Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-04-06
THF san FRANCISCO LAND CASE.

The Supreme Court of the United States are now en-
gagged with the argument OF the famous San Francisco
.aud The subject in dispute is the title the
OF land on which the greater part OF the city OF san
Francisco stands IL exceeds ten thousand acres
extent reaching the Pacific the west, the
bay Of San Francisco the east aud extending about
six miles South. Large and valuable stores and resien
have been erected upon this land by persons having
a squatter title only The assessed value of the aud in
dispute is s. 100000. The parties 10 the dispute are
the United States Government the side, and the
San Francisco Land Association really the other side
although Mr.. Bolton nominally appears the record
The San Francisco Land Association is composed Of many
hundreds of the prominent items of Pennsylvania
aud is located Philadelphia. That Association have
paid several millions dollars for the claim which they
now rely, which grant made by the Mexican gov
eminent in California prior to the late Mexican war; to
j. T. SantilOn, under date OF February 10TH 1916
The gold discovery in California not made until May
S4S At the time of the grant to Santilon, San Fran
cisco contained but few inhabitants and the in
question a sandy and barren waste. The tract was
offered for sale at public auction in January, 1916 and
no bid could be obtained for it.
The dispute between the United States and the Land
Association turns chiefly upon the question whether the
grant to Sanon under which they claim was really eX-
ecuted at the date it purports bear-February 10TH
1916. The United States now insist that the alleged
grant either forgery fraudulent anedaug and
that in fact the signature and the seal of the Mexican
secretary OF State fabricated in lS49-afcr the
May, ls4s by which treaty all the unoccpied land in
California vested in the United States Government.
The decision Of the board of Land Commissioners of
California in favor of the San.lon grant-both the
Circuit and District Judges of the United States concur
red in affirming this decision The United States will be
represented in the Supreme Court by Attorney General
Black and Hon. VIM. B. Reed, and the San Francisco
Land Association by Hon. X. j. Waker,J Mason Camp
bell and s.. Geo &c 7. Campbell.
LETTER FROM GEN. HOUsroN.-A letter from General
Hodson Of Texas 20 the Secretary of War; dated Mar
~ has been published detailing the late troubles the
Rio Grade. He denies that he proposed crossing
over into Mexico with an armed force, although such
step was in accordance with tue wishes and impulses of
the people of Texas lie has also, since 1857, been
written to from various parts Of the United States urging
him TO invade Mexico with view 10 the establishment
OF protectorae and assuring him that men, money and
srms would be placed his disposal if he would engage
in the enterprise
To these overtures he never made any favorable re-
sponse His recent action therefore, in calling out vol
unteers he has been grossly msreFresented Tex
a. not only on the frontier but in of the interior
counties has lately suffered severely from Indian depre
daons and he took the best means al his command to
stop the evil In so doing he consulted VITA the United
states ocers and deferred IN all things to the Federal
requirements He trusts the Department will call out a
regiment OF ranges, and attempt to negotiate with the
Indians,