New-York daily tribune., 1849-08-13
TIE CONTENTION

1
| The project for assembling Convention % drstt
State Constitution 10 be submitted to the people D
ratification has now advanced 50 Tar toward certain
accomplishment, that Ne iee IL our duty Ia offer c"
suggestions relative TO its compo.ton, and the priuc
ples which should govern In selecting ITS members
We never hsd and have not now any desire 10 become
potrictan in the IN which the word i usual
understood. but We confess that Is cherished wish
with 10 advance the true interests of California We
desire 10 her tske that rank which her commercial
position the Coast oi tle Pacific ner unto mineral
wealth and her great agricultural resources point our
- her destiny and We desire that she on whom all
eyes turned, and from whom much xpected,
should not seem Ignorant OF her own ulimtaole re-
sources, nor prove recrean 70 the great principles
which the irst political s-sons OF her citIens,
and which the world expects her and MAINTAIN.
Every person appears 10 be convinced that the
Siarerg qlss0r under the complexion that IL now
wears ia the Atlantic States, defeated the numerous
attempts ade In the last Congress 10 give 10 Caior
MIA territorial OrganIza ion, and al ought To be-
firmly assured hat unless the citEeus Of California
settle that question for themselves, and do a. Oncs
that u will prevent defeat. at least prOtract for
some years o. come, the essblishmeut OF any govern
urnt IN the county. Independent Of the moral con.
-ideTArons which weigh so heavily against slavery
and which We have neither time nor room 20 repeat
matter OF srpedet y-ss means Of giving 10 this
country gOvernnentt IL necessary that the people
should insert ia their Constitution clause iOrbdiing
the Introduction Of negro Or other = very The high
est uo5lest acts Of humanity dem.ud 1.-THE progres
slge doctrines OF RepubcBnism cannot be- maintained
without t-nnd the interests of the the people
fh zee VINO Dig and drye and earn their bread, aud
earn self respect and enter yrsr from the uecesses
IT lsbor-ronder IL imperative.
There must bee no siurring over OF avoiding the
question The South have c0nfended that II Is ques
which should 0- ie % the citizen. of each state
90 decide, and they cannot complain If decide
against II while the North have asserted that 1t
principle With them which they are bound 20 main
sny and all hazards and that therefore, they
never consent % the erHsi0H Of Slavery into Cal
fOnia True. the men who most v0clierOus are
probably the esst sincere but the political character
b. - sN.. 49,.
troll ing of the North would undoubtedly agree
Sirn ant .gstaln their r. representatives..
We co not fear o. assert, then, that State Constitu
ton iJr california which does not contain provision
against slavery, will be- allowed 20 lnto effect
0y the Congress Of the United States and are suA
more firm IN our conviction. that the people Oi Cali.
ofuia would never approve such document
lt then i0l0ws that the people ot the different de.
rcts. no their primary meetngs. must that their
opinions iu tni- matter expressed and understood
~ man should - t0 the Convention whose feelings on
mis- subject afs unknown. and whose views do not CO.
ncde win the mslluty Of those whom be represents,
and every proper effort should therefore be- made 10
accomplish tn. result. We abh0r proscn pton. but
Ns lee, at the time, taat great Interests At
-t-ke which cal Tor vigilance nrmness and above al,
fair and iIl expression Of public sentiment Let
out have THE snd the consequences VIII not De r..
gr-tied
There are other minor particulars on 1hlch the pri.
mary meetings should expires. their opinions and 10
regard o. which the principles Of their representatives.
n the Convention should be known. Among these are
alioruia since TIE peace 70 Dr. made general und
Tor the support OF STATE Government.
The Limitation % the amount Of expenditure ~ Be
made 10 any one year Tor Internal and other improve.
ments
9 The basis for the es,a5Hshment OF banking or
other incOrpor. ions.
. The prohibition OF imprisonment for debt
3 The rign,s OF married women o their individual
properly acquired before or after coveri1re
The right of universal suffrage.
lh- establishment Cf Branch : Mint 10 Cali
i0fni4 ne proceeds 0t which should os devoted -
the support Of STATE Government
:. Ine manner H. which TIE mines should BE- ds
Posed o'-shether surveyed and ,os or neld a. com
rlon property. o. BE- worked BY permits u be gwen
alone 70 American ciuzens or O. al Nho msy apply
Nhetrer Or not The revenue derived from the
mices over and above al expenditures on their &C
count, snoud BE- devoted " the support Of A State
Government
~ Whether Toe public iaads should only Be sold 70
sctua settles and soldiers. 70 al wno choose ~
purchase.
IL. TIE passage Of law BY TIE next Congress a.
pontoz CoG missioner 70 audi. ard Immediately pay
the Csi;Orni- claims.
On many 0f tue subjects above mentioned the x.
preston. of tae primary meetings would have de
cisve eject while the others hey could not t. Il
carry gre4, weight and u meet with respect We
have no disposition % Ootruce our own opinions On
these subjects upon the public, but az fltlre day
may deem 10 our duty 70 d. Mean time the ect
We have 10 view viii be gained II can elicit snd
euoody public sentiment these and kindred matters
IL The Absence Of al party distinctions s has hereto
fore been found difficult 10 harmonic and unite the
body Pohrc n the elections winch have been held IN
tar eo-stry Anls has been particularly case In
an FRANCISCO. lne consequence las been that 10
nearly every election large portion Of the leza yo,ers
have taken no interest IN tie Canvass aud have not
voted or else there have been 50 many tickets in he
ted that neither could oe fairly said 70 express
'1s Hisass oi ias majority HA very deaiTs6ls, lsrs