Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-10-25

Il. i1utler hlRS.
"PRosPEcT HILL" VA Sept 81, 1850.
The Hon. T. BUTLER KING, &c, &c, &c
My DEAR SIR: | was not little surprised to per-
ceive, after the meeting of the present Congress,
how vrueny you assailed in the journals OF the
day. and even in your State (Georgia,) for your
enormously supposed agency in setting on foot the
State naoUement in California Having been in Cali
iorna myself for nearly year previous to your arrival
there and being, believe, almost the first Old acqualn-
lance you met in San Francisco, and your being The
bearer of official dispatches from the Secretary OF the
Navy TO me, it is not reasonable to suppose that you
withheld from me what you aedged to have COM
municated to Others So far then from your setting foot
any measure Tor the government OF California were-
member your surprise when within the first hour OF
your arrival in San Francisco told you what were
my views upon California affairs, and Of my decided
preference for State TO Territorial organization.
Upon my arrival in the bay of "San Francisco No
vember, l94S, the Presidents message to Congress of
the 9Th OF july announcing the exchange OF the rati
cation OF the treaty OF peace, put into my hands,
In that message the President declares that, by the ter
minat.on OF the war; California and all other Mexican
territory coded to the United States lett without
any government and must remain so until Congress in
its wisdom should establish some substitute tor Mexican
law and the military government in operation during the
war, which the President in the message declared
to be abrogated and annuled by the of peace.
The Pres dents views OF California law and govern
ment caused the people OF that Territory at once to
question Governor MasCn's right to govern, and espe-
ciay his right to subject American citizens in terri
| tory which had become American to the doubtful and
uncongenial Spanish laws which existed in California
previous to and during the war. 1t was commended
by many persons in California that the Federal officers
could not exercise any control over California even
much as collect duties on dutabe articles imported
directly from foreign countries in foreign ships. Gov
ernor Mason himself doubted his powers after reading
the message, and anxious to resign his civil tunc
tons into the hands of the people with little delay
as possible In the autumn lS48, he sanctioned call
to elect delegates convention for the formation OF
territorial government. This move, as had predicted
my first interview with Governor Mason, failed and
then rny plan of State organization freely dis
| cussed, and the people ripe tor action on that
point, and General Rieys proclamation for elections
elect delegates to State Contention was issued be-
fore you arrived at San Francisco and of course be-
fore you could possibly have had any personal agency
in insigatng or even Fastening such measure.
A STAKEHOLDER myself, born and always living in a
slave State, Virginia ia S0uthern man WITH South-
ern principeS"-l saw, or thought saw, in State
ganizaton the only meansby which California could
obtain the blessings opeace and good government and
that republican constitution, formed by tair repre-
senaton 1.-THE Territory in convention whether ad
mtted slavery or not as it would be the work of the
people themselves, would be at once received by Con.
gress and the yexed question of slavery in the Terri
tories be once more, and tondy hoped for ever, put
| TO rest.
am, my dear sir, very truly, your friend and obedi-
ent servant,
THOS. AP C. JONES, u. s. Navy.