breed took an active part in a knotty california-nevada boundary dispute in 1857. he was the secretary of a group of honey lake men who, "entertaining very reasonable doubts of our being within the limits of the state of california, and believing that until the eastern boundary of the state of california is determined by the proper authorities that no county or counties have a right to extend their jurisdiction over us," refused to accept the authority of plumas county in appointing officers and organizing an election in their valley. they also took steps to ask congress to organize a new territory in their area and pledged to "prevent the polls being opened."