The New York herald., 1850-12-29

Our washingtoa Corresponds nee.
WAsurNaroN Dec % va6n

Our Washingtoa Cerrsspoads nee.
WASHINGTON, Dec, 26, 1850.
Cslitr~io La~d Claims-Idr. Gwi~'s Biu-A1
Be~to~s OYYositio~
One OF the most difficult subjects yet to be settled
BY Congress. 10 the settlement Of land claims in th
State of California II is subject which involves
interests to an amount of millions upon millions o1
dollars. II is question which covers every acre
of land in California, and conflicting disputes "a
various tracts, parcels, and lots Of land, between
hundreds and thousands of claimants. According
to the decision of Congress- or the board proposed
individual claimants, occupants, or holders of land
in California, may lose gain to the extent ofthoa.
sands. and even millions ofproperty.
There are various tenures to land titles in Cali
fornia. There are claimants under grants from
old Spain-caimants under grants or purchases
made under the government Of Mexico-claimanta
under titles obtained from the Pueblo Indans-and
pre- emption claims Of squatters, &c &c. We vens
tuIe TO say that nearly all the lands capable Of
cultivation in California, and large portions Of thu
mining districts, are covered with Mexican and
Spanish land elaine, and that it will be found
that Uncle Sam will have but small quantity Of
land TO dispose Of in California, adapted to perma
nent settlement.
Some twelve months ago, Mr. VIM Carey Jones
(son-in-aw of Col. Bentop), was sent out TO Cali
possible in regard to tins matter of land titles in
California Being well versed in the spanish Ian
euage, and land title lawyer, Mr.. Jones returned
with mass OF interesting and valuable informi-
ion, collected from the old archives at Monterey.
n California, and from the government records in
he city of Menco. This information was for th0
enlightenment OF the department OF the lateriors
having the executive control oS the public lands,
The Department, puzzled with the perplexities Of
this land busne and lacking special authority Of
law, has been waiting the acuoa OF Congress upou
these California claims, while between the old set
leTs, the spectators, ana the squaiters the busi-
ness is daily becoming more complicated and diff
tcut OF adjustment
Mr.. OWNS bill, which was before the Senate
today provides for three Commissioners 10 settle
these land claims in California, who shall hold
their sessIons al such times and places the Pre-
sldent shall direct Persons claiming land under
Spanish or Mexican titles shall submit the same to-
be examined by the board, the board 10 b. governed
by the Mexican treaty, law of nations Nc. NC, in
their decisions upon the validity or invalidiy Of
such titles.
srerror T. And be il further enacted That In all
Of rejec ton or confirmation OF any claim by the
board OF mssiopers shall may BE- lawful fox
the claimant the United states 70 present petition
to the district court OF the proper district setting forth
fully the nature OF the claim names OF original ana
present claimants with the deraignm.u ut OF title
comp snied by Transcript Of the report OF the board
OF CON Essioners and OF the papers Vhics IL was
founded ana shall thereupon and At the next ensuing
Of the district court aoread be the duty OF The
said court to render udgm and upon the applisa-
tion OF the party sg nst whom judgment is rendered
gran app. a TO the Supreme Court OF the United
States ard the raid Supreme Court OF the United
States shall thereupon proceed foay to adudcste suc
claims according to the principles far they
applicable VIII ich recognized Ia the act OF Con-
grers approved 10Th May, 1924 entitled An act ena-
bling the claimants to lands within the limits Of the
State OF Missouri and territory OF Arkansas to ins
tute proceedings to try the validity OF their cams-
Provided however That notice OF the intention to nle
such petition shall be entered the journal OF said
commissioners within twenty days after such decision
and such petition shall be flied the district court
within Elk months from the date Of the decision ef the
tribunal aforesaid. And all LANDS covered by tha
claims which may be- finally by said court OK
not brought before the sad prosecuted within
the period of two years shall be ated part OF tha
public dom aim and or all claims nnaly couhrmedy
either by the tribunal aforesaid patents shall
issue upon the rendition the General Land Once OF
. plat Of survey duly approved and certined py the
surveyor General
Col. Benton opposed this bill AS violating ALI
treaty stipulations, ali principles Of national good
faith, national law, and individual rights; and at
his instance, the bill was postponed to Thursday
next, when we may expect Old Bullion to give m
particular fits What il is the old Senator sees IN
the bill SO monstrous, we expect then to learNS
The subject is a vast one; aod the Senate wisely
agreed to postpone il till after New Years day.
There are some immense land speculalions mixed
up in this business which the debate upon the bill
will probably bring to light