New-York tribune., 1868-07-02
THE YOSEMITE VALLEF QUESTION.

To The Kdtor Of The TEfbuHe
SIR: Your article in THE TRIBUNE of yester-
day on the Yosemite Valley bill, before the Senate
is so surprising to me- and evidently based upon mis-
conception both Of the law and facts OF the that
must beg leave to notice 1t through your columns You
rightly observe that the question Concerns not only the
State Of California but the whole Of the United States
and as the bill was reported by myself from the House
Committee Public Lands, which unanimously agreed
it, and had before them all the facts bearing upon the
case including the protest and other papers OF the Yo
Semitic Commissioners shall have no occasion TO deal In
random assertions volunteer statements Of interested
parties The real facts shall give them, are either
admitted be SUCH all sides, established beyond
all controversy by the testimony Of trustworthy
witnesses
You say that heItwo settlers in this valley whom you
denomnate two squatters," and "mercenary people,.
claimed COO out Of the LOO contained in the
Valley" The truth is they claim just 16O each. as
preemptons while the whole valley proper contains about
I5OO acres have before the official survey as my
authority which confirmed by the surveyor who made
It, who is now in Washington You give your readers to
understand that the two settlers went upon
this valley and set up their claim after Congress
had made the grant to California Who could thus have
imposed upon THE TRIBUNE am not able to say, but
these took up their abode in the valley long years
before the grant by Congress- built their cabins improved
their homeseads expended thousands Of dollars upon
them and encountered all the perls and privatons Incl
dent TO life remote from society and civilization. They
did this pioneers attracted by the beauty Of the
locality and invited by the laws Of Congress. which
pghted TO them the nations faith that the homes thus
selected should be theirs compliance with certain con-
ditions Of settlement and improvement. This pghted
faith would not have been violated Congress- at the
date Of this grant, had known that these pre-
emptOrs were on the land and IN the act OF
pefectng their title 1t was to undo the wrong done to
these pioneers that California passed the bin restoring
them to their rights subject 70 the ratification OF Con-
gress and this ratification Is provided for In the bill
before the Senate which has already passed the House
without opposition. Should the Senate defeat It, these
settlers will lose their claims, but will be driven to
ltigate their rights in the Federal Courts which have
uniformly held that the right Of preGmptOr is In
choate vested right, which only be taken from him
by bis own failure to go forward in complying with the
conditions Of the final title prescribed by law Neither
the State California Congress divert against
the will Of the settler; and 1t otherwise and the
claimants OF under the Presumption and Homestead
laws were mere tenants at will, and the nation should
be mean enough to write itself down liar TO the grand
armies Of pioneers who laying the foundations Of
States in the West the entire land policy Of the Govern
ment would be revoutionzed. 1t would klnde fire
hrou our great frontier which 1t might not be very
easy TO quench. quito agree with THE TRIBUNE when
1t says the question presented by this bill the
whole OF the United States" II does because 1t in
wolves the vital and long established principle ofour land
system, which has made our country what II is to-day
Our pioneer settlers the real heroes Of our tme and
not "speculatng squatters" whose rights may be tram
pied down by the Government They fighting hard
battle everywhere whether with wild beasts and
ages or railroad corporations Indian thieves would
not sacrifice principle vital to their welfare even 10
preserve the marvellous beauty OF the Yosemite Valley;
but that alternative is not presented The settlers re-
ferred to are honorable and worthy men. They have
carefully aDstaned from any acts Of trespass or wanton
ness In the valley One Of these settlers Mr. Hutchings
is well and most favorably known in California. He
is O man of culture and most ardent lover
of all that is grand and beautiful around him.
Those who know him best know that he will be the tender
guardian and not the spoer of the lovely objects which
feast the eye his chosen home You complain that he
did not ask the Government TO compensate him In money
for his home and the labor bestowed upon It, have
answered this complaint His preemption was his, and
80 long as he complied with the conditions Of the title no
power could take it from him. He has today right to
his claim which the courts Of the United States have
liberty TO disregard and TO deny this to impeach the
good faith Of the Government and offend every man in
the nation who is seeking title under the Preempton
laws Of the United States.
have felt it my duty to say this much In defense OF
men who though strangers to me- are upjustly assaed
and in vIndeaon Of great principle which cannot be
violated in any without seriously threatening It's
overthrow everywhere. OF course do not doubt that
you have said what you deemed just and proper AS you
have understood the facts OF this transaction, ana II
for the purpose Of having these facts truly set FORTH ana
properly understood that write Very respectfully,
-4.+ GEORGE w. JULIAN.
Washington, d. O., June Is, 1865.
Gen. Joseph f. Johnston, late of the Con
federate seryce, has received full pardon from the
daul influence III.