Gonzalez v. United States, 63 U.S. 161 (1859)

U.S. Supreme Court

Gonzalez v. United States, 63 U.S. 22 How. 161 161 (1859) Gonzalez v. United States

63 U.S. (22 How.) 161

APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED

STATES FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Syllabus

Where a grant of land in California describes it by name and boundaries, and then states that the land of which donation is made is one league in length and three-quarters of a league in breadth, a little more or less, as shown by the map which goes with the expediente, with the usual reservations of the sobrante or overplus to the use of the nation, the grant will be confirmed to the extent of one league in length and three-quarters of a league in breadth, without extending it to the boundaries mentioned.

All the title papers are set forth in the opinion of the Court.

Page 63 U. S. 165

MR. JUSTICE McLEAN delivered the opinion of the Court.

"[Translation of Title]"

"Provisionally authorized by the Administration of the Maritime Custom-House of Monterey for the years 1832 and 1833."

"Jose Figueroa, General of Brigade of the national Armies of Mexico, Commander General, Inspector, and Superior Political Chief of Upper California."

"Whereas Juan Jose Gonzales, a Mexican by birth, has, for his own personal benefit and that of his family, petitioned for the land known by the name of San Antonio, or El Pescadero, bounded by the rancho Antonia Buelnos Sierra, the coast, and the Arroyo of Buntano, the proper measures and examinations being previously made as required by laws and regulations, using the powers which are conferred on me in decree of the seventh of this month, in the name of the Mexican nation, I have granted him the aforesaid land, declaring to him the ownership of it by these presents -- said grant being understood to be in entire conformity with the provisions of the laws, subject to the approval or disapproval of the most excellent territorial deputation and of the supreme government, under the following conditions:"

"1. That he will submit to those which may be established by the regulation which is to be made for the distribution of vacant lands, and, in the meantime, neither the grantee nor his heirs can divide or alienate that which is granted to them, subject to any tax, entail, pledge, mortgage, or other encumbrance, even for pious purposes, nor convey it in mortmain."

"2. He may enclose it, without prejudice to the crossings, roads, and servitudes; he will enjoy it freely and exclusively,

Page 63 U. S. 166

making such use or cultivation of it as may best suit; but within one year, at furthest, he shall build a house, and it shall be inhabited."

"3. When the ownership is confirmed to him, he will request the proper magistrate to give him juridical possession in virtue of this title, by whom the boundaries will be marked out, in which, besides the bounds, he will place some fruit or forest trees of a useful character."

"4. The land of which donation is made him is one league in length by three-quarters of a league in breadth, a little more or less, as shown by the map which goes in the expediente; the magistrate who may give the possession will cause it to be in conformity with the ordinance, in order to mark out the boundaries, leaving the surplus which may result to the nation for its convenient uses."

"5. If he contravene these conditions, he will lose his right to the land, and it will be subject to denouncement by another person."

"In consequence I order that the present serving him for a title, and being held as firm and valid, note be made of it in the corresponding book, and it be delivered to the person interested."

"Given in Monterey, on the 24th December, 1833."

"JOSE FIGUEROA"

"[Signed] AGUSTIN V. ZAMORANO, Sec'y"

"OFFICE OF THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF THE"

"UNITED STATES FOR CALIFORNIA"

"Samuel D. King, Surveyor General &c., and as such now having in my office and under my custody a portion of the archives of the former Spanish and Mexican territory or department of Upper California, do hereby certify that the fifteen preceding and hereunto annexed pages of tracing paper, numbered from one to _____, inclusive, and each of which is verified by my initials, S.D.K., exhibit true and accurate copies of certain documents on file and forming part of the said archives in this office."

"In testimony whereof &c. "

Page 63 U. S. 167

"[Translation of Expediente]"

"Provisionally authorized by the maritime custom house of Monterey, for the years one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three and 1834."

"[Signed] FIGUEROA"

"[Signed] JOSE RAFAEL GONZALES"

"To his Excellency the Commanding General:"

"I, citizen Juan Jose Gonzales, native of the Mission of Santa Cruz, resident of the Town of Branciforte, residing and employed in said Mission of Santa Cruz, and mayor domo of the same; married, with a family of thirteen persons; having served the nation eight years and two months as a soldier, and having obtained my discharge from his excellency the commanding general Don Manuel Victoria, with the condition of furnishing a recruit, which I did at my own expense; and finding myself with 500 head of large cattle, and having no land or place to settle on; tired of the trouble of being together in the same village where I have been, and am unable to progress on account of the same; living where I have rated a great loss in the stock which I have placed twelve years ago; and being now actually favored by the same Mission of Santa Cruz, where my deceased father sacrificed himself for twenty years, and where I served in his place, the salaries of this post rent in the same mission, Friar Antonio Real, satisfied with my services and those of my deceased father, has wished to favor me, by assigning to me the rancho of San Antonio, formerly El Pescadero Realengo, which is not occupied by said mission, is distant twelve leagues to the northwest, bounded by the rancho of San Gregoria, which place _____ delineated on the accompanying paper, including a square of about four leagues, extending from the coast to the sierra, and from the rancho of San Gregoria rancho occupied by citizen Antonio Buelna to the rancho of La Punta de Nuevo, which is the further occupied by the mission, and desiring a security or guarantee in the same place, I apply, with the consent of the minister, to your excellency, with the due respect, praying that you will be pleased to give me in possession the aforesaid place, in consideration of my family, and which will

Page 63 U. S. 168

confer favor and grace on your most attached subject and servant, who wishes you many years of life &c."

"JUAN GONZALES"

"SANTA CRUZ, November 26, 1833"

"MONTEREY, November 29, 1833"

"In conformity with the laws on the matter, let the ayuntamiento of the Town of Branciforte report whether the person interested in this petition possesses the requisites to the _____ attended to in his petition; whether the land he asked is included in the 20 leagues from the boundary, or 10 from the sea shore, referred to in the law of August, 1824; if it is irrigable, dependent on the seasons or pasture of land; if it belongs to the ownership of any private individual, corporation of pueblo, with everything else which may be proper to explain the matter."

"This being concluded, it will pass this expediente to the reverend father minister of the Mission of Santa Cruz, that he may report what he knows on the matter. Senor Don Jose Figueroa, general of brigade and commandant, inspector general, and superior political chief of the territory, thus ordered, decreed, and signed, to which I certify."

"FIGUEROA"

"AGUSTIN V. ZAMORANO, Sec'y"

"In compliance with your excellency's _____ to this ayuntamiento, under your command in the decree of November 29th, 1833, to report whether the person interested in this petition possesses the requisites to be attended to in his request, and if the land he asks for be included in those referred to in the law."

"The land asked for by the person interested in this petition may now be granted to him, for he has all the circumstances required to be attended to, and is entitled to it."

"It is an unoccupied place; has no irrigable lands; has land dependent on the seasons; has been recognized as the property of the Mission of Santa Cruz; and for the purposes it may serve, I sign this with the second regidor, on account of the absence _____, in the town hall of the Town of Branciforte, on the 2d December, 1833."

"[Signed] ANTONIO ROBLES"

"[Signed] JOSE MARIA SALASON"

Page 63 U. S. 169

"I agree to there being granted the petitioner, Juan Jose Gonzales, the place he asks for, as it is a place which this mission does not at present occupy; nor is it deemed necessary for it, in consideration of the fact that it has land enough for its cattle, and that, being unoccupied, it is considered public land; besides, when the mission occupied it _____ had abundance of cattle, _____ have died and diminished, and the few that remain do not need the land. He is a person of merit, and the mission ought to place him before any other person. He has all the requisites, and is entitled to it; and _____ testimony I sign, on the 7th December, 1833."

"Friar ANTONIO SURRA DEL REAL"

"Minister of Santa Cruz"

"MONTEREY, December 10, 1833"

"Let it pass to the alcalde of this capital, before whom the party will produce, on information of three fit witnesses, who will be questioned upon the following points:"

"1. If the petitioner is a Mexican by birth; if he has served in the army; if he is married, and has children; if he is of good conduct."

"2. If the land he asks for is of the ownership of any individual, or corporation or pueblo; if it is irrigable, dependent on the seasons, or pasture land, and what is its extension."

"3. If he has cattle with which to stock it, or the possibility of acquiring them."

"This examination being made, let him return the expediente for its decision. His excellency the political chief, commanding general, inspector and general of brigade, Don Jose Figueroa, thus ordered, decreed, and signed it, to which I certify."

"[Signed] JOSE FIGUEROA"

"[Signed] AUGUSTUS V. ZAMERANO"

"Let the party interested in this expediente be notified to present the witnesses who are to be examined on the points included in the superior decree of the 10th instant which precedes this. "

Page 63 U. S. 170

"Thus I, the alcalde, decreed, ordered, and signed it, with the assisting witnesses, in the established form."

"MARCELINO ESCOBAR"

"Assisting witnesses:"

"[Signed] JOSE MARIA MALDORADO"

"[Signed] JOSE ANTONIO ROMERO"

"On the same day, present Juan Jose Gonzales, the foregoing act was made known to him, and having understood it, he said that he heard it, and that he presents citizens Salvio Pacheco, Manuel Larios, and Felipe Hernandez, and he signed it with me and the assisting witnesses."

"[Signed] N. ESCOBAR"

"[Signed] JUAN GONZALES"

"Assisting witnesses:"

"[Signed] JOSE MARIA MALDORADO"

"[Signed] JOSE ANTONIO ROMERO"

"In the port of Monterey, on the 13th day of the month of December, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, present, Salvio Pacheco, witness presented on the part of the persons interested, oath was received in form of law."

"The petitioner is a Mexican by birth; was in the army; has thirteen children. The land petitioned for has no private ownership; understood it belongs to the Mission of Santa Cruz; that its extent is from a league to a league and a half from east and from north to south; he does not know how much of it is, as it is a canon which reaches to the rancho of citizen Antonio Buelna. He has two hundred head of cattle, a drove of mares and tame horses &c."

"Manuel Larios, a witness, says he is a Mexican; was in the army; is married; has children; knows that the land petitioned for pertains to the Mission of Santa Cruz; that the said place is dependent on the seasons; that the land is about a league or more wide, and two from the beach to the hills."

"A witness, Felipe Hernandez, repeats the same facts as stated by the prior witness."

"MONTEREY, December 3, 1833"

"The official acts ordered in the foregoing superior being finished,

Page 63 U. S. 171

let the expediente be returned to the superior political chief for the superior decision."

"N. ESCOBAR"

"MONTEREY, December 17, 1833"

"Having seen the petition with this expediente, commences the report of the municipal authority of the Town of Branciforte, that of the Rev. father minister of Santa Cruz, the declarations of the witnesses, together with all other things which were presented and deemed proper to be seen, in conformity with the provisions of the laws and regulations on the matter, Juan Jose Gonzales is declared owner in fee of the land known by the name of San Antonio, or El Pescadero, bounded by the rancho of Antonio Buelna, the sierra, the coast, the Arroyo del Bratano, subject to the conditions which may be stipulated. Let the corresponding patent issue, let note be made in the proper book, and let this expediente be directed for the approbation of the most excellent territorial, in which case the person interested, who will be made to know this decree, will again present his title, that it may be revalidated."

"JOSE FIGUEROA"

"The committee on colonization and vacant lands, to whom was referred the expediente, the formation of which was caused by the petition of citizen Juan Jose Gonzales for the place named San Antonio, or El Pescadero, having examined it with the corresponding circumspection, taking into consideration at the same time the law of August 18, 1824, those agreeing with it, and the general directions which, on the 24th November, 1828, the supreme government of the Union gave for the better fulfillment of the first; from the examination of the expediente, the committee has become impressed with the opinion which it before held of the scrupulousness and tact with which his excellency the political chief ordered it to be made, so that neither in its formation, nor in the steps taken, in any essential requisite wanting; wherefore the committee concludes by offering to the deliberation of this most excellent deputation the following proposition:"

"1. Approved the grant made to citizen Juan Jose Gonzales of the place named San Antonio El Pescadero, on the 24th

Page 63 U. S. 172

December, 1833, in entire conformity with the provisions of the law of August 18, 1824, and article 5th of the regulation of November, 1828."

"MONTEREY, May 10, 1834."

"[Signed] CARLOS ANTONIO CARRILLO"

"[Signed] JOSE CASTRO"

"[Signed] JOSE T. ORTEGA"

"[Signed] JOSE A. ESTUDILLO"

"MONTEREY, May 17, 1834"

"In sessions of this day, the proposition of the foregoing report was approved by the most excellent deputation ordering that the expediente be returned to his excellency the superior political chief, for the convenient purposes."

"[Signed] JOSE FIGUEROA"

"JUAN B. ALVARADO, Secretary"

"GEORGE FISHER, Secretary"

"Opinion of the Board by Com'r R. Aug. Thompson"

"For the place called San Antonio, or El Pescadero. Claim of for one square league of land in the county of Santa Cruz."

"This claim is founded on a grant made by Governor Figueroa on 24th December, 1833, to the present claimant, which was duly approved by the territorial deputation on the 17th day of May following. The grant describes the land as that known by the name of San Antonio, or El Pescadero, bounded by the rancho of Antonio Buelna, the sierra, the coast, and the Arroyo de Butano. The fourth condition states that the land of which donation is made is one league in length and three-quarters of a league in breadth, a little more or less, as shown by the map which goes with the expediente, with the usual reservations of the sobrante or overplus to the use of the nation. The boundaries are distinctly marked out on the map, and although there is no scale on the map by which the extent of the boundaries can be ascertained, yet there is a note made upon it stating that they extend one league from north to south, and three-quarters of a league from east to west. This description, taken in connection with that contained in the grant, shows very clearly that it is a grant by metes and bounds, and that consequently no sobrante can result. "

Page 63 U. S. 173

The original grant is in evidence, and the genuineness of the signatures of the governor and secretary appearing thereon are duly proved by the deposition of David Spence. Manuel Jimeno proves that the claimant has occupied the land since 1833, that he had a house, horses, and sowings on it, and he still lives on it.

Entertaining no doubt, from the facts of the case, that the grant is a valid one to the extent of one league in length, and three-quarters of a league in breadth, it is hereby confirmed to that extent; the three-fourths of a league to be surveyed within the outboundary represented on the diseno.

MR. JUSTICE CAMPBELL delivered a separate opinion, in which MR. JUSTICE NELSON concurred.

The plaintiff was confirmed in his claim to a parcel of land designated as San Antonio, or El Pescadero, in the County of Santa Cruz, by the board of commissioners. The description of the land in their decree is as follows:

"Being the same which has been held and occupied by the present claimant since the year 1833 to the present time, and is bounded as follows: beginning at the mouth of the Arroyo de Butano and running along the seacoast and bordering thereon to the boundary line of Antonio Buelna, the distance being one league, a little more or less; thence with the line of said Buelna east three-quarters of a league; thence a line southerly parallel with the sea coast until it intersects the Arroyo del Butano, at the distance of three-quarters of a league from the coast; thence along said arroyo and bordering thereon to its mouth, the place of beginning; the same being in extent three-fourths of a square league, a little more or less. For a more particular description, reference being had to the original grant and map contained in the expediente from the archives now in the custody of the United States Surveyor General for California, the first of which and a traced copy of the latter are filed in the case."

The parties appealed to the district court, and, upon the hearing of the cause, the decree of the commissioners was affirmed and it was further ordered that the claim of the

Page 63 U. S. 174

said Juan Jose Gonzales is a good and valid claim to the land known by the name of San Antonio, or Pescadero, to the extent and within the boundaries mentioned in the grant and map, the original of the former and copy of the latter being on file in the records of this case. From this decree the plaintiff appealed. The only question presented on the appeal is whether the grant is to be located according to the natural calls in the grant, or whether the claimant is to be confined to the quantity specified in the 4th condition of the grant. But the decision of this question is reserved in the decree of the district court, and will properly arise after the location. The failure to direct the precise manner of the location is not erroneous. The result therefore is that the decree must be affirmed.