The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-11-21
From the n. Y. Com. Adv. l2tN inst.

Jamaica, on the 4lh November.
BY this arrival we have one months later ad.
vices from California.
From the Alta California Oct. IL
THE STATE CONVENTION.
This body. up to our latest dates, had been in
session little over three weeks. Most OF the
provisions of the proposed constitution had been
acted and passed upon in committee "i the
whole, and that, we suppose, may he taken as
fair index oi what will be the action OF the
House.
The bill of rights, as adopted IN committee of
the whole, embraces twenty sections, OF the
usual character of such provisions. The only
point upon which it was supposed controTer.
sy would arise-the question of slavery-pass.
ed without debate, and unanimously, utterly
prohibiting slavery. Some were in favor OF
submitting the matter to the people for sep
arate vote, but il was not contended tor with
any show Of strenuosity, and was voted down
unanimously.
The suffrage question was the source OF con
siderable debate; but was finally disposed OF by
admitting all male citizens Of the United States,
six months resident in California, twenty.onr
years of age. Indians, Africans, and the De.
scendan,s of Africans, excepted,) to the pr!vl.
leges Of electors.
The Legislature is to consist Of two branch.
es, an Assembly and S"nate. with such gen.
@: al powers and duties, as are usually given to
such bodies. Banking corporations and lot
teries are prohibited, and all other corporations.
except for municipal purposes, are to be es.
tahlished under general laws, the stock holders
to be individually liable for all debts. Some
considerable debate occurred upon provision
which allows corporations to be formed for re.
ceiving deposits OF gold and silver. 1t was
urged that, under such provision, an irrespon.
sible system Of banking might grow up; but the
section was finally so amended as to answer
all objections. and, in that shape, passed.
The members of the Assembly are to be elec-
ted annually. and the members of the Senate
are to hold their Offices for two years. One
half of the Senate is to be elected annually.
No person can be member ofthe Legislature
who has not heen resident Of the State one
year, in addition to other qualifications.
The number Of members Of Assembly is new
er to be less than twenty -four, nor more than
thirty six, until the number of the Inhabitants
in the State shall amount TO one hundred thous-
and, and after that period at such ratio that the
whole number OF Members of Assembly shall
never be less than thirty, nor more than eighty.
The Senate is never to consist Of less than one
third, nor more than one half Of the number OF
the Assembly.
Some division of opinion arose on PROPOSE
tion made by Mr.. McCarver. to prevent free
persons Of color from settling in California. and
also to prevent Shareholders from bringing slaves
into the State for the purpose Of iberating
them. 1t finally passed the Commtte" of the
whole; but it has heen looked upon since as
jeopardng the ratification Of the constitution
nv Congress, and as this feeling was gaining
ground, the House, probably, will strike it
out.
A Governor, Lieut.. Governor, Secretary OF
State, Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney Gen.
eral, and Surveyor General constitute the Elk.
ecutiye Department. They are all to hold
their Offices for two years.
The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are
TO be elected by general ballot; the Secretary
oftbe State is to be appointed by the Govern
or, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate; the Com ptroler and three other State
officers are TO be elected by the Legislature in
joint ballot for the first term, and afterward
ny the people at the general State election.
An effort was made in the Committee ofthe
whole to strike out the Office Of Comptroller.
but it will, however, be again pressed in the
House, and as the office is totally unnecessary,
we trust that the motion will be successful.
The Government has the usual powers, In.
cludiag the veto, and the privileges and duties
Of his Office do not vary materially from those
ofall other States in the Union. The other
State officers correspond in duties and powers
with those generally asoribed them.
The article relative to the militia, as passed
In the committee Of the whole, is substantially
such as is found In other State constitutions, as
Is that also relative to amendments.
The boundary, judicial and educational
questions were not decided upon at last advices,
but It was supposed the Convention would ad.
jonrn in all, the first week in October.
The Charleston Courier says, our fellow.cit.
izen. DR.. A. G. Mackey, has. we understand;
received, the appointment of United States Con.
sui to Venice.
GENERAL SHIELDs.-From the New Orleans
Crescent we copy the following statements re.
lative to the expressed opinions Of General
Shields, which in his capacity as Senator he will
be calledu upon to carry out in practice. 1t will
be seen that he pushes the righ. of instruction
to its extreme limit, and promises to vote " a.
gainst all bills tending to an organization of the
new Territories that do not contain The Provi.
so."
His analogy between the duties of the soldier
and the Legislature smacks more ofthe camp
than the council. We have frequently heard
doctrines precisely similar to these attributed to
Gen. Shields, enforcs in Illinois as the true