Litchfield enquirer., 1849-08-02
The Government of California.

since, zen. Bennet Hatey 4ert new ofK
with his suite and regiment or two of
soldiers. to assume the duties of his ap
pointmentas Governor of California. A
mong the distinguished officers who &C
companied the General thither, was Maj.
H. w. VESSELS, from this village. It.
would seem that the soldiery are not en-
tirely proof against the love of filthy lucre
for they had no sooner landed upon
Ell Dorado, than they began to desert by
platoons, and make rush for the gold
mines. But this is not all. The ssove-
reign people of that growing territory do
not exhibit very meek submission to the
government which Gen. Riley would fain
institute, and is fully authorized to es-
tablish. By the arrival of the Crescent
City, we learn many particulars relative to
the action both of the Governor and of the
people.
The Alta Californian, of the 14th of
June, contains a proclamation by Gen.
Riley, warning the settlers not to coun-
tenance "The Legislative Assembly of
San Francisco" either ~by paying taxes
or supporting or abetting the officers" of
that "illegal and unauthorized body"
and calls upon all good citizens to assist
in restoring to then lawful keeper the
public records Of the district of San
Francisco, which were "forcibly taken
from the custody of the First Alcalde of
said district.
The same paper contains Proclama-
ton by General Riley, in which he states
that he, " in accordance with instruction
from the Secretary of War, has assumed
the administration Of the civil affairs in
California, not as Military Governor,
but as the Executive OF the existing Civ
il Government" He then proceeds to
call attention to the means which he
deems best calculated to avoid the en-
barrassments of the present position Of
acknowledgements having failed to
legislate for it-and suggests the mode
of electhng such officers as are recognize
ed by the laws now governing tn. Ter
ritory, among which are a Territorial
Legislature a Superior Court, consisting
of four Judges and Fiscal, Perfect
and Sub Perfect in each district, Alcal-
DIES. &c; and appoints the 7th day of Au-
gust next for the special election of Del
egates to a General Convention, and of
Officers of the Peace.
The Alta CALIFORNIAN condemns the
terms of Gen. Riley's Proclamation, and
defends the action Of the Legislative AS
sembly alluded to.
The latter body have published an ad
dress, in which they complain bitterly of
the failure by Congress to give them a
form Of governmental its course in
taking them without giving them gov
eminent at ALL After recital of their
grievances, and clear, explicit and in
telligent statement of the necessities for
immediate, united and determined action
on the part Of the people, the Assembly
earnestly recommended to their fellow
citizens the propriety of electing at least
twelve delegates from each district to
attend General Convention to be held
at the Pueblo San Jose, on the Sd Mon
day in August next, for the purpose of
organizing government for the whole
Territory of California.
+ 1t is suggested that these delegates
have discretionary power TO form State
Constitution, or to adopt such other form
of government--subject to ratification by
the people-as they may deem advisable.
An enthusiastic meeting was held in
San Francisco, ON the 18th June, to con-
slider the propriety of sending delegates
to Convention, &C., at which the Hon.
Thos. Butler King was present, and ad-
dressed the people.
Resolutions to carry the object of the
meeting into effect, were presented, when
an amendment fixing the elections upon
the days appointed by General Riley,
was opposed by Col. ]. D. Stevenson
and finally rejected. Messrs. Peter H.
Burnett, w. D. M. Howard, E. Gould,
Bufum, and Edward Gilbert were ap-
pointed committee to make arrange
ments for Convention and the election
Of Delegates.
| The Alta California" of the goth june
| -t~;rs a c;rr,,lar iSsuad nv tho ahnva