... ?