The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-20
The California Constitution and MIR. King

III ID wei known 10 you tnut AT one perlou berl-
Gus calamities were threatened to the country,
in consequence of the dissatisfaction entertained by
our fellow citizens the Pacific because they had
been denied by Congress the protection of the laws
of the United Satcs Threats of separation began to
be uttered by those who found themselves thus de-
serted and TO them Of the paternal care ofthe
Government and its intention TO assist them in any
suitable mode, special messenger, Mr. King, Of
eorgia, despatched to California He knew
and communicated to them the wishes of the Pres
ident for their happiness and welfare, and his de-
sire that they should enjoy the protection of the
United States and the benefits of government of
their own choice. This mission, which we know
was attended with highly beneficial results in
allaying the discomfort then growing in that
Territory, soon made by interruptions poll.
ticians the theme of obloquy and reproach. The
President and his Cabinet were charged, with
out shadow of truth to justify the accusation,
with having instigated the Californians to exclude
slavery in the formation Of their State consttu-
ton. The fdlsehood and contemplate malignity of
all the calumnies this subject haze recently been
put 10 rest forerr by the publication Of a CORE
spondence bet,ceen lIr. King and the naval and mil
itary commanders on the California station. These
calumnies, like hundred others of similar char
acter, served the purposes of the hour when they
originated, and will sink into mcrited
oblivion"
One might well imagine, with Mr.. CLAYTON,
that the letters of Commodore JONES and Gen
eral RILEY would put at rest forever the ca
lumnies that have been circulated with respect
TO Mr.. kING's mission to California. Many
persons supposed those calumnies so far set at
rest before the appearance Of those letters as
to render their publication unnecessary. But
the result has proved that even these conclu-
the course of falsehood.
Soon after these letters appeared they Were
repubished in the Picayune of New Orleans,
with comments which called forth an article in
the Delta, that we now find in the Richmond
Enquirer. This article contains statements
which conflict with those Of General RILEY
and Commodore JONES. The Delta says:
"The Picay,ine, of yesterday, arrays from the
Washington Republic number of authorities to
show that the Constitution of California was
formed without any interference on the part of
the Executive, and that the State movement was
originated and determined on before General
TAYLOR was inauguratcd. Some of these au
thorties are obviously erroneous and it is due to
first with the statement of Commodore JONES'
"'That the proclamation of Governor RILEY, for
n State government, issued before the arrival
of Mr.. kISo, who carried out the news of General
TAyLoRs inauguration; and that a plan for a
| State government had been formed and discussed
before"
Commodore JoSEs has here fallen into very
| natural error. 1t is true that General. RrLEy's
proclamation issued before the steamer on
! { which Mr.. T. Butler KISG arrived at San
Francisco. But previously this steamer, the Pa
mama, had touched at San Diego from which
place letters and instructions despatched to
General RILEY, at Monterey, which WERE
cEIvEp AND READ Previous to the issuing of Zen
eral RILEY's proclamation recommending the for
. nation of State government. This fact was
communicated to by Mr. PATRICK BARRy,'a
member Of the bar Of California, formerly Of this
State and tcho acted a, General RnEy's legal ad
riser in the matter He saw the the communica-
tons of the President in the hands Of General
riley before the latter issued his proclamation
This fact was well known to Mr.. KIso. and we
marvel much that he did not state it in his publ
cation, in which he denies that he exercised any
influence in the formation Of the State govern
ment Of California"
Here we find a positive assertion--two or
three positive assertons-made with a conf
dence that would seem to arise from certain
knowledge in the premises. We desire to deny
them all generally and specifically. Notwith-
withstanding the positiveness and circumstan-
TALLY of the statement, it is not true that any
letters or instructions were despatched TO Gen
eral RILEY from San Diego. This assertion
has been before made; but through whatever
channels it has passed, or may pass hereafter.
we are authorized to say that it is entirely
without foundation in truth.
The assertion that Mr.. PATRICK BARRY saw
any communication from President TAYLOR in
General RILEY's hands before the General is
sued his proclamation, and that Mr.. King well
knew this fact, is double fabrication. Mr..
KING not only did not know any such thing as
is alleged, but knew and knows the fact TO be
impossible and the allegation TO be entirely I'M
true.
With regard to the conversation Of Mr..
KING with Mr.. SEMPLE, of the California Con
vention. which the Delta cities from the speech
of the latter gentleman in the published debates.
we will give that journal all the benefit 1t can
derive from a statement that may be true OF
untrue without in any wise affecting the real
| question al issue.
During the argument between the friends Of
the limited and those Of the extended boundary
Mr.. Semple rose and made the following state
ment
"'I feel under some obligation to repeat con
vcrsston which has direct bearing upon this
matter. There lie distinguished member Of
Congress, who holds his seat from ono Of the
States Of the Union, now in California. With de
sire to obtain oil the information possible in res
ton 10 the state Of things the other side Of the
mountains, ! asked him what wa. the desire Of
. the people in Congress- ! observed to him that it
was not the desire Of the people in California to
take larger boundary than the Sierra Nevada
and that would prefer not embracing within
our limits this desert waste 10 the east. Ills reply
wac: For Code sake leave territory 10 leg
islate upon in Congress lie went on to state,
then, that the great object in our formation Of
State government was to avoid further legislation
There would be question TO admission
by adopting this course; and that all subjects Of
minor importance could afterwards be settled. !
think il my duty to impart this information to the