California Treaty D: Camp Persifer F. Smith, Texan Pass, 1851 (unratified)

What happened

On June 10, 1851, at Camp Persifer F. Smith at the Texon Pass, commissioner George W. Barbour signed a treaty of peace and friendship with the chiefs, captains and head men of eleven tribes. They included the Castake, Texon, San Imirio, Uvas and Carises. Article 3 set apart a district "beginning at the first forks of Kern river, above the Tar springs." It ran down the river to Carises Lake and Buena Vista Lake, then to the Coast range and the Texon Pass. The United States and California kept the right of way and the right to build military posts. The tribes agreed to "forever quit claim" to all other lands.

Article 4 promised 150 beef cattle a year for two years, and after ratification ploughs, harness, work oxen, tools and seed. Article 5 promised a farmer, a blacksmith, a wood worker and teachers, with a school-house built at government cost.

None of it took effect. It was one of 18 treaties made in California in 1851 and 1852. The National Archives' Prologue magazine says the senators found the commissioners' appointments irregular, were unsure whether Mexico had recognized native land title, and heard strong objections from white Californians. The Senate "rejected the treaties and, following Senate rules, imposed an injunction of secrecy on them." With the treaties rejected, Indian title was left unresolved. Prologue adds that Indians of California later sought compensation for lands taken without payment in a case before the Indian Claims Commission. It reports that "the case was decided in favor of the Indians."

Good to know. Sources give July 2 or July 8, 1852 as the date the Senate rejected it.

Summarized with AI assistance from 4 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error