Year: 1866

The following letter of the Hon JOHN CONFESS.
has been handed Us for publication. 1t gives the
Hon. Senator's views on the California Land Bill !,
now before Congress


UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER.


WASHINGTON, June 4th 1866. !


DEAR SIR Your letter of pril 30th came duly.
II has reference to a section of bill introduced by
me for the purpose of giving all settlers an oppor-
tunty to get title to their land ds To me all set
tiers are alike, whether they have purchased from
Mexican grantees, or pretended Mexican grantees,
their assigns. or settled as preemptors, without
the pre- emption laws if they have made homes
am in favor Of their obtaining the title at the ear
liest dav. Neither do care whether the land set
tied upon is l60 acres or 600 acres; if man paid
money for il and has FUSED. improved, and con-
tinued in the actual possession of the same. and
where 70 valid adverse title exists, | think he
ought to be allowed to pay 81 25 an acre more for
it, and complete his title. Nor can see what the
question Of whether the Spectator acted badly or
not in originally claiming what he had not good
title to, has to do with the case; nor how it can
concern any other person who never had any pos
session to the land, and who never paid any money
for any part of it. If any such land exists where
the first party buying it did not reduce to use and
possession and continue the possession then they
cannot buy it; or if any other person has settled
upon it and remained upon it. they the first buyer,
cannot geta title to it under the bill, bat the
person so settling can get title to $50 acres which
is all that the re-emption laws allow to such set
tier. This latter policy has been fixed by general
laws and cannot be changed now. 1t may appear
not fair that purchaser of pretended grantee
should be allowed TO buy any quantity he may have
purchased and reduced to possession, while pre-
empton settler can only get leo acres. To this it
may lie replied that the preemption settler gets
less. though the purchaser from grantee gets
more or less as ii may happen to be; and as the
latter having once paid large consideration, it
seems to me just that he should be dealt by liber
ally.


beg to say to you that have neither Interest
nor sympathy with 'speculators,' nor land propri-
etors beyond the useful class who Craze or cult
vate the soil; that ! know nothing but dsposi-
ton as a juror might have. to do that which is
nearest right and for the greatest benefit.


1t is better that somebody shall have land. than
that nobody shall have it, and what our people
want most, as it appears to me, is. that Guarrels
over land shall cease and that every one shall
what is his. so that he may improve it and live IN
peace.


would not knowingly inure any one, for any one
else and am guided solely by what believe to be
the greatest good OF all. write this not so much
a. an answer to your letter before ne, as that ii
may be clearly understood that what | aim at is
peace and settlement of land titles, and will thank
YOU if you will give this to some local paper, so
that those concerned may see just what the work
is that | am trying to do.


am very truly your ohedient servant,


JOHN CONFESS.
To 4. MASRlcE. Esq, oroville, Cal.