Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-01-07
FROM CALIFORNIA.

Correspondence of the n. Y. Journal of Commerce.
MONTERREY, California, Sept. 10Th, 1861
now date from here instead of the frgate Con-
gress, because my duties are on land. The cti-
zcns of Aontery elected tne on the 18th ins
Alcade that is chief magistrate of this iursdic-
ton. | had been performing the duties of the
post under an appointment Of the Commander. in
chief of the American forces here This com.
mission expired on the 18th, when was elected
by the suffrages Of the people. The vote poed
was very large one, though no officer or sea-
men connected with our squadron, went to the
polls | mention these facts as an evidence of
the good feeling which prevails here towards our
Flag. Any hostility must have defeated my
election. The office is one which do not COW
ct; 1t is full Of labor and responsibility It Gov
ers every question of civil police in Monterey,
and reaches TO the lives and fortunes of the in
habitants, through an immense jurisdiction.
The Congress is here from her trip to the
South. Her sailors and marines with Commo-
dore Stockton at their head forced General Cas-
tro out of California. He might have infladed
the march Of the Commodore from San Pedro to
his camp and made the forces of the Congress
wade through their own blood. But he remain
ed in his camp, Illuminating paper missiles, till
they were near his lines then suddenly broke up
and fled with small band to Mexico. His off
GERS and men have returned to their homes, and
signed parole not TO take up arms against the
authority of the United States, or say or do any
thing to disturb the tranquility of the present
Government. This puts an end to all further
war IN California. Indeed there is no disposition
here among the people to offer resistance. The
masses are thoroughly with u.s. and right glad to
get rid of Mexican rule Had it been otherwise
they would never have elected me to the chief
magstracy Of Monterey. We are all regarded
more IN the light OF benefactors than victors.-
Vhoir fri ls,i a,1 /
betrayed. California must never be surrendered
to Mexico. If that country has still good claims
to her. let those claims be liquidaled by an equiv
alent in money. But it would be treason to the
lives and fortunes of the best inhabitants to sur
render the province itself Let Congress at once
annex her 10 the Union as a territory and estab-
fish a civil government.
! We require here a new judicial system; The
present one throws all the responsibility on the
Alcalde. | broke through the trammels of usage
a few days since and empanneled the first Jury
that ever sat in California. The first men IN
Monterey were on 1t; the case involved large
amount of property, and the allegation of high
crime. No man should decide such case.-
The verdict of tie Jury was submitted to, with
oat murmur from either Of the parties, and the
community seemed much gratlfied with this new
form of trial. They think, and very rightly too,
that twelve men are less liable to Partially, pre-
JUDGE and corruption, than one I, was the es-
Enlistment of trials by jury here, that probably
lead to my election us magistrate.
Mr.. Semple, an cmigrant printer, and myself
have established small paper here, the first ev-
er published in California. 1t is issued every
Saturday-its appearance made quite little SEN
sotion. We found the type in the forsaken cell
of monk, and the paper is such as is used here
for cigar wrappers, and was imported for that
purpose. 1t Is printed in English and Spanish
We are going to send at once to the United
States for larger paper and fresh font of type
With this now engine Of powC." we are going tc
sustain the genius Of American institutions here
Three thousand emigrants from tca Unltet
States, it is understood, have just arrived a. Sai
Francisco, in two companies, one commanded p,
Captain Hastings and the other by Capt Prussel,
and ten thousand more are on their way W. C.
"W. C." stands for Walter Cotton, Chaplain
U. S. Navy.