Butte record., 1854-09-02
INDUSTRIOUS FRAUD!
IMP ORT9.NT TO THE SETTLERS
OF BUTTE COUNTY!

|
one. The rights of every settler are at stake
The whig candidates who have gone through
the canvass in owl-like wisdom and silence,
now on the eve of election, diyulge their de-
termination to oppose all equity between the
honest and industrious settler and the claim
ant under Spanish Grants. Particularly is
| this the case with Mr.. Barber. The other
Whlg candidate for the Assembly has never
advanced an opinion Of any kind that we have
heard of. Should he be elected however he
will doubtless procure stock from his resi-
dence in San Francisco, to supply him during
! the session of the legislature. But Mr.. Bar
| Der has taken position adverse to the inter-
/ ests of settlers. His doing so at this late day
! is fraud upon the settlers of Butte County
If he chooses to take such position, why did
not he not do it early in the canvass, and let
the voters of the county understand his posi-
ton that they might vote understandingly'
lfhe did not expect to deceive the settlers into
his support, why did be not make the issue
earlier known to the people MIR. Ever sup
last legislature, which was calculated to Sc
cure to settlers upon Spanish grants the value
of their improvements, in case the grant was
confirmed The bill of last winter failed to
become a law, and Mr. Ever announced him
self in favor of such measure, and called
upon Mr. Barber to announce his position
which the gentleman declined to do He af-
ter wards stated to Mr.. Ever that he could
beat him IN the Vdlley upon that issue =
Thus showing that he was opposed to securing
| to settlers the value of their improvements,
when such improvements were made upon
valid Spanish Grants. The effect of such
| course would be to deprive the settler who
may have settled upon Spanish Grants, of his
dwelling, property and years Of labor, and to
turn his family adrift, TO seek their living in
the mines or elsewhere as they can. And this
is done fer the benefit of the already opulent
landholders of California Does not the set
tier improve the value Of the land upon which
he locates, and is he not entitled to the value
of his improvements? Will Butte county
send representative to the legislature who
takes the position that the labor of settlers
upon Spanish Grants, shall go to enrich the
claimant' 1t is not q matter of injustice to
the claimant, for the settler improves the
value of the land and should be secured by
law to the full extent of the increased value
thereof Mr.. Barber's position at Rock Island
is against securing to settlers this reasonable,
just and equitable right. Itseems impossible
that a man with human heart and sufficient
sense to guide him from one portion of the
county to another, would assume sucl a posi-
ton, and be able to look sturdy laborng
man in the face, and we would not now call
the attention of settlers to the outrageous po-
sition of the gentlemen, were we not able to
substantiate the position he then took by good
and sufficient testimony.
And now we should like to inquire if the
settlers of this county, or those designing to
become such, desire a man with such iliberal
and unjust views to make law. for them : Will
they vote for a man who says the improve
ments they have made in California shall 90
W euiicH tne iVttuHdtc uUlueTS VI spanish
Grants? And yet, by entertaining such
views, Mr.. Barber thinks he will be able to
secure his election. We opine that the gen
tlelnen will find himself laboring under mis-
take, about the 9th of the present month.
The democratic candidates for the Assembly
have both declared themselves in favor of
law securing to settlers upon Spanish grants
the value Of their improvements. Mr.. Barber
is in favor of giving all to the claimant, and
his colleague, Mr.. Lincoln, will undoubtedly
express his opinion upon this subject as soon
as he receives advices from San Francisco.
We have heard it stated heretofore that
Mr.. Barber was opposed to the interests of
settlers in this respect, and have refused to
give it credence But Mr.. Ever twice called
upon him at the Rock Island Meeting to state
his position, and he declined to do so. Mr..
Ever made an excellent speech urging the
justice and necessity of law securing to set
tiers the value of their improvements. Mr..
Barber informed Mr. Ever that .'he could
beat him on that ISSUE thus taking ground
against securing to settlers upon Spanish
grants the value of their improvements
Under this view there is not farmer in Butte
county who is not liable to lose every dollar
he has invested in improvements. The Span
ish claims covering this county including
tLe Al l. lao, efa1 hv