The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-22
.aOCEEDIHGs
MONDAY, June 81, 10


MONDAY. June 81, 1852
NAUTICAL ALMANAC.
The PRESIDENT pro tenn, laid before the
Senate communication from the Secretary OF the
Navy, transmitting, in reply TO various interro-
gntores of the Senate In regard TO The preparation
of the American EnutIcai simanic, detailed re-
port Of Lieut. Davis, the officer IN charge OF the
work, and calling the attention OF the Senate TO
the subject,
The Communication was laid upon the table
and ordered to be printed.
LEASING PUBLIC LANDS IN CALIFORNIA.
The PRESIDENT also laid before the Senate
a report of the Secretary of The Interior IN an
swer tothe resolution inquiring whether any por-
ton Of the public domain on the island of Santa
Cruz, in the State of California, has been leased
by him to any person persons, and if so, that
he furnish Tor the of the Senate, copy of the
lease. together with any legal opinion that may
have been given regarding the power to lease the
public domain, and TO state under what law OF the
United States such lease may have been made.
rfhe Secretary states that he has leased the is
land of Santa Cruz to Alexander g. Abel for one
year-the contract being subject to the approval
or rejection of Congress. Ii gives history of
the and enters into elaborate argument In
justification Of the course which he has taken.
Mr.. G WIN wished TO make some remarks
upon the papers before he made the motion he in
tended to make. This system of leasing the pub
lie domain of the United States, far his
knowledge of the subject extended, had its origin
in California. He had no knowledge of the Ex-
ecutive Department Of the governments having
exercised this power anywhere excepting in that
State. The commencement Of the system was
about three years ago by military officers IN the
city of San francisco. In the year lS47, General
Hearney issued an order or edict giving TO that
city all the land. lying in front of it,, making GER
tain reservations for public purposes IL was
we'll known that he had no authority to do it, but
the act was acquiesced in, and large portion of
the city had grown up upon it. Mr. q. referred
to other leases Of the public domain made in a
similar manner, and said that very important in
terests had grown up upon them. They had al
ready led 10 very serious difficulties, giving rise
to some of the most important legislation Of the
State, and il the practice not arrested, would
involve the country in serious difficulties. He
censured the course of the Secretary OF the Inte-
ror severely, IN making or confirming any lease
Of the kind without the authority of Congress
MIR. WELLER, in reply to an inquiry, stated
that the Secretary of the Interior asked his advice
upon the subject, and that he advised him not to
lease the island Of Santa Cruz to any individual F;
but told him that the proper course would be to
send come officer of the army there to take pos
session of the island and report to the govern
ment
Mr. GWIN said he had made some inqui- .,
and had learned that an officer of the coast
contained some $4,000 thousand acres of land
that it had good harbor or roadstead that it
was situated at no great distance from the coast
about IA miles from Santa Barbara that with re-
gard to the title, there was no human being that
disputed that it belonged to the United States.
He considered the apprehension of the Secretary
of the Interior, that it might be claimed by some
foreign government or by some private individual.
as utterly groundless therefore. He apprehended
as soon as he heard of the transaction, that it
would lead to difficulty, and for that reason he had
called the attention of the Senate to it. This
thing Of giving one individual the possession of
so valuable an island, he looked upon one of
the most mammoth speculations OF the day. He
might form Chinese colony there, or do any
thirg else he pleased
Mr. SEWARD inquired when the lease was
made,
Mr. GWIN. Within the last week or ten
days. He brought it to the notice OF the Senate
as soon as he heard of it, and with the hope Of
securing some action to prevent the individual
from taking possession. He now moved that the
report be referred to the Committee on Public
Lands.
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.
Petitions were presented by Messrs. SHIELDS,
SEWARD and CAss, praying that the bill commonly
known as the homestead bill may become a law:
referred to the Committee on Public Lands
RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED.
Mr.. SEWARD submitted a resolution direct
ing the Committee on Commerce to inquire into
the expedency of abolishing the law which re-
uuires seamen to obtain protection also of re-
curing vessels employed in the foreign end coast
ing trade to provide themselves with one or more
apprentices laid over.
Mr. WALKER, by leave, introduced joint
resolution for the removal Of the Oelanthus trees
from the public grounds and streets of the city Of
Washington read twice and referred.
SALT LANDS, MICHIGAN.
On motion of Mr.. Eel CHI the Senate proceeded
to the consideration Of the bill to extend the time
of selecting the lands granted to the State of
Michigan for saline purposes.
The bill having been amended by the adoption
of substitute proposed by Mr.. FELcH, ii was
ordered to be engrossed for third reading.
The Senate then adjourned.