Morrison Waite,
Mace v. Merrill — Opinion of the Court
“ Such being the case, he insisted that the title of the state inured to his benefit, under the provisions of sections 1 and 3 of the act of July 23, 1866, (14 St. 218, c. 219,) 'to quiet land titles in California.' Mace set up no title in himself under any statute or authority of the United States. His application was to the state, and he claimed under state authority only. It is true that, if the state had the right to sell he might have the right to buy; but that right to buy would come, not from the United States, but from the state. ”
