The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-03
TIE LNHABITAgTS or M1RIP0SA AND THE
CLAM or COLONEL Fremont.

ceedings Of convention held in Mariposa county Cal
the 26th of June last by the miners and sottle Of
that county. Capt John Boiling presided, and Messn
John w, Ross and William Godfrey oticiatod sece
taries The following resolutions were unanimously
adopted
Whereas three years have rolled by since the issuing
of the patent by which the gross wrong perpetraed upon
citizens sanctioned by general government
three years since fraudulent claim which has thus far
proved an eiecua bar to the prosperity of this
nifty, has, through Misrepresentation OF the facts in tho
ease, been fastened upon by " the strong the
law and for the first time, the people Of MarpoSa
county, without distinction OF locality sect party
have together as deliberativc body consult upon
the best adapted nd ourselves of curse which
Is fast becoming if IL is not already burden heavier
than bear. The accomplishing silence, which
from the beginning has BEEN until quite recently
fully preserved in the first instance the great
of the success attending the establishing the claim
while attery it has been equally potent in creating tho
false impression which has gone abroad in relation 10 the
character and designs Of the population located upon
Las Maposas, and the respective positions Of Il
occupants aud the reputcd Of this of country
II is well,known fact that the popular sentiment il
and has been opposed to the present location
OF the Fremont grant yet variety of causes have com
bned 10 smother the open and free expression Of opinion
which in all popular is the prelude TO united
and effective aotoa. The fatteng and oft-repeated
sutnces which have from time to time been given OF the
liberal policy which would be pursued by the 'lord Of
the manor towards those of hiS tenantry who would
offer opposition to his pians-ihc Munchausen tales OF
the capital be invested in ditch for the espe
cial benefit of Mariposa county each had their
day and done their share towards forwarding the we'll
laid plans of schening land spectators. With the out
side world the apparent apathy Of the miners and settlers
has been taken proof positive that opposition their
schemes would find favor with the people while the
contrary, deeply seated conviction of the fraud and in
EQUITY of the entire transaction has BEEN almost without
exception, the sentiment of our working This fact
being conceded and the subject having been already placed
in its true light before the people it is only necessary
devise united and systematic plan OF opposition
the danger which threatens homes and property
Ours is peculiar case although the history of Spanish
grants furnish abundance of instances the gross
est frauds yet the location of ten square leagues upon
rich mineral lands, already occupied, and to all nen
and purposes owned, by industrious population, is
without parallel in the history of country 1t has
been the uniform and avowed policy of general gov
eminent to throw open the mineral lands Of California
her citizens without money and without price Act
ing upon this policy Congress has refused to lease
sell any portion of this species of public domain but
on the contrary, has virtually said to citizens 'ths
is yours ; do with it you will. =
Believing that the confirmation Of this claim has been
made through Misrepresentation of the character, re-
sources and population of the territory thus included
and not from desire upon the part Of our government
to confer any special privileges upon Col. j. G. Fremont
and believing that firm and united opposition to hs
petensions and proper showing Of the facts in the case
will receive the attention from which the
magnitude of the wrong demands and having implicit
confidence in the justice Of be it therefore
Resolved That petition be drawn up mbodyng all
the fraud practised the United States government and
the miners and settlers of this county, in locating and
surveying said grant and that the same be presented
Congress at its next session. respectfully asking that the
necessary action be taken by that body to aside the
patent frauduleny obtained
Resolved That the miners and settlers of Mariposa
county recognise equity and justice in the decisions and
doctrines ably laid down by the supreme court Of this
State viz That the minerals and the necessary Incidents
wood and water to extract the same, insepaIable
and that under said decisions the rights and property
miners are, and have been protected and the staple
production of this State fostercd.
Resoped That the miners and settlers of this county
view with Indignation and contempt the present
and pettogging policy Of Fremont and his partners in
denying his citizenship of the State of California in
der that they may invoke the aid of the United States
circuit court the judge of which, we regret to see by
the proceedings in recent case shows disposition to
encourage harassing policy contrary to the decisions
and doctrines laid down by the supreme court Of this
State which we look upon the law Of this Statcanl
under which we have expended and expanding large
of money in developing the mineral resources Of
the county, as aw-abiding citizens,
Resoooa, That the miners and settlers OF this county
will not allow any single miner to be disturbed in his
acquired rights and possessions to be harrassed
in the development Of the same, by Fremont his part
ncrs or their agents and we hereby recommend them
to desist from all such proceedings have ample
proof that the Fremont claim is fraud and that the
United States government will encourage any kind Of
oppression to be prctised bona tide settlers and miners
who have acquired rights and possessions and expended
lent location of the Fremont grant
Resolved That the miners and settlers OF this county CRATE
fully acknowledge the friendly feeling and protered aid
extended to them by their throughout the
several mining counties Of the State and they do heartily
sympathize with the miners of Yuba county who arc
suffering under the incubus Of another cattle grd ex-
tended into the gold regions and claimed by Thomas O.
Larkin.
Resced That tho miners and settlers of this county
repe with scorn the epthets of " thieves robbers,
and mobiles applied to them by Fremont and his al
licsnot one single act of theft robbery or mobm has
been committed by any miner and settler this county;
the contrary Fremont and his agents have been guilty
of robbery theft, and mobsm by forcbly dposscssing
the MERGED Mining Company Of their righul and Justly
acquired property which they are now Withholding from
them, and robbng by extracting the gold from the Pine
Tree vein, which is part Of their property
Rsord That the attention Of the United States dis
tict attorney for this State be respectfully called to tho
petition of Juan b. Avarado dated October 10Th 1874
and filed in the United States Surveyor generals office on
the 10Th july 1885, which petition shows that Avarado
had abandoned his ten leagues Of land in Maposa coun
ty, and removed his claim to Ncaco' in San Rafael
county the Bay of San Francisco and that c be so
cted to examine into the fraudulent location Of the Ere
mont grant and validity of the patent by which the
United States have been efrauded and the lust and law
ful Of great number of hard working miners
jcopaIdized, n rR
On motion Of Mr.. Powell the following resolution was
also adopted
Reooed That, in the opinion Of this meeting tho late
decision OF the supreme court of this State in the action
of Boggs lessee of Fremont the MERGED Mining Com
pany is vindication and is conclusive Of the rights of