HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 157 



purposes. There was room enough for al]. There- 

 fore, the claimants or proprietors did not molest one. 

 another, or inquire into the validity of titles. 



" These extensive grants are described by natural 

 boundaries, such as mountains, bays, and promontories, 

 •which, in many instances, might allow of a variation 

 of several miles in the establishment of a corner with 

 chain and compass. 



'' By the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the United 

 States purchased all the rights and interests of 

 Mexico to and in California. This purchase not only 

 embraced all the lands which had not been granted 

 by Mexico, but all the reserved minerals and metals, 

 and also reversionary rights which might accrue to 

 Mexico from a: want of compliance on the part of the 

 grantees with the conditions of their grants, or a want 

 of 'perfection in the grants. 



'' It will, be perceived that this is a subject of very 

 great importance, not only to the people of California, 

 but to the United States, and calls for prompt and 

 efficient action on the part of the Government. It is 

 believed that the appointment of competent commis- 

 sioners, fully empowered to investigate these titles, in 

 a spirit of kindness towards the claimants, with 

 power to confirm such titles as justice may seem to 

 demand, or with instructions to report their proceed- 

 ings and awards to Congress, for confirmation or 

 rejection, will be the best and perhaps the only satis- 

 factory mode of adjusting this complex and difficult 

 question." 



He also makes the following observations and re- 

 commendations concerning the extent and value of 

 the land, to which the title of the government is un- 

 questionable, and the best mode of improving it. 



14 



