The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-05

ing the LANDS remain IN the Government Dut
the Spectators have as usual enlisted vast
amount of influence Of all kinds in their favor.
They have tact, energy, and capital on their
side and the prospect Of immense fortunes, to
incte them TO exertion. Though small in num-
Der, they act in concert and they are using
every influence in their power TO procure con-
frmaton of their claims and, if they succeed,
it will be the greatest blow that could be in
iiicted upon the prosperity of this State.
One Of the first laws passed by Congress for
this State, was for the appointment of three
Land Commissioners, to investigate land titles,
report those which are legal and valid and
directing the Surveyor General to survey the
claims thus established, that the Government
might know what portion of the country was
public domain, in order to put it in market for
sale. This was the evident intention of the
law; but the commissioners, who seem to be
entirely under the control Of the spectators,
are confirming all the claims Unfortunately,
even those which have hardly shadow of
right. If they continue on in the way they
have commenced, the whole country will soon
be held by little knot of greedy monopolists.
The people are justly becoming alarmed, and
are loudly claiming for n repeal of the law es-
tablishing the commission, and for the pass
age of one, requiring the claimants to proceed
In the United States courts, where the ques-
tons will be decided according to we'll -estab-
lished rules of law, and subject to review in
the United States Supreme Court. Such a tri-
bunal as this Land Commission is peculiarly
subject to external influences and they seem
to feel bound to decide according to their own
Grade notions of equity. But the regularly
constituted tribunals of justice seem to be the
proper ones for deciding questions so exclusive
ly Judicial Whatever just and legal rights
these claimants have will be respected and en-
forced by the courts, and when their decision
is given, after full and fair investigation, the
people will submit to it without a murmur.
AS 1T is we are ut the mercy of these COM
mis5loners in great measure Their opinions
do not command the confidence or respect of
the people, and without that, it will be no easy
task to enforce their decisions, should the claim
ants attempt under them, to dispossess the oc-
cupants of the lands Under this state of af.
fairs, there is great deal of feverish anxiety
felt on the subject, by all who have the good of
the State at heart.
As an instance of the doings of these Land
Commissioners, we would reier to their decis
ION on the MaripoSa" claim of Col Fremont.
This is the one, it will be recollected, that ex.
cited so much interest not long since and
which he contracted to sell for an immense
sum to English capitalists. 1t covers some of
the best gold mines in the State, which are be.
ing dug out as fast as a strong force of hardy
miners can do it. The Englshmen were Gun.
ming enough not to close the bargain, until
they had sent an agent to investigate. He soon
found that claim was nothing but one of these
Mexican shadows, called grants; and that,
even if the title had been perfect, it would re-
quire an army to dspossess the miners, Since
his report we have heard nothing further
about the sale
| Fremont purchased this claim of Alvarado,
one of the former Governors of the State under
Mexico, who held under grant executed by
Micheltorena, who succeeded him in the Office
The grant was for ten square leagues described
as within the limits of the Sierra Nevada and
the rivers known by the name of the Chanchil-
las, of the MERGED, and the San Joaquin" and
subject to the appreciation of the Depart
mental Assembly" and several other condi-
tons, the first of which was that he should
mot sell, ALLEVIATE, or mortgage the same" AL
varado never took possession of foot of this
land, and never had even a survey made. The
description, as any one acquainted with the
geography of the State will see is so indefinite
and uncertain, that it could be located almost
|
and with about rs much propriety in one place
as another Alvarado sold out to Fremont this
unconfrmed INDICATED, unsurveyed grant, in
violation of the express stipulatons of the grant
itself After the purchase, understand, Col
Fremont surveyed OFF an immense tract, located
it 80 as to cover some of the richest gold mines
in the State, including about one hundred
Leagues instead OF ten, as the grant called for.
He filed his claim before the Board and they
confirmed it without hesitation-allowing him
the whole 100 square leagues, according to his
own location.
have no doubt that Col. Fremont has polit.
cal and personal influence enough to get q
patent from the Government for this immense
tract, and thus open the way for all the Others
similarly situated. | have not selected hi
claim as peculiarly invidious In fact, pre-
sumo it is as fair and regular as the great ma
jority
A movement has been made in our State
Legislature to obtain a repeal of this land COM
mission law, and it is to be hoped that the sub
ject will receive the carly attention of Congress
before it is too late. BRYANT