The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-12

re annexation of that Interesting section Of North
America. As fer Cuba, that is horse of totally
different complexion.
The whole subject of California land titles, after
a warm discussion between Col Benton and DR..
Gwin, of several days duration, was referred to-day
TO the Judiciary Committee. We have. no doubt,
upon the historical facts elected IN me debate ina
the committee will report bill calculated, which
while it confirms the rights OF the old settlers, and
the valid Me xican and Spanish titles, will also guard
against all fraudulent pretences and conspiracies
to cheat the government out OF its public domain.
Between the Spectators and the squatters. the
line of Justice has 10 be drawn; and out of one hun
bred thousand citizens and Observation-Disclosures,
sharp, active fellows, as they IN III Dorado-iis
preity certain there are good many located upon
writ Of eleclment under authority of Congress. 1t
is also very likely that pending the war, from 1916
to- lS4S large tracts of California lands were bought
and sold upon the loose authority OF temporary Off
GERS of a temporary and un-recogniZed govern ment
IL Is probable that the immense tracts purchased by
Col. Fremont, Thomas LarkiR, and others, were
ceded, or bought, to greater or less extent, under
And it will be nice task for the Judiciary Com
nit ee to determine how far such cessions, or pur-
chases, made or enforced, are tenable under the
laws, and usages, and obligations OF our govern
ment. We trust, however, in the ability of the
distinguished Judiciary Committee Of the Senate
TO shape out such a bill as will meet the ends Of
justice, and of berality 10 the California citizens
acquired from Mexico with the territory. A nice
sense ofnationa honor makes il obligatory upon this
government TO see that neither squatiers nor specu-
lators nor Yankee lawyers, shall despoil ciLi-
acqHired with the SOIL cftheir rghtfu property
liberal exhibition OF good faith would suggest
the policy OF confirming 10 such citizens the lands
they may have occupied and cultivated from the
date Of treaty. without any other evidence of own
eIship than such occupation. Our sympathles in
cline 10 our Spanish and Mexican born citizens.
They are the weaker party-lgnorant alike OF our
language, our laws. and our lawyers. Wars and
revolutions may have despoiled them of their
percbmenis; but the government should not make
this bar 10 the confirmation of their titles. il
other reasonable evidence or equity can be ad.
duced IN their favor.
We understand that the Senate land committee
are opposed TO the House resolution making land
it will not be long before batch of twenty or thirty
millions Of land assignants are thrown into the
currency of the country. Weare OF the impression
that the Senate will stick 10 the patent" al
though the word, bya suspicious mistake Of some
clerk, was left out of the original bill The adm-
rable construction Of the law by the Secretary of
the Interior, however, put an extinguisher upon
the trick, If il was trick, which God forbid At
all events, we trust the Senate will stick TO the
"pstent." II ii will benefit the new States of the
West, so much the better-any thing, so that we
escape land shin-plaster currency, controlled by
the brokers and gamblers of Wall street.
have agreed upon bill for the establishment of
line of steamers between San Francisco and China.
Very good At the last session they reported bill
in favor Of the Ebony line to Africa. There is
another project on foot-a Philadelphia company
proposes, with the aid of Congress, to run month
ly line TO Rio Enthusiastically good idea. The
British trade with Brazil is lucrative. She has
stolen march upon US, indeed, over the whole of
South America, and monopolized the growing CON-
merce of that vast peninsula. An American line
Of steamers TO Rio would Immediately give US a
large and profitable traffic, and do to cut off
the African slave trade than all the American navy
stationed on the African coast; particularly when
80 many OF the slavers sail under American colors
with American papers, from the ports of the United
States, and especially from the cGpperbrilders of
Baltimore.
But the session is short-the Treasury is on the
lift and suppose that the China line, the Ebony
line, and the Rio Jeneiro line, will 90 over to the
next Congress Our steamship companies will be
lucky, indeed, if they escape cutting down before
the adjournment.
Texas has accepted her ten millions, under the
supposition, If not under express compact, that
ment of her psblic debt. That was the object Of
the bill We hear it rumered very broadly, not.
withstandng, that there is an "awful squirting at
Reputation by the State Of Texas-tha she intends
10 plead the miserable plea of usury against her
creditors, and scale them down TO what she be-
lieyes 10 be an equitable allowance. Why not 90
the whole figure, like another State not necessary
to mention Why not plead that the claims of her
creditors are illegal and void, because they were
contracted upon illegal and usurious terms Tex
as has behaved herself very creditably thus far;
but she is stIll under some obligations to sustain the
good faith of the country al home and abroad. We
believe she is honest, and will paY but think il
due 10 herself and the Union, thu some OF her
representatives ia Congress should in her exact
intentions with regard TO her public debts
Texas has yet very just claim before Congress
the claim that the surviving officers OF her late
navy, while she was republic to herself, shall be
incorporated into the United States service. II
is an untitled part OF the annexation. IL Is
due to heit is due 10 good faith that this incorpo-
ration shall pass. But equivocaiion cutting down
with her creditors will go far TO defeat the growing
disposition OF Congress TO do her justice.