The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-01
Our Washington Correspondents.

WASHINGTON, June IS 1856.
The Great California Land Scheme in Congress-Bd TO
Get Rid ef the Checks bapa'ei in 1851 the Board ef
CIaims-The United States District Courts be Deprired
Of the Re1sory IoUers hioh they Iossess--More Schea.
ing and JoJbing in Prospect
The great California land scheme before Congress
by which the investigation OF the United Supreme
Court IL TO be avoided, and NIL other ignored
leaving the settlement Of all hnd claims in California
the exclusive and ansl decision Of the Board OF Commits
there and tho s dirt Of the Surveyor General
OF Lands IN that state, Is follows
bill 10 expedite the issuing Of patents for confirmed
bard claims in California
whereas II Is expedcn that patents sha issue without
delay TO persons claiming ands In California by virtue Of
any right title derived from the siaasror Mexican
governments, and whose claims have been may be
confirmed by the Commissioners 10 ascertain and settle
private lans cla,ms n ,he state OF Cania pursuant n
the Of Congress approved March J. 1851 entitled "An
act To ascertain and settle the priyat land claims IN the
state Of California or by the District Court Of the United
States for the district which such lands respectively
situated or by the supreme Court Of the United States
therefore,
BE it enacted, That in each and every case Of any
person persons claiming ands IN the state of ttos
mia, aforesaid. and whose claim claims have been
shall he hrmed aforesaid by the said Commis
sners or by tho said District Court Tor the district ia
which such lands are respectively situated or by
the said supreme Court, a patent shall issue without
Delay 10 such claman, or claimants respectively,
upon his or their presenting b the General Land
Office authentic certificate " such confirmation, and
plot survey al the said land duly certified aud approved
BY the surveyor General Of Caorna-nnything in the
ssd act Of Congress entitled An act 20 ascertain and
settle the private land ella In the state Of California"
n any subsequent act " Congress- 10 the contrary not
wiihstanGng.
sec p Anc be II further enacted That the provisions
of this act shall not apply 20 affect any such claim TO
lands wherein thc quantity o lands confirmed shall equal
or exceed eleven square leagues
Section .. And bs Il further enacted. That all patents
issued r connsmcd laud claims at California shall be
elusive ony between the United states and the claim
ant and sha not affect the interests ot thrd parties.
The Judiciary Committee of the House have reported
the bin hack with an amendment combining IL operation
to decisions prior 10 the Grst Of January 1850
II will be- that this measure, IL successful throws
Oh the check which Congress- in 1851 deemed necessary
10 the decisions of the Beard and only takes away the
appeal 60 The supreme Court but also 10 the United
states District Courts in California u " irue that the
policy the government should be LIBERAL and that long
substantial justice dofe there may be necessity of
compelling the claimants g. ctme % Washington and prove
their titles before the Supreme Court But tins argument
does n the Objection 10 doing away with all super
vsory power 10 the acts Of the bard u Commissioners
BY aboishng the appeal to the United states Courts In
The public cannot have forgotten the universal odum
which the acts opinions and decisions Of the Board 10
adjust the claims against Mexico met with. Not only
the charges openly made Of corruption, but the
rous Gardner claim was not the Singular exhibit
ing II did-to stigmase u by no harsher cpithetsa
degree q Ignorance and u'er regardessncs of the inter
csts of the government truly dsgraccful. We make
such charges agsust the California Beari, but do
say that s no, proper TO invest them with the power
10 ito wrong, and maintain that the extra
ordinary excrons 10 take tho whole matter out Of the
hands o the courts aud tho seercsy and moncyed nfu
ence brought 10 bear IN Congress 70 effect this object
have "a open the gravcst suspicion Il supposed
The bill would be slipped through last week and
l. the FIRST in order the House assemblies for
business.
The rumors which dying about to the effect
that large amount % money has been raised and that
sufficient members have been securedn to is
passage
We trust however, that tho whole matter will be ri
pidy investigated. Surely there men In the
nreseut Congress who have nerve enough dSnsnd
least that the bill shall not be smugged through aud ~ In
ssi upon guards being thrown around as will remove
the Board nom the communicating Influences shich have
always been brought bear upon similar organizations
NO NOT take away from the United States District Courts
California the revsng powers which they pos
Let the work Of this Congress show al cet bones
act on the statute book that the lover % bis country
and its institutions may be compelled to harg hi
head In shame q, the utter depravity of die times
We will again 10 this matter, and watch ~ pro-
gress and the actors in ~
| wAsmSoroy, June ~, 1856.
M lo,,f nf CInims-ns Erlranrcnnxu Desass1ns Die