Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-18
CALIFORNIA; DEMAND
FOR ADMISSION INTO THE Union

The undersigned, Senators and Representatives elect
from the State of California have the honor in pursu-
ance OF requirement in the Constitution recently
adopted by her people for her government as a State
lay before your honorable bodies certified copies OF
said Constitution together with their credentials and to
request 'in the OF the people of California, the
admission OF the State OF California into the American
Union.''
In performing this duty, the undersigned deem it but
just to state that they ha learned with astonshmeut
and sincere regret since their arrival in the city OF w ash
ingon, OF the existence OF organized, respectable
and talented opposition to the admission OF the new
State which they have the distinguished honor to re-
present. This opposition is unexpected, impor-
tan in numbers and ability, and so decided in lis Sec
tona charac ter that they feel they should do injustice
their constituents to the good government,
and to the progressive advance of Freedom and Civil
cation, did they at least attempt an to the
many arguments urged against the admission OF Cab
fornia.
The undersigned therefore, fully aware that much ig
norauce misapprehension and msconception exists in
the public mind of the Atlantic States relative to their
country its citizens, and the proceedings by which a
State Government has been recently formed there, and
deeply sorrowtu that false charges should have been
made against the character, intelligence and virtue OF
their constituents have deemed obligatory upon them,
in presenting in formal manner the request OF the State
of California for admission into the American Union,
that they should bya narration Of facts and tor-
ever silence those who have dsregarded the obligations
of courtesy and all the rules of JUSTICE by ungenerous
insnuatons unfair deductions, al premises and I'M
warranted conclusions. They believe that in so doing
they will carry out the wishes OF those who have COM
missoned them and contribute to the true history OF
this important political era; while they ardenty desire
and hope that they may thereby be enabled exert
happy influence IN alayng that intense excitement which
menaces the perpetuity OF the Republic, and all
the dearest hopes OF freedom.
In pursuance OF this determination The undersigned
have though proper present. briefly possible,
an outline Of the history OF the country, hom its con-
quest by the American forces to the adoption OF her pre-
sent Constitution and the erection of State Govern
In IN do this tiSfantoriIv bn-
leved to be necessary to dwell at length upon the de-
tails Of the early history, but simply to that the
first emigration of Americans into California in any
considerable numbers occurred during the Summer and
Fall of the year 1915. This emigration, which is be-
ieved not to have exceeded 500 persons constituted the
basis from which sprung the train OF which led to
the ultimate subugalon OF the country. The particu
lars of those events presumed to be familiar to the
members of each OF your honorable bodies, and gene
rally understood by the public at large and the under
signed therefore pass over the history Of the revolution
ary and military operations which resulted in the estab
lshment of Col. Richard B. Mason as the military, and
er- Afcio civil Governor of the Department OF Upper
Calif5&ia, on the 3lst day of May, ls47.
AT that time the American forces held possession Of
the wholeSof what was then denonnated Upper Calls
forna and were posted at different points, in small de-
tachments fcsp Suffers Fort in the north the town
Of San Diego iayhe south The Pacific squaYt9 Of
Se a theb upon the the e and it's
vessels at anchdS in the different hsbors of the
country The countryswas gu et, and 4fhe population
orderly, industrious ipteN gid en!prisng From
val forces under Commodore s had raised the Anne
caG STANDARD la hougs4u' .Ss the au
Individual edtdu G severity BY the military u G
and naval commandSats during theNEar, upon what
was regarded by thsAanerean enfgra5s as the nhe-
lousy Of mitay rule, : hich is believed to6 nation
al characteristic, could hot fail make the ma tary au-
thority, wbih had now devolved upon Cola Mason,
source of Suspicion, disagreement and dsconefR This
moH particularly the in regard to the Aner-
can inI tbiiants, who had now become quite nud ous
by co1inued arrivals OF emigrans both by and Nad
but tie feeling was also participated in, to great -
tenHby the native citizens OF the country who tuf
hernfuenced by the chagn, hatred and uncertainty
which isl to fill the breasts OF subugaed but
rageous people.
Even at this early day the subject ofthe establishment
OF Civil Territorial Government had found advo-
Gates; but the was not yet ended, and as the
country could not be regarded in any other light than
that OF military conquest and SUCH subject to the
government OF the military power, and as the majority OF
the people felt that reliance which convinced them
there was little danger OF any serious attempt
patton the part OF the iltary authority, thesmatter
was not seriously pressed, though generally approved,
Nevertheless, it becoming daily more and more
pervading sentiment that the Civil Government as then
organized under the almost absolute law of Mexico,
totally inadequate to the changed circumstances OF
the country; and as the undersigned believe
more fully convinced of that fact, than the executive
officers OF that government. This sentiment finally be-
came general and the and difficulties that every
day occurred, from the ignorance OF Mexican law its
induced the Governor to make compi-
aon and translation ofal such Mexican regulations as
could be found in the archives of the State Department
at Monterey with such additions as were thought ad
visable and necessary These printed in both the
English and Spanish languages; but unfortunately for
The country, they were not quite ready for publication
At the time OF peace reached California, and the
Governor, therefre never proclaimed nor issued them
In the month of Oct ber lS47, the Military Contribu-
ion Tariff promulgated by the then President OF the
e. States established n the ports of California The
custom houses, which heretofore had remained in the
hands OF citizens who accounted to the Military Cover
nor, or the Commodore of the Pacific Squadron were
now filed by army navy officers. This tariff was
Justly but rgorousy enforced and though its provisions
bore oppresslvely upon the country TO add slightly
to the causes and feeling of discomfort, no opposition
was manifested Indeed, during this whole lime, al
though the evils and difficulties under which the country
suffered were manifold, we believe no single instance
found ofualawiul or roous resistance to the
stitued authorities
But the desire for congenial government went
steadily increasing in that portion OF the country y
ing around and North of the district of San Francisco
10 this feeling the arrival OF the overland emigration in
the fall of 1S47 greatly contributed In the meantime,
the original citizens OF California had become in nea
sure satisfied with their position and as the conduct OF
the American officers and citizens of courteous
and upright character, they gradually became assured
that their rights, property and happiness not like
ly to be destroyed by the conquerofs Still degree of
solictude and suspicion preyed upon the public mind
An uncertainty seemed to pervade the whole country,
exercising chilling and depressing effect upon its agr
culture commerce, mechanic arts, and general business
relations. The military government had continued the
collection of duties under the military contribution Ia
riff, and a parsmonious policy OF expenditure was
the whole circulating medium OF the
try gradually locked up in the military chest This
exered paraysing effect theindusral and business
pursuits of the whole community, and gave rise to
plants that the military power taxing the people
without allowing them voice IN the nlasr, ana thai at
he same time they failed TO give to the country 60
consonance with its wishes
its wants in other words that after taxing the nha
plants of the country contraventon OF all right they
the creates, injustice of refusing neglect.
ng to expend the money obtained in such manner
would provide government that would give proec
ion to the CT and security the property Cali
ornia however, went on quietly increasing in popula-
ion wealth, industry, and commercial and pollcal i'm
lortauce.
Such was the condition of California in April ls4S
ia that month made the extraordinary discovery OF
he gold mnes and instantly the whole Territory was
N blaze. The towns deserted by their male popu-
aton and complete cessation OF the whole Industrial