The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-03-15
A CARD-T. BUTLER KING.

Hon. THOMAS BUTLEG KING, publishes
IN the National InteIIigencer. the following
card, which we commend TO the attention
of those-f any such there be-who have
been simple enough to believe the SANDER
that he was sent out AS General Tay.or's
secret agent, to sid in the formation Of the
new government in California. MIR. Pok's
ad administration, 1t will be seen, comes in
for fall share of the honor and the le-
sponsiblli'y.
WAsurNGroN, Feb. 23. 1850.
To The Editors tMe National MieiEgcnccr:
GENTLEMEN-Perm me To state in your
columns .ha, M illness in California and
subsequent long continued dehiily-my
numerous engagements since my arrival
here, and the effects Of recent indisposl>
ton, which has paraIyZed my energies Tor
some days. tave delayed much longer than
intended or expected my report On CAL
iorna. Bot cannot longer perlni' the
public mind TO b. assal-d, perhaps miSled,
by insinuarions, inquiries and inuendors,
which, il not prOMpiIy ans wered, may be
considered rs arqrlesccd IN; or bold aSser>
Iions--ll misrepresentation has assumed
that ioIm--io pass uncOniradcIed. ],
therefore, assert that did not receive, IN
connection with my duties in California,
nor have | al any time received, secret
Instructions, whether verbal or written,
from the President Of the United States. OF
aav member Of his Cabinet. on Ne subject
Of slavery or ANY other subject. | did not
attempt To influence the people Of Caiior-
na 10 decide the question Of slavery one
way or the other; and any assertion that
DID receive such instructions or attempt
to exercise such Influence is false. Any
insinualioas or lnSiiious inquiries which
are so framed or intended as 10 induce the
people to believe that the President or any
member Of bis Cablne, did give, or that
could be base enough TO receive. such 10.
structions, declare to be totally without
tnun!alIon in fact and wilhou, the shadow
oi,ru,h.
beg !rave to call the attention of the
public 10 some facts, which will show what
WAS touc by the late Administration to in
duce the people Of California TO iorm
State Government. ! arrived a, San Fran
cisco on the fourth OF June. IN the steamer
Panama; we did not stop at Monterey; nor
did see or hold any communication with
Gen. Riley unll about the middle Of that
month, when he came to San Francisco.
HIS proclamation calling a Convention of
the people Of California to form State
constitution is dated at Noni rny --ons
hundred AMI thirty miles trcn San Fran
ci<co-the ihiyd of June. The last para
graph Of his proclamation is in the follow
'ing words:
"The method here indicated to attain
wta, is desired hy all, viz: more perfect
political OrganXa'ion, is deemed the most
direct and safe that can be adopted, AMI
che fully authorized by law. 1t is tue
course advised by the President aud hy the
Secretaries OF State and Of War of the Uni
ted States. and is calculated to avoid the
mnGmrrable evils which must necessarily
result jIom any attempt al illegal iCcal leI
islariun. II IS, therefore, hoped 1t will meet
tie appreciation OF the people Of California,
and that all good citizens vii! unite in car.
rvins il into execution"
TIE steamer in which | was a passen'
yer 10 san Francisco was the first convey-
ance 10 carry to the people oi CalliofGIa
ne lU'eiiIP UCe Ol Tue Inaul1T3lOI "
President Taylor and the appon'men, Of
MS Cahlnei---so that, at the date of Gen.
ltIlty's proclamation, 1t w?s not possible !
that he co"ld have received anv coGmu-
n,ca'lon from the present administration.
The President OF the United States to y hom
he refers, was MIR. P"Ik, the Secretary Of
Stale MIR Buchanon. the Secietary Of War
MIR. Marcy. 1t was in accordance with
tie recommendation of this reclamation.
sustained as they are in President Polk's ,
last annual message. that the people OF
California acted in ormin, their State !
constitution. always addressed the psU.
pie Of California III my private character, |
and never assumed any official position
among them. Interested as am in slave
labor, as Georgian and Southern cili-
zen. | was prepared 10 expect that the Oh
iecrs of my mission would be perverted IN
The North; and liud accordingly that dur
ing the last fall elections in that quarter |
was there represented as a Southern slave
holder sent to California 10 indocirnaie
the people in my opinions about slavery.
This was base iaSehood; but not half 50
base as an attempt 10 impress on the public
mind that wGs sent TO force or lntiueuce
California TO eAc.ude slavery.
4. BUTLER KING.