Newhall v. Sanger/Dissent Field

by Stephen Johnson Field

United States Supreme Court

92 U.S. 761

Newhall  v.  Sanger

MR. JUSTICE FIELD, with whom concurred MR. JUSTICE STRONG, dissenting.

I am not able to agree with the majority of the court in this case. The only exception made by Congress from its grant to the Western Pacific Railroad Company consisted of lands within certain limits, which, at the time the line of the road was definitely fixed, had been 'sold, reserved, or otherwise disposed of by the United States,' or to which a pre-emption or homestead claim had then attached. The exception was intended to keep the public lands open to settlement and sale until the line of the road was established. I cannot understand how the presentation of a fraudulent claim to any portion of the lands within the limits designated, founded upon an invalid or forged Mexican grant, could change their character as public lands, or impair the title of the company, or have any other effect than to subject the company to the annoyance and expense of exposing and defeating the claim. Nor can I perceive the bearing upon the case of the act of March 3, 1853, 'to extend pre-emption rights to certain lands therein mentioned;' for that act applies only to pre-emption rights, and by its terms is limited to lands previously reserved.

I think the judgment of the court below should be affirmed.

Notes