By: J.J. Bowden Continuing Challenges Arising from the Southwestern Private Land Claims Notwithstanding the fact that its treaty obligations and the well accepted principles of International Law required the United States to respect valid land grants located in the territories ceded to the United States by Mexico in 1848 and 1853, a delay of some six years was allowed to elapse before the United States established a procedure whereby the validity of Southwestern private land claims could be adjudicated. From the very outset, the method prescribed by the Act of July 22, 1854[1] was recognized by all concerned as being … Continue reading Continuing Challenges Arising from the Southwestern Private Land Claims