The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-27
THE UNION.

preparation will Is believed be not only valuable
which, che sna G
mineral wealth OF the extensive dise! Of country Which
him q Es s e
which he has collected and 10 Prepare his report.
Public Lands IN Oregon California, and Nsw Merieo
Oregon California and Mexico The public Interest
day To carry il Into effect the negotiation OF treaties with
the Indian tribes who claim title TO the lands the creation
OF the Office Of general In each Of those Terrific
RES and the establishment Of land offices in convenient
DISTRICTS will be necessary, accompanied with the usual
Nothing beyond This. OF out of the ordinary Of
things. viii be required in providing for the disposition Of
British Subjects provided for by the treaty of August Sh
1896 which may be referred the judges Of the Territory
Of the hadships which they ID
the first settlement Of this distant and exposed onter
and in that territory are held by titles granted by SPAIN
by Mexico since her separation from the Spanish mon
archy will be 70 establish judicial commits
son 10 examine and settle these titles, far they are
subject % doub, or controversy large proportion OF hem
In California such commission will be more especially
necessary Many Of tue older grants in that Territory, Of
considerable extent have been resumed by the sovereign
authority and are now held under new grants VIII Oh Re.
points claimed under very grants of question:
al Ss Sa the
the knowledge Of the sGhDes There nsS
Of unquesiionaJe validity and some Of hem. especially
those granted 3r pasurase, are large, covering many
held by nchoate titles regular and fair in their inception,
bur which have no. been perfected These Ites, where
Mexican authorities ought be ayorably regarded,
peciay II followed by possession In case should the
eIegmY &c, o. the Uned s"ss This consideration has IN
duced Congress TO confirm nceptve grants even where the
reasonably be supposed that the government which made
the grant would have waived or allowed further time for
This liberal consideration ought not, however, be ex
tended to doubtful grants OF positions the bays islands
and headands which, when acquired were known to be
necessary the United States, sites for FORTS lighthouses
or other objects OF national character IS understood
that titles OF kind generally not valid without the con-
ed 10 some OF these points which confirmed 10 and made
the properly Of individuals, must be purchased back at
very large price The right of the United States to such
sites, where valid ought to be at asserted and every
spot necessary to the OF the should be
selected and separated from the general mass OF public
lands ana reserved from sae ana from Inc operation OF me
laws, as they shall be extended to that Terri
tory
Mineral Lands IN California
is understood that few of the larger grants cover to
some extent, the mines of gold and quicksilver
BY the laws of Spain these mines did pass by grant
OF the land but remained in the crown, subject 10 be dis
might be from time time adopted Any individual might
upon the lands OF another search Tor Of the
precious metals and having discovered he might
register and thus acquire the right work i paying to
the the damage done the surface and TO the crown
whose property il was fifth OF tenth, according to the
quality of the mae II the finder neglected to work,
worked imperecty might be denounced by any other
person, whereby he would become entitled
This right TO The mines OF precious Inc winch ny The
laws OF Spain remained in the CROWN believed to have
been retained by Mexico while sue was sovereign OF
the Territory and have passed by her transfer to the Unit
ted States III right of the sovereign IN the soil as per
feet If had been expressly reserved IN the body OF the
grant and will rest with Congress to determine WHETHER
~ those ses where lands duly granted sonsn s1d ms
will require express law TO effect the objects and
WHICH shs be eseeised For Is % be Observed that
the regulation permitting the acquisition OF night In tue
mines by registry by announcement was simply mode
which
he had in The treasure as lay in and was conhe ced with
red by the transfer Of he eminent domain The mode adopt
ed exercise ceased be legal for the
that the Spanish mode OF dsposing the public lands
the first instance ceased TO be legal after the transfer OF the
Thus il appears that the deposites of gold wherever
found in the Tertiary the property Of the United States
Those however, which known to exist upon the lands
far the larger pan being upon unclaimed public lands:
sui our % them hal yf hes ae S r l
extent and exrasrdinaTy Productyeness, even though
the largest which brought the mint 80
They generally equal to the standard OF our coin IN
purity and their appearance that oil metal forced INTO The
assures and cavities Of the rocks in state OF fusion some
however, are hsened apparently by pressure and caich-
ed as u by allton on ropgh surface One small mass
10 Of quartz, intimately blended, and both together
bouldered 80 as TO form handsome ogrded pebble with
oil about equal quartz and gold very large
proportion OF the gold, however, Is obtained IN small scales
S asg S ed aug up Of the s Sea the
as taken az and9n from placer was tested by The dlree
Slo) 100 lbs OF earth 1t cannot however. be
sonab supposed that the average auvial earth in the
placers 10 so highly aurfcrous.
No existing law puts in the power Of the Executive TO
Hence r addition TO own citizens thousands OF per
Of all nations and languages flock and gather god
which they carry away enrich themselves leaving the
and, the less in value by what they have abacted and
they render for remuneration direct or indirect TO the
,,c IN the preseryaion of public properly that they pun
lsh our own citizens lor cutting timber upon the public