Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/68/282/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 16:26:08+00:00

Document:
When the validity of a Mexican grant has been affirmed by a decree of the district court, and an appeal is taken by the claimant seeking a modification of the decree as to the extent of land embraced by the grant, but no appeal from such decree is taken by the United States, the validity of the grant is not open to consideration upon the appeal.
When a grant of land, issued and delivered, is subsequently altered in the quantity granted by direction of the grantor, on the application of the grantee, and is then redelivered to the grantee, such redelivery is in legal effect a re-execution of the grant.
granted, a record of juridical possession, delivered to the grantee soon after the execution of the grant, showing that the quantity of which possession was delivered was the larger quantity stated in the grant, is entitled to great consideration in determining the character of the alteration, particularly when there has been a long subsequent occupation of the premises.
Pacheco claimed a tract of land in California, known as the Bolsa de San Felipe, or Sack of St. Philip, under a grant alleged to have been issued to him in October, 1840, by Alverado, then Mexican Governor of the department.
In 1852, he presented a petition to the Board of Commissioners appointed by the Act of Congress of March 3, 1851, to settle the respective rights of the United States and claimants under the former government, asking for the confirmation of his claim. He produced in support of it before the board from the archives of the former government, his petition to the Mexican Governor, Alverado, for the grant specifically of the Bolsa de San Felipe, the reports of the local authorities, and their proceedings thereon. He produced also a formal grant to him, signed by the Governor and attested by the Secretary of state, bearing date on the 4th of October, 1840, with a record of juridical possession delivered to him.
the boundaries, at the limits whereof the grantee shall, besides placing the land marks, plant some fruit trees or wild ones of some utility."
"The land whereof mention is made comprises two square leagues (dos sitios de ganado mayor), a little more or less by the plat which accompanies the expediente. The magistrate who gives possession shall cause it to be measured according to law, leaving the surplus which may result to the nation for the necessary uses."
"that having obtained ownership of the land called Bolsa de San Felipe, which was granted to me on the 14th of October, 1840, as appears by the title and plat which I have the honor to accompany,"
"to give the possession asked for, to which effect, Friday, the 19th inst., is appointed. Let the neighboring landholders be summoned, appointing previously measurers and counters, informing them thereof, that they accept and take oath."
to the center of the land, where the judge ordered the petitioner to enter into possession, which the petitioner did by 'pulling up grass and making demonstrations as owner.' This proceeding was ordered to be recorded, and the original 'expediente' to be returned to the party, which order, as the record showed, had been obeyed, the proceedings being entered in the book of possessions."
The claimant proved that he had been in the use and occupation of the premises where he now was since the date of juridical delivery of possession.
The board adjudged the claim valid, and entered a decree confirming it to the extent of two square leagues, provided that quantity were contained within the boundaries called for in the grant and a map to which the grant referred, but if there were less than that quantity within such boundaries, then the confirmation was to be for such less quantity. In fact, the boundaries embraced a little more than two leagues.
made at least five years after the rest was written, although if ink of different consistencies had been used, it might have been written at the same time and bear the present appearance.
"I noticed when the grant was presented to me for my signature that the clerk had made a mistake by writing one league where he should have written two. I sent the grant back to the secretary's office to repair the mistake, and have the word 'two' inserted instead of 'one,' which he did, and reported to me to that effect."
"I gave the order that the title should be returned to the secretary's office, that that amendment should be made, and I was informed that the amendment was made accordingly."
handwriting resembled his own. This clerk was not produced, nor explanation offered for his absence.
In his petition to the Board of Land Commissioners, Pacheco represented that in October, 1840, a grant of a tract of land known by the name of Bolsa de San Felipe was issued to him by Alverado, then Governor of the Department of California.
The board adjudged the grant to be valid and confirmed the claim of the petitioner under it to the extent of two square leagues. On appeal, the district court modified the decree of the board, affirming the validity of the title of Pacheco but limiting it to one square league. From this latter decree the present appeal is taken by the executors of the claimant, he having died pending the proceedings. The United States were satisfied with the decree, and did not appeal. The case therefore stands in this Court upon the question whether the parties representing the claimant are entitled under the grant to a confirmation of the title to one or two square leagues.
No question can be raised here upon the genuineness and authenticity of the grant to Pacheco. The government having declined to appeal, the validity of the grant is not open for consideration.
instrument, and was subsequently altered to the word "two," or to be more accurate, an alteration was thus made in Spanish terms, corresponding with these English words. But, as the counsel of the appellants very justly observes, the grant could not be operative for any purpose except upon the conclusion that the alteration was made before its execution, or if subsequently made, that it was made with the sanction of the granting power. If valid, therefore, to pass one league, it must be held valid to pass the two leagues which it purports on its face to pass.
some discrepancy should exist in the statements of the governor at different times with reference to a transaction which had occurred more than eighteen years before is not surprising. His statements are consistent and positive to the effect that the alteration was made by his direction, and that the grant was delivered or redelivered afterwards; and they disagree only upon the point whether the alteration was made before or after the grant had been once delivered. The clerk in the office of the secretary, who attested the grant, corroborates the testimony of the governor that the alteration was made by his direction. The juridical possession of the two leagues, delivered to the grantee soon after the execution of the grant, and the subsequent occupation by him of the premises until his death, a period of nearly twenty years, dissipates whatever doubt might otherwise exist as to the truth of the statement of the governor in this particular.
provided for the measurement was produced and its precise length ascertained. The measurers then proceeded to measure off the land, the judge and the proprietors accompanying them. The measurement being effected, the parties went to the center of the land and there the judge directed the grantee to enter into the possession, which he did, and gave evidence of the fact "by pulling up grass and making demonstrations as owner of the land." Of the various steps thus taken, from the appointment of the day to the final act of delivery, a complete record was kept by the judge and by him transmitted to the grantee after being properly entered upon the "book of possessions." This record was produced and admitted in evidence, no objection being taken to its genuineness or authenticity. The first document in this record is a copy of the original grant produced to the judge, which specifies two square leagues as the quantity granted. That portion of the record which specifies the quantity measured also declares it to have been two square leagues, or a little more on account of the irregularity of the land. The solemnities attending this official delivery of possession were well calculated to make an impression upon the minds of the spectators and to preserve the recollection of the act. The ownership, extent, and general location of the land were matters thus brought within the knowledge of the neighborhood, and were no doubt afterwards the subjects of frequent reference among the adjoining proprietors. It is possible, but highly improbable, that serious alteration in the grant as to the quantity of the land would have escaped observation and exposure. No suspicion on the subject having been suggested for eighteen years, is a circumstance of no little weight to show that no grounds for suspicion ever existed.
The decree of the district court must be reversed and that court directed to enter a decree confirming the claim of the appellants to two square leagues under the grant to Pacheco.
* See 2 Taylor on Evidence § 1616; 1 Greenleaf on Evidence § 564; Doe v. Catomore, 16 Q.B., 745; Simmons v. Rudall, 1 Simons N.S. 136; Administrators of Beaman v. Russell, 20 Vt. 205; Jordan v. Stewart, 23 Pa.St. 244.

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