The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-22
MONDAY, JUNE 81. 1852.



SENATE.
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
message was received from the House Of Represent
atives by Mr.. Foney. their Clerk announcing 70 lhe
Senate that the House have passed bill 10 proect ac
ta settlers upon the land The lice oil The Central ra
road and branches by granting empion Iss thereto
and asking the concurrence OF The Senate therein
The bill Just received from the House was read tle
first and second times by unanimous consent and felef-
red to the Committee on Pablic Lands
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS.
\ The PRESIDENT pro tenn. laid before the Senate
report Of the Secretary Of the Navy, communicating, -
10 resolution OF the Senate Of the 10th instant
report OF Lieut.. Chas H. Davis, the officer charged
with ,he superintendence OF The American Nautical Al
manac /; which read and, on motion BY Mr.. VEL
LER ordered 10 lie on The table, and TO be printed
The PRESlDEN pro tenn also laid before the SEN
ate report Of the Secretary OF the Interior, communlca'
ting in compliance with resolution OF The Senate,
COPY Of an agreement entered into by him, the part OF
the United States, with Alexander q. Abel. BY which
Mr. Ahel is 10 take possession Of the island OF Santa
Cruz on the coast OF California, the of the Uni
ted States, and to hold and enjoy il for year; which
was read.
Mr. GWIN wish 10 make some remarks on this
subject before submitting the motion 10 refer the repor,
and accompanying documents to the Committee on Public
Lands.
This system Of leasing the property OF the United Staes
far my knowledge extends, originated IN California
have knowledge OF any exercise OF that power by
the executive department OF the government except ~
that State About five years ago the limits OF the city oil
San francisco largely increased by General kearny
who issued order eic giving TO The corporate au-
thores all the lands, water ots in front Of what was
then the town OF San Francisco. General Kearny had
no authority TO make such disposition OF that property
but under this order very important interests up
and The principal business portion oil the city Is now STU
aied on this grant.
AL lie same time he reserved for government purposes
several squares of the gronnd-twelve in number, be-
eve Near three years ago military officer having the
control Of the government there leased out these re-
seryes-which had in the mean time become very yau-
able-at a merely nominal sum, for The period OF ten
years. As ascertaned that such disposition OF
this property in contemplation, denounced il pub.
lcly lhere being in the country al The time and stated
that If elected the Senate, being candidate for that
Office would do all in my power 10 have these leases,
il made, annued
To show that this is not the fret time have acted in
this matter will bring 10 the notice Of the Senate what
said eighteen months ago, on the subject oil these
leases On the sh OF January, 1851 The subject under
discussion being bill 10 establish a board OF commits.
sioners TO settle claims in California the senator from
Missouri-noi now member Of this body. MIR. Ben
ionl-proPosed substitute 10 my bill, and which con.
tanned unconditional grant TO the city, OF the land
given to San Francisco by General keaTney, and also
these reservations, except much of them needed
for public purposes Here is what then said, as quoted
from the National intelligencer' sae-
In the same section all the government reserves.
oep, such shall be needed for military purposes, or
necessary public buildings granted 70 the city OF san
Fancseo am IN iayor OF .hls alto. wh The reservation
portion Of these has beea leased for The period
of years. by officers oil the United safes government
during The jleto government of General Riley. was
opposed these leases aud was and am, ol the opinion
tha, they should have been made. denounced
thrm when hoard they in contemplation. and noti;
fed the parties Interested tha II elected 70 Tue senate,
should exert myself 70 have them annned On my ar
rival in this city, nearly year ago, applied TO tue sec.
reary Of War TO annnl these leases urged hum TO
act promptly, that the parties Interested might no, have
consideration to persons ignorant oil the transactions VINO
would have an equitable claim upon The gSyeranen Tor Tor
informed that hundreds OF persons have made
improvements these reserves and have expended vast
sums OF money in making these Improvements.
delivered this speech on the sh OF January, 1851
At that time entirely ignorant that the leases
which had been made by military officer, for mere
nominal sum OF $4,000, when, II put up at auction,
they might have been leased for 1000 had been con-
hrmed by the Secretary OF the Interior have not the
document now before me but the Secretary OF the
Interior, in the recess, ] believe, between The long
and the short session of the last Congress, did rat
lily these leases, without giving notice OF the iact al
The next session of Congress- through his report 10 the
President. to be laid before Congress. The leasing Of
these lands for long number OF years, or OF confirming
leases made by military Officer an important act
and knew nothing OF ], until il was brought 10 my
attention my return TO California, year ago las,
spring was al first incredulous upon the subject, until
the act OF the Secretary shown to mo- one session
OF Congress has passed the leases were confirmed
and we are in the midst o another and this official
act OF The Secretary OF the Interior has not been lad be-
fore
AS | SAID, very important interests have grown up in
consequence OF The OF General Kcafny The making
OF these leases and OF the most important leglsa-
ton of the State OF California has resulted IRON them
Charges OF The most injurious character have been
brought against individuals accoun OF the DISPOSE
lion which has thus been made OF the property OF the
United States now come TO the lease OF the island
Of Santa Cruz. There two members OF this body,
and two members OF the House OF Representatives.
who are presumed from the position which they occupy,
10 have some knowledge OF what will promote the In
teress OF the State OF California, and protect The public
property there bat, far my knowledge extends,
not one Of The delegation from that State consulted
10 regard TO this matter incidentally came to the know
edge OF my colleagues and II am not mistaken he DIS
approves OF the act OF the Secretary None of the rest
OF the delegation knew anything OF II.
Mr.. WELLER will state that the Secretary OF the
Interior did ask my advice this subject and advised
against leasing that island, either TO individual any
set of individuals but that il the island wholly
occupied, said that the best would be 10 send
some Of the officers OF the army OF the Unted SIa,es
then on the Pachc coast along with o revenue cutter
report TO The department. and then the department would
be able 10 act undersandngy on the subject Bu, was
utterly opposed to leasing that island TO any person for
any purpose thought the department should have the
facts In its possession. never knew anything OF The
ease until alter IL made.
Mr. GWlN. When asccrtained that the island had
heen leased, collected all the information could 10
gard 10 il from the survey which shall publish,
having learned that Of its officers had been taking
thousand acres Of land and has very good harbor as
good that OF Santa Barbara, and fine water is stu
aled great distance from the coast-abou fourteen
miles from Santa Barbara
OFFICE CoAsr SunvfY,
Washington, Juno ~. 1854
DrAa sR Oar information ls somewhat mouare in re
n santa island IN