Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-10-25
.,,.copyI, CONSTITUTION.


CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION.
,,,,s,s connected with of the most eStraordinaf,
history we give below correspondence in re-
,,;, ~ Mr. r Batter Kings connection win Inc mahnia'
-, III, ,,cr.so Stat. of California. The writers of The
- T.; IN h, seen cxculpaic Gem Taylors adminissra-
linn md Nj King from any agency IN originating 'hc
,,,,,, th,tc This, however, strangely eonlicts win
M , ,t,ier said hy Semp!c the President oi the Ton
,,;on ~ have been given 10 him by Mr. king, thai 10 sc
r e;, acceptance BY Congress the whole territory al
c,Gti should bc embraced by The Constitution ol 'hii-
ornia
Though Gen Rilrys proclamation is based Oh The III
ar,riis Of The Secretary oi War lie. u would seem !r'
IN, correspondence received no Instructions from "enefa'
roylos Cabinct-thoush they afterwards reJorod III te
c,nsun,na,ion 1t not i.om Mr. Folks Cabinet 'hat
he received such Instructions (ndred we near 'f'' ne a
,ops such ground)-hc, therefore, employing soldier
,s. noted on his own hook, and thought it best TO per-
farm the duties OF Congress- His action was doubtless,
honest-but il ILL., timed and unfortunate
CORRESPONDENTS.
WAsHI,;droN, SErT. 25th lSoO.
Dear Sir-You are probably aware thar much has been
All, in Congress aud elsewhere respecting the steps taken
By YOU as Governor of California 10 bring about the iorina
ton OF Slate government in that territory ana mat u mas
been argued that you may base received anu PROBABLY dd
receive instructions from General Taylor or some member
or members Of his cabinet. Ia issue your proclamation I'M
der which the people OF California acted In Organizing ihr
present In juslicr Ia the late administration
and 10 myself will you BE- 40 oHans as 10 reply 10 III" "!
lowing questions, viz
Is, Did you al any time receive from General Taylor or
any member members o his cabinet, any nstrcos or
dcrs or imati0nS issue proclamation or I" take any
other s;cp require or induce he people OF California 10
form State government
"a Did or did not the people Of California, in forming
their State Constitution act in coni"nliy WITH or under
the directions contained in, your prorlanaion!
Sd Di know, or we're You ever informed maj
the administration General Taylor by lis orders nsfuc-
tons agent agents. attempted 10 control Tie people OF
California in The formation Of their State government
have the honor u be- with very great rnsect Won most
ohrdicnt servant, T. BUTLER KING.
To B.eye, Brigadicr General RILEY. Browns Hotel.
Brirad;er General Riley 10 7. Butler King Esq.
WAsHlSGIo., SEPT. 29TH, 1851.
DEAR have had The honor 10 receive your note Of
Yesterday prop"untng certain questions relative 10
the formation OF the State California; and Il gives me
great pleasure answer them as follows:
To the first question answer
That did not nj any time receive from General Taylor or
any member members OF his Cabinet any instructions,
orders or infmaons 10 issue proclamation, or I" take any
other step require induce The people OF California Ia
form State government
Scconay-Thc people OF California in forming their State
constitution di in conformity with under the dIrer-
tons contained in tny proclamation.
1hiriyI never ,i know, evsr informed, thai
the Administration oi General Taylor, lay its orders in
ucrons acnt agents, attempted 10 control tire people
of Calrnia The iormlrion oi their State Government
hsvr The honor 10 be very with great RESPECT your OBJ
dent IT, RllLl
' b. Brig. Gea L. s l.. and err Cor Of California
T. BrTLER kiS0 Esq.
.,,.aso.!ors Thomas IL C.ss'y Jone to r Beler hi"g,
Esq.
"pnasrr,T lii..," Va. SEPT. Il. 1850
T. BurIER kISa Esa \ :. &C., &c
My dear Sir | not lille surprised Ia perceive,
acr the meeting Of the present Congress how rl
lenly you assad in the journals oI Tie day and even
in your STATE, Qicorga.) u. vour enormously sup
posed agency in setting foot the state Increment IN Ca
liio!nia. Having been in California myself for nearly
previous vour arrival there and being, believe al
the First old acquaintance you met IN San Francisco,
and you being e bearer OF Official dispatches from the Sc
cc;ary OF the Navy is not reasonable 10 suppose
that Won withheld from what you nrc alleged to have
communicated 10 utcs So far then from your setting on
foot any Tor the government OF California, well
remember your surprise when, within the first honr OF your
arrival il San Francisco told you what were my views
California ailrs and OF my decided preference Tor
State 10 II Territorial organization.
Upon my arrival in The Bay Of San Francisco, Nov l7lSr
the Presidents message TO Congress OF 5h OF July announ
cling The exchange Of the ratification OF the treaty OF peace
put into my hands In that message the President De,
cares hat by the termination Of tie war California anu al
other Mexican territory coded 10 the United States was it
without government and must remain 50 until Congress
in its wisdom should establish substitute for Mexican
sw und the military government in operation during the
war, which the President in the same message declared ID
b. abroaaied or annuiled BY the return OF peace.
The Presidents views oil California law and government
caused the people OF that Territory al once 10 question Gov
MaSons right to and especially his right to subject
Amrcun citizens in territory which had become Amerl-
c,n The doubtful ana uncougenal Spanish laws which
existed CdioInl 10 ourlng inc War IL
contCnded by many persons in California, that the Fc-
d]al officers could exercise any control over California;
much cnlcct duties dutable articles i'm
ported directly from foreign countries in foreign ships Gov
Mason himself doubted his powers after reading the
xge and anxious resign his civil functions into the
III nds of The people with little delay possible In the
Of 1919 he sanctioned call 10 elect delegates 10
convention for the formation of Il territorial government -
els move, had predicted my first interview with
oy. Mason failed; and then my plan of STATE organza.
tim freely discussed and The people ripe for action
az 'hat point, and teB Rilrys proclamation for elections
10 cleo, dcic.es State Contention issued before
"n arrived ~ San Fancsco and o course before you could
possibly have had any personal agency instsatns even
Fastening such n measure
A slavehod'r myself horn and always living in slave
State Virginia IA "Soutiern wirH Southern priici-
piel saw, or thought saw, in State organization the
only by which California could obtain tho blessings
OF peace and goo government; and that republican con-
siiiuon formed by FUR representation the Territory
convention, whether ii admitted slavery nor would
BE- h, work OF the people themselves, would be al
cvcd by Congress and The veyr question Of slavery in the
Territories be more and fondy hoped forever put 10
rest.
am my dear sir very truly Your friend and obedient
want. TIlOS. Ar G.. JONES, L. S. Navy.
Il. IT. D;mmica TO r. Butler King Esq.
San JOSE, CALIFORNIA JAN. y, 1850.
Dear Sir perceive by the papers received here since
departure for The States that charged with hav-
cXcrred influence in the formation of State
stution knowing those charges be without founia-
ton, will give you the following facts which anspred