The morning call., 1894-07-25
UNITED STATES SENATE,

UNITED STATES SENATE,
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 10. 1894. I
lIr. Justice Stephen j. Field, Supreme Court
of the United States, Washington. ID. C.-DEAR
SIR: A rumor has reached us that an effort
viii be made in the new assignment OF Judges to
the different circuits occaSi0ned by the death
of Judge Blatchford and the appointment of
Judge White of Louisiana, TO induce you 10
change your circuit and leave the Pacific
Coast TO be located in New York. We should
deeply regret any such change. Your name is
so Intimately connected with the history of the
Pacific Coast that the people OF that section re-
gard you as belonging TO them, and would
keenly regret your change of residence
Your services in the California Legislature of
1851 were invaluable. The civil practice act
which you prepared and caused to be adop ed
was the foundation of judicial procedure in
California, and its principles were extended TO
the surrounding States and Territories.
provision which was incorporated in that act
became the basis for the system or mining law
which grew up In the Pacific States and Terri
tories and was finally sanctioned by Cong ress
ana decllred valid and salutary by our highe st
courts. Through a series of wise judicial de-
cistons by the State and Federal courts The
principles OF that provision have found CON-
prehensive system of law governing title TO
mineral lands throughout the mining region.
You provided that in actions respecting mining
claims The rules and regulations established
and enforced by the miners themselves at the
particular bar or diggings might be offered In
evidence and when not in coulter with the
laws of the State or of the United States, should
govern the decision OF the action. The princi-
pie of local self-government which you recog-
niZed has been followed by the people and all
legislative bodies and courts up 10 the present
time, and the beneficial results OF the wisdom
of that principle TO the great mining industry
of the West cannot be overestimated.
Immediately after your arrival in California
In 1S49 you became prominent figure as one
of the foremost lawyers at the bar in the new
State. Your practice in great cases involving
titles TO land mines, and all other kinds OF
property and interests soon made your name
a household word throughout the Pacific States
and Territories. A large part of the arabic
lands OF the State were claimed under Spanish
and Mexican grants. The laws customs and
usages of Spain and Mexico, upon which these
claims to titles depended. were not familiar
TO the people of the older States, who soon be-
came great majority OF the inha btants of the
recently acquired territory. The settlement of
these titles in the farming regions and in the
towns, involved as they were Ill difficulty aud
uncertainty. was a IL Dor of great magnitude.
In 1857 you were elected Justice OF the
Supreme Court of The State of California at a
time when there were great confusion and eX
element throughout the State on account of
the unsettled condition of titles of all descrip-
lions. During the six years that you occupied
the bench as Que uf the Justices of the supreme
Court OF California you brought order out OF
chaos aud laid the foundation Tor the settlement
OF the yeXed questions which retarded the
progress and paralyZed the prosperity Gf the
State.
During the thirty.One years that you have
occupied seat upon the bench OF the Supreme
Court OF the United States you have continued
the great work which you had so successfully
commenced while a Justice of the Supreme
Court of California. The people OF California.
and particularly those OF San Francisco are IN
debted TO you more than TO any other person or
officer-and IL would not be too much TO say all
otherS-for the settlement OF title and security
of properly which they now enjoy Inc great
learning and wisdom which you have displayed
concerning the settlement of claims based upon
Mexican grants have won Weil-merlted enco-
mlums. Whenever any vexed question arises on
the Pacific Coast affecting property the people
are accustomed to look to you for solution
and final settlement.
aThe people of the Paciflc States and Terri
tories are Justly proud of the great services
you have rendered 10 the whole country
by your learning ability and judicial wisdom
In expounding the constitution and laws OF the
United States, ana they appreciate the COM
pliment TO you which.a desire OF the bar of New