Washington telegraph., 1851-04-30

iHE CALIFORNIA LAND TITLES LAw-The act
70 ascertain aud settle private land claims in Cali
lorn'a' provides for the appointment by the Presi-
uo"' ano senate OF the United States, of three
Co"i'sS'ohers, whose term Of office shall continue
,or ,niee years; and for the appointment by the
resident oil an Agent, charged with the interests
- Tue oo'ted States Government, whose duty it
snaii De u attend the meetings OF the Comms-
s'oners, TO collect testimony for the United States
ana TO be present when claimants take depostons
! ne Commissioners are authorized to appoint
SecretaIy and FIVE Clerks
Aud person claiming lands in California, BY title
derived from the Spanish or Mexican government,
Is required to present to the Commissioners when
sitting as a board, such evidence as the claimant
relies upon, IN support of his claim; and it is the
duty oil the Commissioners TO examine and to de-
eide upon the validity of the claim, and, within
thirty days after their decision is rendered, to
certify the same TO the District Attorney of the
United States, in the district where the decision is
rendered.
The claimant, or the U. S. District Attorney in
behalf OF the government, may appeal from that
decision to the U. S. District Court; and a further
appeal may be taken to the U S. Supreme Court;
and that without security for costs where the
claimant is unable to give security.
The Commissioners are required to base their
decisions on the treaty OF Guadalupe HidaIgo, the
law Of nations, the laws, usages and customs of
the government from which the claim is derived,
the principles OF equity, and the decisions Of the
Supreme Court Of the United States, SO far as thev
applicable.
The Statute also provides that all lands, the
claims to which shall be he!d invalid by the Com
mssioners, in of appeal by the Courts, and
all lands the claims to which shall not have been
presented TO the said Commissioners within two
years of March Sd, 1851, shall be considered as
part of the public domain of the United States;
and for all claims confirmed by the Commissioners rs,
by the Courts, Patent will be issued from the
General Land Office, unless some other party,
cOntesling the claimants title, shall obtain an
Injunction from the u. S. District Court having
jurisdiction where the lands lie, restraining the
Claimant from sueing oui his patent until the
testant's claim be determined.
In the o: town village lots the Spanish
or Mexican claim for the same must be presen nted,
not by the individual proprieiors, but by the cor
poratlon from whom these received their grants.
The DEGREES of the Commissioners. and the
Courts, and the Patents issued under this aci are
made conclusive only between the U. States
and the claimants. and do not affect the rights
of third parties.
The Commissioners also required to report
to the Secretary OF the Interior, the tenure by
which the Mission lands held, and thos. held
by civilized Indians, aud by persons engaged in
agriculture or labor of any kind, and also those
which are occupied and cultivated BY puebos or
rancherOs Indians.
The salary of each Commissioner is $4,000 per
annum; Of the Secretary, $4,000; Of each Clerk,
5 500.