The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-05
FROM CALIFORNIA.
SACRAMENTO, March 80, IS

SACRAMENTO, March 80, 1853.
To the Editor of the National Era.
According to promise | will endeavor t
keep you advised Of the movements in this Stat
affecting the great questions of political reform
now agitating the country. In this, | propos'
to give you some insight into our land titles for
after all, these land questions lie at the founda
ton of the prosperity of a country.
The Mexican land system is very different
from the American. They do not establish
public land Offices for the sale of the national
domain, but it is given away generally in large
tracts to the favorites Of the officers in power
In California, for long series Of years, this
power was exercised by the different Governors
who executed the grants upon the terms and
conditions they saw fit but it seems to have
been n fundamental condition in all of them
that they were to be subject to the approval Of
the Superior Government at Mexico, or the
Territorial Legislature, called the Department
al Assembly. AS the public lands were not
surveyed, the applicant usually gave a general
description by natural boundaries of the loca-
ton he desired, and sometimes accompanied by
rude map.
The Mexican land laws required that lands
thus granted should be colonized and cultiyat-
ed by the grantees; but, in fact they generally
took no pains to comply with either the express
conditions of their grants Or the acquisitions of
the land laws Indeed, in many instances
they never took even the trouble of occupying
the land II is in this way that all the finest
land, and, indeed, all Of any value for agricul-
tural purposes, and large portions of the min
ing lands, have been plastered over with these
so-called Mexican grants" the conditions Of
which have never been complied with by the
grantees
Such was the condition of things when the
Americans took possession of the country, but
the sturdy backwoodsmen Of the West, as they
came pouring over the fertile valleys of the Gold
en- State beholdng immense tracts of the richest
land the sun ever shone upon, blooming in all
the gorgcousness Of California garden, all
lying open TO the world entirely unoccupied,
never stopped TO inquire about land titles, but,
taking it for granted that it was oil part Of
the great Conquest Of Mexico" they soon
erected their houses, opened their farms and
looked to the Government to give them q title
In due time under our bencfcent land laws.
In this way thousands Of acres have been
brought under the pillow; and, under the gold
en- stimulus which excites everything here, the
State promises TO be az renowned for its agr-
cultural as its mineral wealth.
The native Calfornians were but poorly pre-
pared to assert their claims but shrewd specu-
lators, finding how matters stood, bought up
these old grants, generally for mere song, so
that at this time very few are held by the origi-
nal claimants. There grants being condition
al, and the conditions never performed, tho
claimants have no standing in our courts, and
they have uniformly been defeated whenever
they have attempted to enforce them at law
But the land Spectators are now straining
every nerve to get their claims confirmed, and
obtain patent from the United States, which
will give them an unimpeachable legal title
If they fail in this, then the greater part Of
this splendid country will belong to the Gov
eminent and the title vii ultimately pass 70
the hardy pioneers and settlers now occupying
them. But il they succeed, then the nation
will be deprived of all that is Of any value; the
settlers will be stripped of the fruits OF their
toll and tho most stupendous land monQpolics
in the history Of the world will be firmly es-
tablishsd in this Pacific world.
This question excites the deepest interest
here, and should attract attention in the Older
ststos, fer il lies with them 70 evert this in
pending evil We are poweriess alone, Tho
Action OF Congress is 10 decide it-and we ap-
peal TO the people TO see that their Representa-
tives in Congress, acting for them and VI, re-
licye us from the threatened danger. The great
ma jority here are, Of course, interested in hay