The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-08
Important State Documents.
Gov. Bnrnetrs inaugural Address

Gfnfemfn 0f The Senate and dssenbfg:--
| have been chosen by msoniy ot my fellow
citizens OF the State OF California 10 be her first
Executive. For thus proof ot their Partially and
confidence, ] shall ever retain most grateful
sense. To be chosen chief magistrate OF Callfcr-
MIA al this period OF her history, when the eyes Of
the whole world are turned towards her, - high
and distinguished honor, and shall do all In my
power 10 merit this distinction, by ardent, SIN
cere and energetic discharge Ot the weighty and
iespobslble duties incident to the position 90
cuyy.
Nature, In her kindness and benefcence, has DIS
iinguished Calfornia by great and decided natural
advantages; and these great natural res ources Will
make her either very great or very sordId and
petty State She can take middle course. She
will either be distinguished among her States,
es one of the leading stars OF the Union, or she
will sink INTO comparative insignihcance. she
has many dangers 10 encounter, many perls TO
meet
Ia all those countries where rich and extensive
mines OF the precious metals have been heretofore
discovered, the people have becoms indolent care
less and stupid. THIS eneryatng influence ope-
rates silently, steadily and continually, and re-
quiIes counteIvailng causes, or great aud cont,o-
ued energy OF character m people, to successfully
resist il. How far this influence may mould the
character Of the future population OF C4hiornia,
/ time alone can determine. II she should with
stand and overcome this great peril she will coz
sttute bright exception To the fate that has at
tended other states similarly situated. But anti
| cpate tor her proud and happy destiny. IL she
had only her gold mines, the danger would be i'm
l
mandIng interests than thls-interests that seldom
or never enervate or stupiiy a people, but, on the
contrary, tend in their very nature TO excite and
nourish industry, enterprise, and virtue; ! mean
her agricultural and commercial advantages.
While our mines will supply us with ample capital.
and our fine agricultural laDds Wi, furnish Us with
provisions, our great and decided commercial Ia
cllities and position will give full aud active
poy TO the energies and enterprise OF our peo-
pie, and will prevent them from sinking into that
state OF apathy and indifference. which cannot ex-
isi in commercial and active community;
Our new State will soon take her equal station
among the other States OF the Union When adj
mltted member OF that great slsterhood, she will
occupy an important position. imposing upon her
new and great responsibilities. She can never
forget what is due to herself much less can she
forget what Is due to the whole Union. Her des-
tiny will be united with that Of her sister States;
and che will then form one Of the links Of that
bright cham that binds together the happy millions
Of he American people.
How wide and exie nded is our expanding coun-
tD With only thirteen States and three millions
of inhabitants originally, we have grown IN tho
short space Of three quarters OF a century. to bo
one Of the greatest nations OF the earth. With q
kderal government, 10 manage and control our
external relations with the world at large, and
State governments 10 regulate our internal and
business relations with each other, our system n
peculiarly adapted for extension over a wide held,
without the danger OF becoming unwieldy and
imEaciicsele. We have now more more than than twenty
Others knocking at the door OF the Union Tor ad-
mittance Our States and cities line the eastern
coast OF North America facing Europe, and our
country extends across the entire continen nj tho
shores Of the Pacific, facing the millions Of Asia.
We have commanding military and commercial
positions on both oceans, and nothing can retard
us in our onward march to greatness, but our own
errors and our own follies
California has her part to act in this great march
Of improvement, and whether she acts well her
part or not, depends much upon her early legIsla-
ton. With the most ardent deare to DO my duty
fll nd nh lv IN rda
pledge you my most cordial cooperation IA your
efforts TO promote the happiness OF California and
the Union. For the principles that will govern me
In my administration OF the executive department.
OF the State, beg leave to refer you TO my forth
coming message.
1 thsnk you, gentlemen, for the kindness and
couftesy you have shown me, and hope that your
l.bors may rebound TO your own honor and the
PsrKs II. BussKrr.
The Ftrst Annual Message OF enc Gsver-
nor of the STATE os California.
GrsTiIMts OF TnE cENArK AND AsssMBLYi-
The cifcumstsnces under winch you have as
semblsd ere Diost aew, interesting aud extrsordi-
nsfy - d, mandDg our oevout gratitude to the
SUpftme Beng, the Creator and Fatner OF US all
You compose the fret Legislature Of the first
Tree Am,fican State organIzed upon the distant
shores OF the Pacihc. How rapid, astonishing and
un, xsnrled, have been the changes IN California
Twenty months ago, California was iahabted by q
sparse population pastoral people-deriylng their
main susie nance from their hocks and herds, ADD
a scanty cultivation OF the soil-their trade AID
business limited. and their principal exports con
sistinq OF hides aud tallow. Within that short P-'
ned has been made the discovery OF ,hr nch, es-
tensive and exbaustless gold mines OF Cslifofn,s;
and how great already have been its efiectsi The
/ trade and business OF tue country has been revo.
lutionized and reversed-t the population increased
| beyons all exyectatlon-cofnmerce extendcd-cur
ports hied with shipping from every aat'cn ssa
| clime-uur commercial ctt'er have sprung up ss
| BY epchsntment-our beautiful bays aud p'acid
| streams now navigabd by the power of steam
| and am dst all this unprecedented Dustic aud ex-
citemtp pt the energ, TIC intrcpid aud sensibc yeo-