The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-12
THE SUFFER- LAND CLAIM.

/
! WAsHINGroN Jan. 6.-The public will be inter-
ested in brief sketch of the triangular case of the
United States rs. John A. Suffer, which has been
| occupying the attention of the Supreme Court and
in which the concluding argument has been to-day
! made by General Butler, of Lowell
Suffer Is wel-known resident of California.
He is by birth Swiss, and, having received mill
tary education, he entered the sSwiss Guard' of
| Charles Y. of France as a commissioned officer
when that branch of the Bourbon family was over
| thrown, Sutter fled from France and came to the
United States. In 1887 a restless spirit of adven
ture led him to California, the northern frontier of
which was then almost impossible wilderness
unnha6ited except by rowing bands of warke and
| hostile Indians.
In the midst of this wilderness Suffer settled-he
erected fort and planted cannon-he built houses
and workshops, grist-mill and tannery-he had
thousands of horses and cattle-he overawed the In
dams into peace and friendness and taught them to
till the ground of which he had square miles under
cultivation. Hisestablishment soon became known
and 1t became resting place for Americans crossing
the country Suffer received and treated all COM
ers with almost unbounded hospitality.
When IN the Fall of 1874 Generals Castro and Pho
Pico revolted against thelawful Governor, Michel
torena, Sutter (who was at that time a captain in
the Mexican army raised at his own expense a
company of over 200 men and marched to the assis-
lance of Micheltorena. Micheltorena was defeated
and obliged to flee the country, and Suffer was ia
ken prisoner of war. Castro, who was then de-
clared Governor, released Suffer after a short de-
tention, and sent him back to his establishment
From this time although wearing appearance
of outward friendship, Castro and Sutter looked
upon each other with mutual distrust and suspicion
Castro endeavored to have Suffer driven from
the country, and Suffer, to protect himself, gath
cred about his fort large body of emigrants
Castro melted the hostile Indians to attack the
! fort, and he himself proclaimed the opening of
hostilities by ordering all strangers in the neigh
borhood of the fort to leave the country. At this
time, Coz: Fremont OPPORTUNITY arrived at the fort
He was himself in great danger of attack. After
some elaboration, the United States flag was
raised and the first steps taken which made
California one of the States of this Union. 1t was
in Suffers milrace that the first discovery of gold
| In California was subsequently made.
At the time Suffer first made his settlement land
was OF no value, and could be had by the square
league almost for the ask ing. After California be-
came part OF the United States, land became val
table, and Congress passed act providing for the
appointment of a Land Commissioner for the settle
ment of land claims.
| Before the Land Commissioners, Suffer filed his
claim for 80 square leagues of land. He claimed
eleven leagues by grant which he asserted was
made in lS4l by Gov. Alvarado and TWENTY-FIVE
| leagues by grant made in 1S45 by Gov Michel
torena, reward for his extraordinary services
IN endeavoring to sustain the power of that Gov
ernor. The Land Commission allowed the claim,
and thence the case has come to the Supreme Court
by appeal on the part of the United States Nor is
| it to be wondered at that the case excites great
interest, it is said that if allowed to its iu ex
tent and properly located the claim will be worth
$50 900, and will include within its bounds two
large cities.
| The result of the case is, however, of little i'm
| portance to Gen. Suffer, the whole claim is
probably in the hands of spectators, and beyond
| his reach.
One of the questions which has come before the
Supreme Court is where the land in question shall
be located the claim being floating one within
certain limits. Upon this there is conflict be-
| tween the counsel representing Gen. Suffer-
Messrs. John j. Crittenden and Robert j. Walker
| appeared in the name of Suffer for those who
bought land of the spectators under Suffers title
In and about the city of Sacrameato; while Messrs
B. +. Butler and N. ST. John Green, of Massachu-
sets, appeared for Suffer and those who have set
tied upon the lands, upon which it is endeavored by
the spectators to locate this grant.
Mr.. Crittenden, upon the opening of the argu-
ment, made motion that both sections of the
counsel appearing for Suffer should not be heard
but after brief discussion the Court decided to
hear both Mr.. Crittenden and Mr.. Butler for SUIT
ter Then Mr.. Crittenden moved that Mr.. Walker
might come in to assist him, and the Court per-
mltted it. The Government contends that both
grants are invalid, and that the boundaries are
uncertain, and that therefore the land cannot be
| located at all.
Such is resume of this important case CLEANED
from my notes of Messrs. Butler and Crittenden's
able arguments, and the motions of opposing coun-
sci which | have heard. 1t is by far the most i'm
portant case which has come before the Court this
session. and excites much interest among the Cali
fornlans here, some of whom own valuable prop
erty the title of which is involved The amount of
land In dispute is three times greater than FIRE.
monts claim, and it the grant is confirmed it will
divert from the Treasury more money than has
ever yet gone out of it on single claim.