The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-22
Commodore Thomas ZIP Catesby Jones to Hon
H. Butler King

4. DWHT hUS.
"PRosPEcT HnL,'' VA, Sept. 81, 1850
The Hon. T. Butler KING, &C., &C., &c.
MY DEAR Sin: was not little surprised to per-
ceive, soon after the meeting of the present Con-
gross, how viruently you were assaed in the jour
mails of the day, and even in your own State &C cor
gia.) for your, enormously supposed agency in set
ting foot the State increment in California Hav-
ing been in California myself for nearlya year pre-
vious to your arrival there, and being believe,
almost the first old acquaintance you met in San
Francisco and you being the bearer of official de-
.patches from the Secretary of the Navy TO me- it
is not reasonable to suppose that you withheld from
| me what you are alleged to have communicated to
others. So far then from your setting on foot any
| measure for the government of California, well
remember your surprise when, within the first hour
Of your arrival in San Francisco, told you what
were my views upon California affairs, and of my
decided preference for State to n Territorial or
ganization.
Upon my arrival in the bay Of "San Francisco :"
November, 1913, the Presidents message to Con-
gress Of 9th Of July, announcing the exchange of
the ratification of the treaty of peace put into
my hands. In that message the President declares
that by the termination of the war, California and
all other Mexican territory ceded to the United
States was left without any government and must
4
| tablish some substitute for Mexican law and the
military government in operation during the war,
which the President in the same message declared
to be abrogated annulled by the return of peace
The Presidents views of California law and gov
eminent caused the people that Territory at once
to question Governor Mason's right TO govern and
especially his right to subject American citizens,
in territory which had become American, to the
doubtful and uncongenial Spanish laws which cx-
listed in California previous to and during the war
1t was even contended by many persons in Califor-
MIA that the Federal officers could not exercise any
control over California, even go much az collect
duties on dutiable articles imported directly from
foreign countries in foreign shps. Governor Ma
son himself doubted his powers after reading the
message, and was anxious to resign his civil func-
tons into the hands of the people with little de-
lay possible. In the autumn 1S4s, he sanctioned
call to elect delegates convention for the for
nation Of territorial government. This move, as
had predicted at my first interview with Governor
Mason failed; and then my plan of a State organ
zation freely discussed, and the people we're
ripe for action that point, and General Riley's
proclamation for elections 10 elect delegates 20 n
STATE convention was issued before you arrived at
"san Francisco;" and of course before you could
possibly have had any personal agency in instigat-
ing or even Fastening such measure.
STAKEHOLDER myself, born and always living in
a slave State, Virginia, IA "iSouthon man WITH
Southern principles'-I saw, or thought saw, in a
State organization the only means by which Cali
forna could obtain the blessings Of peace and good
government; and that republican constitution,
formed by fair representation of tho Territory in
convention, whether ii admitted slavery or not, as
il would be the work Of the people themselves,
would be at received by Congress, and the
vexcd question Of slavery in the Tsrrfories be once
moro, and fondly hoped forever, put TO rest.
| am, my dear cir, very truly, your friend and
| obodicnt servant,