The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-03-27

establish . Territorial Government, while it had
passed lava for the collection Of revenue-hun i'm
pusins buFdens, but Withholding benefits. u was
seen that this was owing to the great question which
WIS agitating the Union, and the feeling for the
formation of a State Government became universal.
The Legislative Assembly of San Francisco, early
in June, 1919, recommended the meeting Of Con-
venticn on the third Monday Of August, to form a
State Constitution. Gen. Riley issued proclama-
ton on June Sd for the same purpose and fixing on
September lst for its meeting. SuehHas the feel
ing of hostility to the de facto GeeeFnment that il
was with difficulty the people would meet under
the proclamation issued blythe Governor. The ac
ton Of the people was not at the instance Of the
Governor, but Of their own will and motive
Neither the former nor the present administrations
are responsible for this movement They then pre-
sent the following four propositions:
"a That Territorial Government, under the levisOr
power Of Congress- would. far from promoting the interests
Of California eGqm.crPs i. sneTs psysSr me
as to be source Of discomfort. difficulty and ultimate rum
elnsL Tb Se Tonde ncrssso Of the country in popu
ton weslth and consequently m e9mefela s9cla ana
ion Of such system of can only be enacted by
LsEaHr and entered nS S o lie TnsG States
Congress forced Camnia form State Government, if she
desred TO avoid civil strife and anarchy.
And III That the people Of that country did not adopt
sueh form Of government in obedience dctauoD from the
tlsry actually took he initiating in the movement and only
coneae IN the SUGGESTIONS Of the e tacte G9yernof e
10 merge al minor differences Of opinion in
effort avert impending Ills and remedy existing evis
The subject of slavery is one never discussed in
their public meetings. The conviction is settled that
Nature itself determines the question. The Con-
vention excluded slavery by unanimous vote; yet
fifteen Of the members were Southern men, twelve
were Calfornians, and twenty-one were from the
North. A suggestion was made by the. Northern
men to submit the question to the people, distinct
from the Constitution, but it was voted down. The
charge, therefore, that the question had been FORE
stalled is erroneous.
The boundaries, as defined by the Constitution,
are explained and we think il is fairly shown that
they are not unreasonable. The territory is GER
tanly extensive on paper; but it must be borne in
mind that it is not extent of territory which is to be
considered; but its productiveness-its capacity to
add to the strength of the State. Two chains OF
mountains run through the State North and South,
and large portion of the remainder consists OF
deserts Two.ffths only of the soil is fitted for the
uses Of man
None but American citizens were allowed to
vote. No complaint was made at the time that
any others did VOTE Of the 1900 votes east
1900 were Californians, lO,7sO Americans. The
Convention was conducted with great deliberation
and remarkable unanimity. The Constitution was
adopted without any effort being made in its favor
Out Of the $4,000 votes cast, only SlI were against
it. The population in January, 1s49, is supposed
to have been $4,000; in January, 1850, it is abou
-107 ,o00
The address concludes with an eloquent vindica
ton of the people of California from the charge,
brought against them of lawlessness and disaffec
ton, and with touching appeal fer the admission
of the State into the Union.