The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-07

Of the preside square, leagues In each direc-
| the protection OF the pfesdios' f5.
The Mexican laws, as far a. am aware, make on
change in this rule and the colonization regulations Of
1928 provide (arcle ls that She reunion of many families
rule established by the existing laws for the other towns OF
the republic e.ut NgHN #y. M"E
From all these and other which might be quoted.
it would that where special grant has been made
or limits assigned 10 village. the common extent Of four
Inc sans expresses that the nosnl should MOI
interfere with the rights OF other parties The pTssdio
TO their four Leagues tho right OF making within the
same only transferred tron the preside captain 10 the
bic 10 Spanish and Mexican law and custom. This was
the casa under the 81 ansh government; and am not
doub, grants have been made individuals which in
tnged such vllngs limits The territorial depntnton
ectsd that tho Of The Puebos should make
E, s @ and
% ws .s s1ns s the ss oosd ony n0 claim
rrc1ad sn ms seH ha od is ad
seem to be a safe rule UsflE'5a
This is what Mr. Jones says in relation to these mu-
ncipal grants, and from him learn that the towns
had sometimes special limits assigned for their municipal
grants larger than the four leagues square My bill is
consistent with this; for while il confirms the four
Leagues IN every instance. without requiring any evil
wherever the grant was larger, the other sections OF the
bill will provide for il when the claim is laid before the
recorder of land titles OF these larger preside grants
he mentions several instances, among others those
| of San Josk and Los Angeles, and shows the crcum-
stances which enlite them full recognition of their
limits. t#rH
The case of San Francisco receives special notice
from Mr. Jones, and he considers il entitled 10 the guam
MY OF It's four square leagues not by measuring equal
distances each way from the centre, which would run
the greatest part OF the grant into the bay, but by extend
ing south-,he only course Of extenson-but without
affecting existing claims. AT pages 1923 of his report
he says: @u
"As tho point now under that of San
a~eiseo, nnd that the OF the author
wase - nS Hh vags psne%Psy Pal was and hs city now
justice ofhe peace, termed OF pueblo Of
San Francisco ls privileges were not therefore, at
probably had boundaries common with the mission
OF Doole which would restrict 1t IN Its four leagues bat,
dcton of the authorities Of San Francisco extended
and special license given TO its principal magistrate to
tongue neck OF land, lying the bay and sea-
increasing in breadth southery direction.
men OF four leagues south from The preside would give the
the present advanced value OF property magni-
cent corporate domain, but much fairly
synable 10 tho precincts OF the preside under the order OF
i79l so much all pue6os entitled under
the general laws Of the Indias There private rights,
however, existing within those lInits, apart from any
grants OF the village authorities which ought to be respect
cd some n ,o"ga san,s IN from me Ggmer $
law and CUSTOM and under the Spanish law, entitled
would grow disturbing tho multiplied in,e
that have arisen under the OF the American
certainly have been emitted to by the OF the old
what she will need for the public improvements and adorn
we'll due the snsrpr:s which has foanded in so brief
space great metropolis in that remote region perhaps
ton of past release OF government claims to the
Of four leagues, measuring south on the pesido. and
cuding all between aud bay, with suitable provision
projecting private rights whether under old grants by
recent aud ,eservng such sites as the gov
eminent uses may require"
Thus much MIR President, have felt my duty to say
in support OF the fifth section my bill, which applies to
the municipal grants II confirms by the law Itself, er
proprio pgo,e the quantity of four leagues square, which
wa he m mir " a .
and have no doubt that larger quantities were granted
by special DEGREES TO different pueblos they grew up,
and became towns and cities They gifts to dom
clllasd Indians TO discharged soldiers and TO emigrang
settlers; and it is revolving to think that the descendants
and the assgnses OF those recpenis OF the pa,enal
bounty OF the King Of Spain may be dragged before
board Of commissioners TO prove their titles, with the
chance of being hauled up into the United States district
courts in California 10 prove them second time there,
and further chance TO be pulled across the continent
from the Pacific TO the Atlantic TO prove them third
time before the Supreme Court OF the United States It
horrible TO think Of and more cruel and not less Illegal
than direct conhscation..
The sixth section of my bill also contains special
provision which needs explanation to justify it, 1t con-
during the time that he governor in California; and
this suppcses the fact that he made such grants This
true and in that branch of the inquiries OF the
Secretary of the Interior which relate to grants of land
California subsequent to the conquest he produces at
page 80 Of the report this decree OF Gen. kearny dated
March 10th, iS47
Il.
foi by virtue of authority in vested by the President
Of the Uni ed States OF America, do hereby sran
and rtsa the OF San Frsr CISCO the people,
corporate authorities thereof all the right, e, aud
OF h7 gopey~rsat Of the U"ed States and Of The Tur,-
of California in and the beach and lots
the front OF said town OF San Francisco included be-
tween the points known the kncon and Fort Mon,gom
excepting such lots may be selected for the of
the United States nj by the senior officers of the
army and navy there provided the said ground here
by ceded shall be divided no lots and sold by public
ton TO the highest bidder alter three months notice
viouy sven the proceeds of said sale to be for the ben
pf the toxv of San csrO'
The section which propose confirms this decree, with
on, any iuquiry into its legality. | merely take !,
fact and deal with it accordingly and for the purpose of
Qnietng possessions and saving houshag city from
from California Mr. GwrNl this decree and the
grants under u, would be excluded from consdera
ton. 1t is neither Mexican Spanish decree-tio
which this bill coninedl-nor is 1t before the 7ib day
of July, 1916. which IL limited III something like
the section have proposed is not adopted there may he
much rulnous iieati even fatal violence IN San
Francisco in relation these grants; and Congress will
certainly be peoned by special messengers sent from
the country nerpose the shield OF legislative author
y II the decree had not said that It's authority de-
rived from the President OF the United States, should
have supposed that Gen Keany had acted under the be-
lief that he possessed the power OF previous California
governors. But, without nqung into the question of
power 10 make The decree-lroceedng on the TACT that il
made and that property possessed under II, and
that Congress confirm well origna disposi
tons OF the public lands. propose 10 confirm the pos
in their property without inquiry conditions
But the equity OF doing shown By Mr. Jones, in bis
report He says, tpases 30 81 y
"Pnrsuant to terms OF this paper what arc termed
reservations made but within and
side limits specified and the msoder of the lots de-
-gpaed have been since in great part sold by the town OF
San Francisco These lots extend into The shallow wafer
Iglo beach OF FTancsco a