Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-06
EI LAND TITLES IN CALIFORNIA.

2Xx&d tLaND III LES Nv SfaLir Ohisih.
u TO EDITORS NATIONAL IrrELLIaEScER.
GENTLEMEN wish call attention 10 portion Of that
branch Of Mr. T. BurLER KIses report, published in your
paper Of this morning, entitled The Public Domain, and
to make some remarks hereupon. The portion refer to
| as follows
The extent and value Of the public lands suitable for ag
cultural purposes in California be ascertained with
any degree Of accuracy until very important preliminary
questions shall have been settled.
81" is not known whether the Jesus who founded the ms
SION or their successors the Fancscans did, do
hold any title from the Spanish the lands which they
occupied has any investigation been made to ascertain
how far those titles they existed have been nvadat
ed by the acts Of the priests the DEGREES of the Mexican
Government.
GA superficial view Of the would be very apt to lead
to the suPposon that the Jesu celebrated for wisdom
and cunning, would fail that which, that time
would probably have been obtained by merely asking for it
royal Decree granting to them all the lands they might
qure in that remote country for ecclesiastical There
have been limitations thateect nothing distinct
y known These missions embrace within their limits of
the most valuable lands in the Territory and mpor
ant that should be asceraned whether they belong the
Government, or may be justly claimed by individuals.
Mos of the land fit for cultivation, south Of Latitude 39o
and west Of the valley Of the Sacramento and San Joaquin
claimed under what purport to be grants from the Mexican
Government
son Of these grants the minerals and metals are
served to the Government Conditions coupled with
many OF them which have not been complied with In others
the boundaries described embrace three much
sland as the grant conveys
The Mexican law required all grants made by the Povi
sona Government with few exceptions to be confirmed by
'lhs Supreme Government The great distance which sepa-
rated them, and the unfrequent difficult means ofcommun
cation, made compliance with the law expensive and
sstardy that it came to be almost disregarded."
There many errors the above paragraphs there
| are propositions.
First. Mr. KING is entirely in supposng that the
missions of Upper California (of which, suppose his report
intended treaty were founded by the Jesuts That order
had in
sons there exclusively under the charge Of the Fran
cscans.
Second He is entirely mistaken in suppong that ' is
not known whether the missionaries ever did or do
hold any title from the Spanish the lands which they
occupied" is known whether they did not and whether
they do not, and the whole subject is understood.
Third He is entirely wrong in saying " nor has any
vestigation been made ascertain how far those titles they
existed have been nvadaed by the acts of the priests
the DEGREES of the Mexican Government An invesga
ton has been made which will every point that he
ges though the points themselves certainly not very
| logically stated.
Fourth. The "suppositon" which he POUNDS on the
celebrated wisdom and cunning of the Jesuts is erroneous
because as shown the Jesuits had nothing do with
the matter The Jesuit order abolished c. ertnguis
ed to the Spanish phrase) throughout New Spain
terror to the date Of any settlements in Upper California
h I. is mistake that though there have been some
ntimat6ns of ecclesiastical titles noting is distinctly
knoaon" great deal is distinctly known :; indeed be-
eve may say every thing is dsinctly known" that
have bearing upon the question.
erroneous the statement that most of the land fit for cult
walton south of latitude $50 and Of the valley of the Sa
cramento and San Joaquin claimed under what puport
be grants from the Mexican Government" This is douby
erroneous erroneous and deeply injurious and unjust in the
ntmation that the grants not what they purpo 10
beand the supposion that they pupor be
from the Mexican Government" say, from the best
possible opportunity Of knowing the facts that the bulk Of the
land grants in California other than they pupo to
be, and that very few from the Mexican Government
They are from the local government in pursuance Of law
given by the Mexican Government think, also, when the
couny shall he surveyed there will be found great deal of
leland fit for cultivation still south of 39o and west
! Of the Sacramento and Joaquin"
Seventh think Mr.. King must be in in the state
that mast of these grants the minerals and metals
reserved TO the Government The grants generally
the model and think it be say
that os of them contain any reservation that is
mon to all and quite that such would he the
with respect reservation of the kind Mr. King speaks Of
if there were any such thing.
Eighth Mr. King makes great mistake in supposng that
Mexican law required all grants made by the Provisional
Government with few exceptions, to be confirmed by the
Supreme Government" If Mr.. King means, suppose
he does by the term Provisional Government the esta-
bished Territorial afterwards depamenta Government of
California, he entirely in in supposing all its grants
with few exceptions required confirmation by the Central
Government The authority Of the local Government
make grants in absolute ownership except few specified
cases. where the Supreme Government reserved the right of
confirming. Mr.. Kings examination of the whole subject
must have been very slight his information very
desire to say this mucb at present. Mesrs Editors, be-
think 1t would be unfortunate for the impressions cal
culated be made by Mr.. Kings generally
ceved for short time am prevented from going
into DETAIL and explaining exactly what the facts because
the Report, which is my duty make this subject to the
Government is yet presented quite completed and
do think would be proper anticipate any portion of it
by publication Aferward however, shall feel liberty
and with your leave will take examine the whole
of that branch Of Mr.. Kings paper.
| Respectfully yours, WIN. CAREY JONES.
/ WASHINGTON. MARcH %. 1850.