The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-04-14
From the Washington Union.
Very Interesting from California.

ant letter from CallIornia. we nav
no room to day for the comments whic
it naturally calls for but in what
light does it present the conduct o
thoses statesmen in Washington wit
have defeated the establishment Of az
efficient government liz that distan
country
This letter is full Of deeply interest
ing information as to the presen, con
dition and future prospects of neglect
ed California. We hope every one
! will read it with care, for its merits en-
ti,ls it TO the most serious considers
ton:
m SAN Francisco, California,
.7s}f&q January %, 1849.
Mr. DsAR STA A vessel is to leave
for Maza,lan in few days, and ] take
the opportunity thus offering for send
ing a has,y letter:
Since my last private communica.
ton, nothing has occurred 10 change
the general views | then expressed in
relation 10 California. Within the last
few weeks much has been said and
done in regard to the organization of q
provincial government for this terrific.
ry. Several villages have appointed
delegates TO attend convention :or the
arrangement OF fundamental laws for
the country; and other elections are
now understood to be taking place in
the remote parts Of the country. 1t is
proposed TO have the convention as.
ssmbled at the Pueblo de San Jose,
about sixty miles from this place, on the
4,h Of March +; but | believe it will be
found impossible to assemble all the del
egates at tha. time and il will pro-
badly be found expedient 10 defer the
meeting until it is known that the
present Congress has not acted on the
question OF Territorial government.
This will probably throw the whole
question back more or less and ! think
the me ee,ing will not occur before the
middle of April, and not at all should
Congress have acted. At this time
this is most important question to
every citizen Of California; for life and
property are, and will continue to be,
unsafe in this territory until Congress
gives US a stable government. The
fac, is brough, ieelingly home to the ap'
prehension Of every intelligent man
that there is no government and no law
10 California. A general feeling Of in
security depresses the whole popula-
ton, and operates most injuriously up.
on all classes Of society. Crowds Of
mon are focking from all quarters Of
the country, and among them are ma.
nv persons of bad character and des-
perate fortunes and everything about
them affords reasonable assurance
tina. every kind Of viIIainy may be prac.
tised with impunity throughout the ter.
ritory.
The only tribunals which have at-
tempted any jurisdiction in cases Of
murder. &C., some months past, are
those formed for the occasion as it
arises and offenders generally escap pc.
or If they are taken, It is amidst the
phrenzy Of popular excitement, when
the guilty and innocent may be victims
together. Several executions have ia.
ken place in pursuance Of this kind Of
law, and it is supposed several others
will be announced by the next mail
from the South. In the mean time
outrages are occurring in all quarters
Of the country, and the public aston
ishmen has scarcely subsided after one
murder has transpired, before another
is committed, more horrible than the
first. House. breaking, thefs and rob.
berries are almost of hourly occurrence.
This state OF things must continue until
we have the firm and steady rein OF
government extended over the terrific
ry BY Congress. ! have no expecta-
ton that q provisional government,
(should it 90 into operation, and this
cannot be ihe case in less than year
from this timeD would be found ads.
quats to The public wants. The mate.
rials for organizing stable govern.
msn, do no, exist in the country al this I
time and of such as there are, the best
cannot be commanded for the business. {
The most respectable men who are en-.
gagged in lucrative enterprises in the
country, quite foreign to politics, will
not desert their own interests to take
public stations which promise to yield n
nothing but vexa,iou and annoyance : n
and should the local organization 60
into operation, | very much doubt If it
will produce any relief fer the ills which Q
now aff1ict the country. II will be
temporary in its nature, and having no
psrmanen, hold upon tho community, c
It will be only little better than no
government at all, Such has been the q