The weekly Butte record., 1866-06-16
Conness' Land Bill.

Conness' Land Bill.
This bill as it now stands in the Senate Of the
United States is not one fit 10 pass into a law. 1t
has, doubtless been matured by the wisdom and
skill of the sober portion of the California dele
CATION but contains nevertheless some serious OBJ
jections, to which we propose briefly to alude. We
/ find it in the Sacramento Union, of May 2Gth, and
/ that paper, instead of discussing the merits Of
/ proposed law applicable TO California, simply
companies its publication with article on the
Need and hope Of Italy, The reason is obvious.
The bill is a swinde and outrage upon the people
California, designed for the benefit of Senators and
+ COngreSsuen, and spectators in fraudulent MeX-
can grants, and a fair discussion OF its merits
might adversely affect the pockets of that paper
Having no pockets of our TO be thus affected,
We propose to give it kick in behalf of the people
at large, even if we do happen to hit the seats OF
honor Of our "only sober representatives We
claim for the people of California the full advant-
age of the liberal pre-empton laws heretofore pass
ed by Congress and denounce every attempt to de-
prive them Of the benefit of those laws as fraudu-
lent and injurious to the interests of the State
The 9Th section of the bill in question: provides as
follows
in good faith. and for valuable consideration
have purchased lands of Mexican grantees. which
grants have subsequently been rejected and have
used, improved and continued lii the actual posses
sion Of the same and where valid adverse title
(eXcept the United StateS) exists, such purch ssers
may purchase the same, after having such lands
surveyed under existing laws, at the minimum
price established by law, upon first making proof
of the facts as required in this section under regu-
lations to be provided by the Commissioner of the
General Land Office.
1t is well known that the greater portion of the
valuable land of California has been covered by
Mexican grants, and their effect has been to retard
the settlement and prosperity of the State. Many
OF these grants have been rejected. because they
were found to be fraudulent, and of them
downright forgeries. 1t is this class of grants the
bill proposes to revive by allowing the purchaser to
pay 81 25 per acre therefor. The purchasers of
these grants purchased with their eyes open aud
upon speculation. Many of them have re4sod in
small quantities to settlers, at high prices and the
argument used this: If the grant be confil:ne
then your title will be complete; if it shall he re-
jected, you will have your preemption clam to fail
back upon, which viii take precedence of others
Those who purchased grants that have been rejec-
ted, and sold small parcels to settlers realized
profits that should cradle them to make good their
guarantees without asking the government to be-
stow upon them in violation of the pre-empton
laws, and against its settled policy, hundreds of
leagues of the best agricultural lands in California.
Where Mexican grants have been rejected the title
remains in the United States. 1t should be open
to settlers under the pre-emption laws and not be
given in leagues to individuals. As it now stands
the land covered by these rejected grants are gov
ernment lands. This bill propose to give those who
clam the grants the privilege of purchasing the
full tracts, without any limitation to qrantity,
and without regard to pre- emption claimants upon
them The sections of the bill that provide for the
confirmation of lands located by the State renders
such location subject to priority over preemption
claimants and requires them TO be "in strict ac-
cordance with the public land system of the gov
ernmen: but not so in regard TO the rejected Mex
lean grants-the purchaser of the rejected grant is
given the privilege of purchasing the entire amount
of land claimed under his fraudulent grant at the
minimum price of government lands to he disposed
OF to those who settled and improved the same at
from Sl0 to SIS per acre. 1t is only directly in
opposition 10 the public land system OF the gov
ernmeut but it creates monopoly of all the best
agricultural lands in the State 1t is downright in
justice to the State at large, as il will prevent the
State from efecting locations upon any of the val
uable lands within her boundaries. The 500 600
acres heretofore grantei hy ongress TO this State
for School, or other purposes might as well have
been retained to be disposed OF by this BILL for its
effect IS to withdraw all lands claimed by spurious
Mexican grants from such location, as well as 10
nuIlify and destroy individual claims under the
pre-emption laws. II is monstrous swindle, and
should e1ectually consigu to oblivion the entire
representation Of California in Congress, shoali it
be passed into a law. Those who could originate
such a swadle upon a State conided to their repre-
seutatoa are simply vermn To reason with them
would be like arguing with rats. To tell them that
their proceedings are particularly dssraceful and
OF 4 character which must expose them to the
tempt Of all honest and fair minded residents of the
State would probably be as useless as 10 read the
sermon en- the moant to delegation Of coyotes
The better way woali be to appeal directly to Con-
Sress as a body 10 defeat a measure frausht with
sacA disaster to the State. The State at large and
Actual settlers under the presumption laws are en-
titled TO some consideration in the disposal OF gov
ernmeat lands. Those who would originate such a
scheme Of plunder against those they have been
chosen 10 represent, are justly described by Tenny
son, in his Ia memogisu. as
the beast, who takes
His license in the field of time
UIfetterei by the sense of crime
To whom 4 conscience never wakes
SCHOOL LAw.-We are nnder obligations to r. H
ALLEN. County Superintendent of Common Sch ools
for 4 copy OF the revised School law of California.