Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-03-02
A CARD FROM HON. T. BUTLER KING.
WAsaIseros, FnsayAar %, 1850.

WAsaISGTos, FEBRuARr %, 1850.
I To the Editors of the National InteAgeacey
/ GENTLEMEN: Permit me to state in your CO.
lumns that my illness in California and subsequent
long-coainued debility-my numerous pressing
engagements since my arrival here, and the effects
of recent indisposition, which has paralyzed my
energies for some days, have delayed much longer
than intended or expected my report on Califor.
MIA. But cannet longer permit the public mind
to be assailed perhaps misled by insnuations, in
quiries and innuendoes, which, if not promptly an
swered, may be considered as acquiesced in; or
bold assertions-if Misrepresentation has assumed
that form--to pass uncOnradicted. L therefore,
assert that ddnot receive, in connexion with my du-
ties in California, nor have any time received, Sc
cret instructions, whether verbal or written, from
the President of the United States, or any member
of his Cabinet, on the subject of slavery or any
other subject. did not attempt to influence the
people of California to decide the question of slave
ry one way or the other; and any assertion that [
did receive such instructions attempt to exercise
such influence is false. Any insinuatons or in
sidious inquiries which are so framed or intended
as to induce the people to believe that the President
or any member of his Cabinet did give, or that
could be base enough to receive such instructions,
declare to be totally without foundation in fact
and without the shadow of truth.
beg leave to call the attention of the public to
some facts, which will show what was done by the
late Administration to induce the people Of Califor-
MIA to form State Government. ! arrived at San
Francisco the fourth Of june in the steamer Pa
mama; we did not stop at Monterey nor did see
or hold any communication with Gen. RILEY until
about the middle of that month, when he came to
San Francisco. His proclamation calling Con-
venton of the people Of California to form State
constitution is dated at Monterey-one hundred
and thirty miles from San Francisco-the third Of
June. The last paragraph of this proclamation is
in the following words:
The method here indicated attain what is desired by
ALL viz perfect political organization, is deemed the
most direct and safe that be adopted and fully
hozed by law is the advised by the President
and by the Secretaries of State and OF War Of the United
States and is calculated avoid the nnumeable evils which
mast necessarily result from any attempt at illegal local e
gslation It is, therefore, hoped will the approba
lion Of the people Of California and that all good citizens
will unite in carrying it into execution"
The steamer in which was passenger to San
Francisco was the first conveyance to carry to the
people of California the intelligence Of the inaugu-
ration of President TAYLOR and the appointment of
his Cabinet-so that, at the date Of Gen. RLEK's
proclamation, it was not possible that he could have
received any communication from the present Ad-
ministratiOn. The Presidents 9of the United States
to whom he refers was Mr.. Polk, the Secretary of
State Mr.. BUCHANAN, the Secretary of War Mr..
MARCY. 1t was in accordance with the recommen-
dations Of this proclamation, sustained they are
in President PoLK's last annual message, that the
people of California acted in forming their State
constitution. always addressed the people Of Ca
lhornia in my private character, and never assumed
any official position among them. Interested as
am in slave labor, as Georgian and Southern
citizen, was prepared to expect that the objects of
my mission would BE perverted in the North; and
find accordingly that during the last fall elections
in that quarter was there represented as South
ern STAKEHOLDER sent TO California to indocrinate
the people in my opinions about slavery. This
base falsehood; but it is not half so base as
an attempt to impress on the public mind that was
sent to coerce or influence California to exclude |
slavery. T. BUTLER KING.