The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-29
Repert or Mr.. King.

Report or Mr.. King.
We have the pleasure of laying before
our readers this morning the comprehen-
sive and valuable report just made to the
Executive by the Hon. T. BUTLER KING,
on the condition and prospects Of Califor-
MIA. The protracted indisposition of Mr..
KING, resulting from the fatigue and ex-
posure to which he was subjected in that
country, has delayed his communication
for several weeks, and it was prepared
while he was much enfeebled by sickness
The great length of the document so
encroaches upon our editorial space, that
our notice of it must necessarily be brief
Mr.. KING's description of the Difficult
ties and endorsements inflicted upon
the people of California, by the neglect of
Congress to provide government for the
Territority, is clear and graphic. The
manifold inconvenience arising from the
want of legislative enactments by our
own Government, and the impossibility
of learning the requirements of the Mex
lean laws, constrained the people to
adopt the plan of State organization.
There was an overmastering necessity
for it, and delay was out Of the ques-
ton. They were conscious of their right
to decide for themselves the slavery
question, and they had no doubt that this
right would be recognised in every part
of the United States. Mr.. CALHOUN had
distinctly affirmed the power of people
to regulate this matter, in his resolutions
introduced in the Senate in 1847, and the
people of California were justified in ex-
pecting that the State would be welcomed
into the Union by all parties.
Mr.. KING arrived at San Francisco on
the 4th of June, and on the preceding day
General RILEY, the acting civil governor
of the Territory, had issued at Monterey
his proclamation, calling upon the people
to elect delegates to convention to form
a State constitution. The steamer in which
Mr.. KING was passenger did not touch
at Monterey, and hence he had no com
munication with General RILEY anteceden
to the period when the proclamation was
issued. Three or four days after the ar
rival of Mr.. KING, it became known t.
the people that General RILEY, acting
under the instructions Of the late admins
tration, had advised this measure, and j
was adopted by general consent, and with
the greatest alacrity.
Mr.. KING had no instructions of an,
kind from the present Administration IL
relation to the subject of 81 avery, and h
wholly abstained from interference, direc
or indirect, in regard to it. When tn
convention sat, he was on a bed Of sick
ness, hundred and thirty miles from it
place of meeting. These facts put an end
at once and for ever, TO the base insinua
tons of the Bitter Enders that the AID
ADMINISTRATION had undertaken TO control tn
action Of California in this regard.
The report treats, with much ability an
research, of the resources and prospect
of California-her climate, soil, and pre-
ducts; but we have no room for synopsis
His observations upon the causes of tn
dry and rainy seasons in that country al
interesting and instructive in high d.
gree. Her commercial means are est
mated at high rate, and facts are pr'
sented TO support his propositions.
The plan which he suggests for II
regulation of mining strikes us as feasib
and well considered, and we trust it wi
meet the appreciation of Congress. 1t
important, in every point of view, tn
something should be speedily done in Il
premises, and further neglect would
wholly indefensible.
We have referred to some of the mo
prominent features of the report onl
The duties Of Mr.. KING, as speci
agent of the Government, have been fat
fully performed, and the large store
information which he has gathered will
eminently serviceable to the country.
The Hon. JOHN MAYNARD, late JUDI
OF the supreme court of New York, di
al his residence, Auburn, last Sunda
He had been in feeble health for sever
years, so much so that last fall he had
resign his seat on the bench.