Mr. HENDRICKS. I will avail myself of the occasion. as the question is up, to make a personal explanation in connection with it. It will be recollecuad by Senators that 2 weeks since a bill was. passed to quiet land titles in the State of California a very important bill indeed, affecting the titles to very large sections of land in the State of California. That bill was before referred, some 2 or 3 months ago, erhaps, to the ComPubLands. Ks unimportant measure, I gave it attention. The Senfrom NewYork, who is a member of that committee, [Mr. Hanatsfl also gave that bill careful attention. He an I were both very anxious that in settling the titles in California the rights of the settlers upon the lands should be well set tired; and we were neither of us, as I now recollect, satisfied fully with the bill that was introduced and referred to the committee, and it was finally suggested that that bill should be taken by myself to the GLO, and upon consultation with the ComrGLO, the chief clerk of that office, and the surveyor general of the U.S. for Cal I took the bill to the GLO and the substitute was drawn mainly by the ComrGLO and the surveyor general for California. I thought it was pretty safe in its provisions, and reported that substitute thus drawn to the Senate from the ComPubLands. That bill did not finall pass, but an amendment to it passed whiehI t ought in some respects better, and I gave it my support. While that bill was ending in the HoRep a co league of mine, who is connected with the ComPubLands in that body, opposed some of ItSAPI'OVlSIOIlS, which particular provisions I did not trouble myself to see; but in the course of his remarks he sent to the Chair to be read a letter from California, withholding the name of the writer, which letter was abusive of myself because I had reported the amendment which had been drawn b the surveyor general, the ComrGLO, and myself. Now, sir, perhaps it is not proper that I should have notice that proceeding. I suppose the man in California who wrote the let,ter is interested in this question, and perhaps he was not well informe on the subject that he was writing about, of the connection that I had with the legislation upon that subject, and the care that I ad taken, so far as I was connected with the ComPubLands, tIo secure the rights of the settlers. Of course have nothing to say in regard to that person, or anyQanguage that he may have used toward myself. I simply wish in very pliin and square terms to condemn the conduct of any colleague who will present to he read a letter traducing any gentleman connected with congress about a matter that the writer could not have been well informed upon. But, sir, if that is the style and the taste of any gentleman, to attack a colleague in Congress by n. letter, the name of the writer of which he will not communicate to the country, I leave it to him to decide for h'imself.