The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1848-10-17


TO me for my opinions, in the event that
| Congress should fail to gvo them govern
menls at the late session. have written
TO the people Of California; and the same
letter will do for The people Of New Mexi-
CO. Being published in tho papers which
may choose 10 publish il, il will get 10 the
hands Of all in both Provinces.
Respectfully, &C.,
THOMAS II. BENTON.
WASHINGTON CRY, Sept, lS4S.
LETTER FROM SENATOR BENTON
TO THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA.
The treaty with Mexico makes you ci,l-
Gems Of The United States; Congress has not
yet passed the laws to give you the blessings
Of our government; and il may be some
time before it does so. In the meantime,
while your condition 10 anomalous and crit.
cal, and calls for the exercise Of the sound
est disc re,ion, and the most exalted patriot
ism on your part, the temporary, civil, and
military government established over you, as
the right of war, is at an end. The sdicts
promulgated by your Temporary Governor so
Tar as these edicts went 10 change the laws
Of the land, arc null and void, and were 20
from the beginning: for the laws Of con-
quered country remain in force until altered
by the proper legislative authority; and no
Legislative authority has yet altered the laws
which existed at the time Of your conquest
Tne laws Of California are still as they
wore, and are sufficient for your presen. pro.
lection, with some slight additions derived
from your voluntary consent, and admins
tered of your own election. Having no law
ful officers, you can get none except by
your own act; you can have none that can
nave authority over you except by your own
consent. Its salc,ion must be in the will
Of the majority. ! recommend you TO meet
in convention provide for cheap and sim.
pie government---and take care Of yourselves
until Congress can provide for you. You
need governor, and judges, and some peace
and militia officers; that is about oil. The
Roman civil law, which is the basis Of your
law, is Just and wise, and only needs be
administered by upright judges (alcaldis)
whom you should elect. Avoid new codes
Of law until introduced BY permanen, author
i,y. You need but little, at present, in ad-
dtion 10 what you have. and tha. your con-
ven,ion can give you; 10 wit: elections, Hi.
ais by Jury, and courts Of Reconciliation"
This latter is for tho termination Of disputes
without law by the meditation Of the judges
it is easily engrafed on the Roman civil law,
which you have, and which favors arbtra-
ton and amicable settlements. II is founded
upon the command in scripture, "agree with
thine adversary quickly whilst thou art in the
way with him." &c. 1t exists in some Of
the northern European nations, Norway es-
pecially, where two-,hirds of the disputes are
settled in the court Of Reconciliation"
You have been disappointed in not re.
ceiving the pay due you Tor military services
and sacrifices during The war. A bill passed
the Senate appropriating $4,000 for that
purpose; that bill was baked in the commit
Tee Of the House Of Representatives. See-
ing tina, bill WAS lost, less sum Of $780,
900 was again passed by the Senate to meet
The most urgent and best ascel tanned claims
vhcih also was lost in tho House of Repre-
senta,ives. Bns,-do not despair; you will
yet be paid; and believe there are funds
now at the disposal Of the President for war
purposes, ou. Of which he may order you 10
be paid.
The emigranis want land; they went to
the country forland. It "a grea. misfortune
that Congress has passed no law TO grant it
TO .hemj but the law will come, and grants
will be made, probably according to the Orc
gon bill that passed the Senate some years
ago--640 acressJo each head Of family
widows and yeaag men over 10 being so
counted. LEO acres to the father for each
child under Is, and the same TO tho wife,
| would advise you TO act upon this bill Gf
the Senate--all the present emigfants, and
all that shall arrive before Congress estab-
fishes government for the country, and all
the old settlers who are without land; each
to make his own location, taking care TO
avoid inierferences with one another, or with |
old claims considered good, or even proba- |
bly, gsod, and making all tracts in squares,
and to the cardinal points. Avoio, if posi-. |
BILE, law suits abou, land, above everything
else. They are moth which eats up the |
crop, and often the land ITSELF Besides. no
judgment in a land case would be valid, being
proceeding in rem unless agreed to by both
par'ies-decided BY arbitration, or in cour,
Of "ReconciIatios."
Imports which have paid no duties to the
United States, should pay them to you-mo-
deratsly SO as not 10 repress trade, or burth.
en- tho consumers-say 20 per centum on
The value whence imported. Less, or even