The New York herald., 1851-12-06

M to the same period, under the general bsunty
lard law OF Septsmber %, 1850, Is 81 pol; sad Of
the 3 7OS which have been located and returned To
the General Land Office, $50 had been patented
on the lst ultimo
surveys, q authorised by Law, have been COM
mepced in Oregon and California, but restricted -
yet the establishment OF the principal base and
meridian lines, from which are subsequently TO bs
projected the township and subdivisional surveys.
The Surveyors General of Oregon and Cahfornis
deserve great credit for the energy which has thus
far characterized their lab0rs Pists have already
been received at the General Land Once. showing
the base and meridian lines in Oregon, and COM
mendable progress in the establishment OF those In
California.
In conducting these surveys, the object has been
to this end manual Of INSTRUCTIONS, IL detail, was
prepared for the government Of the Surveyors Ge-
neral and their duputes calculated, it is believed,
to facilitate their deld operations.
The law authorizing the extension Of the surveys
into the territory Of Oregon provided for the in
PRODUCTION of what ia kno Nn as the "Geodetic me-
thod, should the depart msnt deem it eSpedent to
sioner it was not considered advisable to adopt it,
further than to combine With the rectangular sur
veys a system of triapgulations to prominent OBJ
jects observable from the legal stations on the
main lines Of the survey, between the Cascade
mountains and the coast In the instructions to
the Surveyor General his attention was specially
drawn to the provisions of the treaty concluded on
the 18th of June, 1916, bet ween tae United States
sons Bay and Puget Sound Agricultural comps'
nes and of other British subjects; and rs no steps
had been taken by the United States with visw
to tie acquisition of the lands in the occupancy
Of these companies, "a provided for BY said
treaty, and as no means had been provided for
ascerta;ning and defining the particular lands, the
rights to which were, by the terms of the treaty,
to be respected it became necessary to require that
the claimants should present to the Surveyor Gene.
raj the evidence Of the rights claimed By them; and
the Surveyor General was dire 'ted to avoid. as far
pI acticabe, any sectional other minute subdi
vision of the lands covered by such claims and mere.
y to extend the township lines over them 80 q. to
indicate their relative position and extent. The
Surveyor General is required to report his proceed
provision be made by law for the prompt ascertain
uent and final adjustment of ali the claims coming
within the purview of the treaty.
Pursuant to the act of Congress approved 81
March, 1851, "to ascertain and settle the private
land claims in California" commission has been
organized, and will convene ct San Fransisco on
the Sth day of December proximo. With view to
facilitate their operations, they were directed to Or
ganze in this city on the 10th Of September last,
when instructions as to the material subjects cen.
templated by the law were given to them, which II
is believed will be advantageous to the claimants
and to the government 6y ascertaining in the outset
the eartie.ar parcels Of land claimed, aud thereby
avoiding uncertainty and embarrassment in dispos'
ing of the public domain: The archives OF the
former governments of California have been deli
vered ever to the Surveyor General, who Is autao'
ri1ed to employ competent person 70 arrange,
classify, and index them, so that they may be rem
dered available in the examination of land titles.
Il is recommended that ous genera. land system
be extended over California, in such details a., in
the wisdom of Congress, may be deemed best
adapted to the peculiar condition and character of
the country, and that the actual settlers on the
agricultural lands may have such preference in
becoming purchasers thereof as Is in accordance
with the general spirit Of our pre-. emption laws
MINERAL LANDS IN CALIFORNIA.
IL my last annual report, stated my objections
to sing the mineral lands, as recommended by
n predecessor. | then expressed the opinion that
and sold at public auction. Subsequent informs
tion and refs ,tion, however, have led me to doubt
the prepriety of that recommendation. The public
sentiment Of California seems TO be opposed TO any
and as the p;esent system Of leaving them com:
mon, open to the enterprise Of all our citizens, and
subject only to such regulations as the miners them
selves may adept, and to the State laws for the
well In practice, am inclined to think that the
wisest policy s rot to interfere with it for the pre-
sent, but to wait until time and experience shall
have pointed out some less Objectionable mode OF
disposiDg Of them. The whole subject il embar-
rassed with difficulties, and it would seem to be
better to submit to the temporary nconvenien 70 oi
an inn perfect system than to incur the hazard oi
adoptiBg one founded in principles under
which rights might be vested In individuals, and the
evils become IRE medable by the legislative power.
! The report Of the Commissioner contains many
valuable suggestions and recommendations with
regard to certain lands, the titles to which have
been acudiosted in suits against the United States
as authorized by the act Of JUICE 18th, 1874; the
interference Of sales aud locations with old grants;
smeponerts Of the provisions Of the pre-. emption
portion ofthe act Of the 4th Septem ber lSfl; the
revival and &C ntinuance of the powers conferred by
the act Of I'd March, 1916, for the adjustment OF
! Suspended el,res, as to to the mede OF DIS.
posing Of abandoned military ieservan'ns and
b the unsold portion of the Chlckasaw cession oil
which the Jurisdiction Of the Surveyors General
has been withdrawn, their Offices abolished
and the archives transferred to the authorities o
the States; the proprety Of allowing certain fees to
the Registers and Receivers for their services in To-
eating bounty land warrants, and the increase Of
the pensation Of the Surveyors General Of Oro-
gon and California; to all Of whish | respectfully
invite your attention.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The report of the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs
will furnish full and pre- ecise information in regard
to the present condition Of all the various tribes
within our borders, and the nature Of our existing
relations with each of them.
II will be seen that the tribes resident in New
York, and In the country west Of Arkansas are liv
ing under governments established By themselves
and making gradual advances in agriculture and oil
the pursuits Of civilized life Those settled 10 the
northwest are also beginning to assume tbs habits
and occupations Of the whites, and living as
pesceable citizens on their own territory. They
have thus acquired the good will OF their neighbours
]
treaties with the United States, they liable to
be removed at the will of the President from their
present abodes, petitions, numerously signed by
white persona resident in their i'm mediate vicinity,
have been presented, praying that they may be
allowed 10 remain. Under these circumstances,
humanity and sound policy alike require com
pisnce with the wishes Of the petitioners; and
therefore cordially concur in the Recommendation
of the Comm ssioner to that effect
Treaties have been negotiated with some Of tAe
tribes OF the northwest, on terms mutually adyan
tsgeous to the contrs acting partes, by which theil
title has been extinguis ned TO large domain ID
Minnesota, covering an area as extensive "a the
State Of New York. and well adapted to the pur
poses Of agriculture
Treaties have also, IL is believed been negotiated
with many Of the tribes resident ia New Mexico
California, Oregon, and the country west Of th,
Missouri. But, "a they have not yet been received
no dt6nite inform alton can nov be given to the
precise character Of their stipulations.
In New Mexico many depredasions have beer
com mitted on the Inhabitants by the wa1ike tribe,
Of ATscbessn Camsnches, noswithsta anding theii