The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-08
THE HAsKIN LETTER
LAND TITLES. X. Texas and California
! BY Frederick J. Haskin.

The war between the United States
and Mexico which followed the in
dependence OF Texas and resulted in
the annexation OF California to the
United States grew out OF questions
Of titles 10 land. Such questions have
frequently been the real moving IN
fuences in wars and revolutions, but
In none more distinctly than in the
Mexican war which grew out OF the
following circumstances.
In 1925, the Mexican government
desired to encourage Immigration
into the eastern part OF the country
and an act was passed offering I'M
ducements to settlers. The action
taken was not new departure, as
founders Of colonies had always re-
ceiyed recognition under the Spanish
system, but the terms offered were
unusually liberal.
Anticipating immigration from the
United States, the Mexican govern
ment endeavored to provide against
political complications by restricting
twenty league Of territory adjacent
to the border of the United Etates
and ten leagues on the Gulf Coast
within which no grant could be made
without special permission OF the gov
eminent.
Under the law OF 1925, contractors
or improvisation who should settle
100 families on Texan lands were or.
fered a bonus Of FIVE leagues Of graz
ing land and> five "labores." The
limit to each impressario was fixed
at the bonus corresponding to that
for seating eight such colonies. Each
married member Of colony was
promised a "labore" OF agricultural
land containing III acres, II he I'M
tended to follow agriculture, or a
league OF 4251 acres OF grazing land
If he intended to become a herdsman
and in case Of qualification to. become
both a husbandman and herdsman,
he was promised both allotments,
amounting to 442S acres, which con-
stituted the league and lahore" IA
nous in Texas annals.
The exceptionally favorable terms
on which land could be obtained in
Texas created something of a fufore
throughout the. United States, and
the hostility OF the Indian tribes
which had made the eastern lands Of
Mexico of little value to that gov
eminent had no deterrant effect on
the adventurous spirits OF the frontier
of English speaking states. Colonies
were quickly formed, either on the
cooperative plan or under the leac-
ershtp of men OF enterprise and the
seven years following the announce
ment of the terms of ,colonization saw
the first exodus to the southwest.
In 1892, the number OF colonies from
the United States and the active par
ticipation of the new settlers in the
political affairs Of Texas had become
4 so threatening to the Spanish Texan
supremacy that the act of 1926 was
repealed and policy was inaugur-
ated of insisting strictly on the full
| fillmept OF all the terms under which
the colonists already seated had on
tanned possession of their lands.
Wherever possible, forfeitures were
declared against the Anglo-Americans
and efforts were made to check their
Increasing power. In spite OF its in
crease in population, Texas was kept
attached to the state Of Cohuila, a
state which was Overwhelmingly
Spanish in population and relief was
denied the Anglo-Americans from
measures which they felt to be OPP
pressive and unjust in view of the
invitation under which they had come
into the country.
In 1885, the leaders of colonies took
advantage of situation resulting
from a revolution in the central gov
eminent OF Mexico and declared that
the compact which had previously
united the Mexican states had been
dissolved by reason of this revolution.
A government OF Texas by Anglo
Americans was set up and land grants
within Texan territory were suspend
ed until a permanent arrangement for
a land office on the plan of those in
the United States could be made.
A sympathetic movement in favor
OF the Texan colonists and political
consideration led the United States to
affirm the independent status of Tex
as. This later brought on the war
with Mexico in which the latter coun-
try was defeated. At the close OF the
war, Congress passed an act granting
all the public lands in Texas to that
state.
| The state of Texas had, therefore.
on the formation of its constitution,
1 to deal with the private Spanish titles
and claims such as were dealt with
BY the United States as to the res
idue of the land which, was acquired
4 from Mexico. The Texans proceeded
to cut off, as far as possible, the
bases OF claims which would prove
troublesome to the titles of coIonists
and actual occupants OF lands. BY
1 the thirteenth article of the constitu-
] ton OF Texas, all fines, penalties and
Fescheats which had accrued or might
have accrued to the former govern
ment of Mexico were declared to be
the property Of the state and were,
by the constitution, transferred to
the persons in actual occupation of
the land affected.
The apparent intent and probable
effect Of the provisions OF the consti-
tuition was to favor actual settlers
who had come into Texas prior. tc
and during the revolutionary period.
to release them, when they were ac-
tual occupants and had adhered to the
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