The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-15
Our California Correspondence.
SAN FrANcIsco. in

SAN FKANcIsco, June 20, 1919.
attempted Revolution in California; authority Of
General Riley to Organise a State Government,
&c, &c.
The steamer of to-day will take to the States the
alta Coijorn,a's criticisms on Governor Riley's
proclamauons Of the Sd and 9TH inst, and an in
fammatory article endeavoring TO stir up " revo-
luton" Be assured 1t is all a tempest in the tea
pot Not twenty men in California will back them
All the other districts heartily approve the procla
nations of Governor Riley, and have already sig
nifed their intention to follow out his recommen-
cations So well convinced are the leaders of this
independent district legislative concern that they
be lett alone in their glory, they have already
backed out from their positions, and advised the
people of San Francisco 10 fall into the current OF
popular opinion, and act with the Governor IN his
efforts 10 get State constitutions which shalt be
approved by Congress. The editor OF the Aud
CAD fcsnio in his paper of to-day has backed out
of hIs principal charge against Gen. Riley but as
some Of his other assertions remain uncorrecied,
will call attention to them, IN order that you
may understand the true state OF the que ston Un-
fortunately that paper controls the only printing
| presses in California, and the friends OIL iw and
order have no means OF publicly contradlcting the
! erroneous assertions oil these uisorganUers'
! remedy will be found for this deecl IN the course
1 Of few weeks .-...--.
! The editors assertion that neither Gen. Kear-
| ny nor Col Mason attempted 10 enforce civil law
~ California, is entirely incorrect and untrue.
/ Only two or three ot the civil laws OF California
were suspended, during the war, by kearny and
Mason and, as soon the treaty OF peace was re-
\ ceived, Col. Mason issued proclamation, as Co
vernon, 10 the people OF California, declaring tha'
the existing laws and civil officers must continue,
till Others were made supply their pihcss. During
| the war, the Governor had undouOted right 10
suspend any civil law Of the country, and to APP
point all civil cheers; but since that time he has
claimed no authority whatever not given hum by
the laws of California. Gen. Rley's proclamation,
and all his acts, In strict accordance with the
! instructions from Secretaries Buchanan and Marcy,
and are now confirmed by the instructions OF
Mcssrs. Clayton aud Crawford. That the existing
laws and government OF the acquired territory
must continue, I'LL others are made by competent
authority, TO supply their place, was the decision
Of the Supreme Court OF the United States IN 1873,
and the instructions OF both the old and new cabl-
nets, as based on this decnlon and Gov. Riley's
acts In strict accordance with ms instructions.
Nearly every assertion OF the editor, respecting
Gov. Mason's administration, Is utterly false. The
-" volume OF laws" prepared by Gov. M was Tor
/ the government OF California, during It's military
occupation, and II was so stated on the title page
I When the war closed, there was no legal power
10 enforce them, and Tor that reason they were ne
yer published, and the existing laws were lett UNI
changed Scarcely day has elapsed, since the trea-
~ of peace, that Gov Mason and Gov. Riley have
not signed official papers clvll governors OF Calf
fornla, az can be shown by reference To the GO
v,nment archives and in every case the acaldes
and other civil officers were told that they must act
]
4 try. SIX. out at the niue 80 offices or bodies"
| spoken of by the editor, have been filled ever
! sincr Col. Mason assumed command, in l5t7, and
the only reason why the others were not hied, was
Z that &C mp,teni men could not b. found TO accept
of the Offices with the salaries authorized by law
1 II IL well known fact, that Gov Mason wrote TO
different persons IN the Territory more than year
ago. asking them TO accept ut the offices OF Judges
and pr, cts, but, we believe, all, with one solitary
| exception, declined. The gold placers had just
been discovered, and everybody was too eager IN
1 the pursuit OF wealth, to take offices with moderate
salaries. With respect to the illegal sale OF the
" Pueblo lands" Col. Mason did forbid such sales.
and sent wnireh notice to the persons making
them. that their nets being contrary TO the laws OF
| California, were null and void and General KS
grant IL water lots 10 the town OF San Francisco,
was made as governor, not as commanding gene
| raj this ~ perfectly well known to all
As has already been sand, not a single voice has
been rais,d IN the other districts IN iavor Of the
clique Of disorganizrfs in this town, and even here
the great mass Of the people are exposed to them.
| Within the last few DAYS, several Of the officers
| and members of this 4" District Legislation con-
Germ have resigned, and scarcely respectable man
can be found who will recognise or support their
authority. There IL plenty Of intrigue 20 the bot,
| tom II this concern, which will soon be exposed
and punished. In few days all will be U. *.
Mn Clay Ar THE NATIONAL Law ScHooL.--The
Albany Journal, OF the 18th instant, SPEAKING OF
the examination Of ihs puplls of the National Law
School, few deys since, and which was attended
| by the Hon Henry Clay, says
Henry tlay was led into the lnstituton ny 1--WE rr'n-
eipal ] w EoyIpr Eco Three times three received
him he entered lie listened 20 the examination.
fr,qu, ptly na the examined With pessn
spd adrutness much the atihc alton OF the large
| audience
in the vsiedictory which followed, and which vas
specimen 81 eoquence mention was INSIDE u the great
American statesman After an hours tntermis-ion
during Witch Mr. Clay received the students In his sc
med fstherly manner wishing all ,ucc"ss the ex
-rcises renewed by mock trial which continued
about two hours Nocommendation can etceed that OF
Mr. tlsy As he addressed IN. audience he tsif 20" Ia
THE fctons Really thought this bona fds court"
Judge Parker being called upos responded in hts 80.
| custoned essy and able assuring the ypnng
n.r that nothing b1t perseverance ans uutrng effort
you'd psure examples II which might b. seen
| utor his right aud left lie followed BY dr Clay,
| upcn whom all eyes liked Governor ftsh Who
present made several remarks appropriate TO the
occasion, referring most gratfJpgy To the system Of
The institution Chancellor Nsiworth and the Hon.
their hinh nnnrohatnn and