Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-09-30
LETTER

FROM SENATOR BENTON TO THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA.
The treaty with Mexico makes you ci,i
zens OF the United States: Congress has no,
yet passed The laws 10 give you the blessings
OF ouI government and it may be some
Time before it does so. In the mean time,
while your condition is anomalous and crit
ical, and calls for the exercise OF the sound.
est discretion, and the most exalted patriot,
ism on your part, the temporary civil and
military government established over you,
as right oil war, is al an end. The edcts
promulgated by your temporary Governors
(kearny ana Mason, each an Ignoramus,)
so far as these edicts wen, TO change the
laws OF the land, are null and void, and
were so from the beginning for the laws
oi conquered country remain in force, I'M
I'll altered by the proper legislative authori.
ty and no legislative authority has yet al
tered the laws which existed at the time Of
your conquest. The laws of California are
still what they were, and are sufficient for
your present protection, with some slight
additions derived from your voluntary con-
sent, and administered by officers Of your
pwn election. Having no lawful govern
meni. nor lawful officers, you can get none
Except by your own act you can have
none that can have authority over you ex.
cept by your own consent. It's sanction
must lie in the wlIl Of the majority. re.
Commend YOU TO meet in convention--pro
vide Tor cheap and simple government
and take care Of yourselves, until Congress
can provide tor you. You need q COVER
nor, judges, and ONE peace and militia off
GERS: that is about all. The Roman civil
law, which is the basis Of our law, is just
and wise, and only needs to be administer
d by upright judges (alcalds) whom you
should elect Avoid new codes OF law un
I'll introduced by permanent authority
You need but little, at present, in addition
TO wha; you have, and that your conven.
lion can give you TO wit: elections, ira
by jury. and courts OF &" Reconciliaiion."-
Til, la TT is for the termination OF dispute:
without law by the mediation OF the Judge
i, is easily engrated on the Roman civil
aw, which you have, and which tavors ar
| bilraiion and amicable settlements. 1t i:
founded upon the command in scripture
"agree with thine adversary quickly willis
thou art IN the way with him." &c. 1t ex
lists in some Of the northern European ia
tons, Norway especially, where two-third
OF all the disputes are settled BY the cour
OF Reconciliation"
You have been disappointed in not re
ceiving the pay due you for military servi
ces and sacrifices during the war. A bill
passed the Senate apr opriating 100000
Tor that purpose +; that bill was baked il
the committee OF the House of Representa-
lives by lies against Col. Fremont, sen
here by Col. Mason and the notorious Col
Jonathan ID. Stevenson. Seeing that b
was lost, less sum Of 100000 was agai
passed by the Senate to meet the most VI
= gent, and best ascertained claims il ais
was lost in the House OF Representative
through tho effect OF the same lies. Blu
, do not despair you will yet be paid and
believe there are funds now at the disposi
Of the President for war purposes, out c
: which he may order you to be paid.
The emigrants want land they went
The country FOR land. 1t is a great misfo
: tune that Congress has passed no law
, grant it TO them but the law will come
e and grants will be made, probably accort
n ing to the Oregon bill that passed the Sci
D ate some years ago-640 acres TO each hsa
of family (widows and young men owe
10 being so counted, )-l6o acres to ii
father for each child under IS, and the san