The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-02
THE CALIFORNIA LAND BILL.

twill be seen by readers that this bill laid upon
the table in the House by considerable majority.
The speech of General Denver which publish to-day
had no doubt much influence in bringing about this
suit The questions involved peculiar, and of perva-
ding interest to the people Of California and they have
been presented by him with force legal precision and ab
ty He has condensed the whole subject into very small
compass Looking al the in legal point of view
we do not see what be successfully made to his
reasoning lie takes the ground that the commissioners
were intended to be examining court only, and not
to give final Judgments but that the California land bill
would confirm every decision they had made without
gard to the suspicious which justly attached to of the
cases. 1t seems also that the commissioners themselves
had expressed doubts the authenticity Of claims
in favor of which they felt themselves bound to decide
simply because there was no legal proof which could be
brought forward by the United States to the fraud
which was suspected to exist 1t unquestionaby would
be bad policy in TO adopt any general
for the relief of just cases. which would neeessar
ly protect those which were fraudulent
Such it is urged would have been the effect of the bill
referred In other words it would Unfortunately
have done good and evil AS that whole subject has been
disposed of into the hands of high law officer of the
government who has already examined it with great
and ability and will doubtless exercise in relation to the
reported the board of commissioners udicious
ton to whether appeals ought or ought not
to be made for the u-e inclined to think that
Congress has observed wise consersa action In regard
the matter 1t WILL at any rate work injustice &c
any one That of itself is safe rule of action All the
questions left TO courts at the head Of which is the
Supreme Court ITSELF This is much any citizen of
the United States can have.
The probability may be, that just will not be dis
.urbed by appeal-those which not ought to be-
The several legal views of this subject which
tanned in General Denvsrs speech put with logical
force and combination which, it strikes u.s. will be pow
arfuly felt in California
The question which he raises in regard to the minerals
of California being either the property of the United States
of the State full of interest He shows what the law
Spain and Mexico was and the of it and takes
the ground that the decision of the commissioners could
not alter hat-could not add qualification to title
derived from the of Spain Mexico beyond the lap.
This precisely the position OF the Supreme Court in the
of Fremont In that the Supreme Court said
The only question before the court the validity of the
title And whether there be any mines this land and IL
there be any, what the rights OF the sovereignty In them
questions which must be decided in another form of
ceedng, and not subjected the Jurisdiction Of the connie
fioners, the court, by the act of 1851"
In all its bearings however, this mineral question is
great question for California II is great question for the
whole Union and obstacle shopd be thrown in the way
OF its correct settlement by the reguas course Of judicial
adjudication.