Annotation
[1] Edward Eberstadt & Sons, Catalog 129, April, 1951, No. 159. According to the catalog description, this communication is an endorsement on an appeal from George Fox Kelly, agent for California settlers. William T. Otto, acting secretary of Interior, wrote George F. Kelly on June 16, 1863:
``The affidavits which you have laid before the President, in which complaint is made against the action of the District Court for the Northern District of California in its approval of the survey of the land claim of Joaquin Carillo . . . the lines of which include . . . certain tracts . . . claimed by yourself and others as preemptors---have been referred to this Department.
``The President instructs me to state to you, that he cannot decide the questions which you submit, or any other relating to a contested title to land, where, as in the present instance, jurisdiction over the subject matter is visited by law in the Courts. The affidavits contain vague charges of fraud in certain judicial proceedings now concluded, but as the President has no appellate or supervisory power over them, it would, in his opinion, be improper for him to assume to take action, especially as the United States have no interest in the matter.'' (Copy, DLC-RTL).