The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-29
CALIFO R MA.
REPORT OF HON. +. BUTLER KING.

the Isthmu6 OF Panama, anu arrlVeu AZ odu ran
cisco on the fourth day of June.
The steamer in whirh took passage was the
first conveyance that reached California with intel
ligencc Of the inauguration of President Taylor
and the appointment of his Cabinet, and that Con-
gress had failed to aid the Executive in providing
a government for the people of that Territory.
The greatest anxiety was naturally felt and mani
tested ascertain the cause OF this neglect on the
part of the Government of the United States, and
what steps duty to themselves required them to
take in the painful and embarrassing position in
which they we're placed, for their profession and
welfare.
A brief sketch Of their condition will explain the
cause Of this anxiety.
The discovery of the gold mines had attracted
very large number Of citizens of the United States
to that territory, who had never been accuslomed
to any other than American law, administered by
American courts. There they found their rights
of property and person subject TO the uncertain,
and frequently most oppressive, operation OF laws
written n y daa m0'
to them. They complained that the alcaldes, or
Judges, most of whom had been appointed or elect
ed before the immigration had commenced. were
Americans, they were, of course, unacquainted
with the laws Of Mexico, or the principles OF the
civil law on which they are founded.
As our own laws. except for the collection OF
lishment of post Offices, had not been extended over
that Territory the laws of Mexico, as they existed
at the conclusion of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidal
California with each other, necessarily remained in
force;* yet, there was not single volume contain
ing those laws, far as know or believe, in the
whole Territory, except, perhaps in the Governors
office, at Monterey.
The magistrates, therefore, could not procure
them and the administration of justice was, neces-
sarily, as unequal and fuctuating as the opinions
of the judges were conflicting and variable
There were no bills to regulate costs, and,
consequently, the most cruel exactions, in many
instances, were practised.
The greatest Confusion prevailed respecting titles
to property and the decision OF suits involving the
most important rights, and very large sums OF
money depended upon the dictum Of the judge.
The sale Of the territory by Mexico to the United
States had necessarily cut off or dissolved the
laws regulating the granting or procuring titles to
land and, as our own land Jaws had not been ex-
tended it, the people were compelled TO receive
such titles as we're offered to them, without the
means of ascertaining whether they were valid or
not.
Litigation was SO expensive and precarious, that
injustice and oppression frequently endured,
rather than resort to SO uncertain remedy.
Towns and cities were springing into existence
many of them without charters or any legal right
to organize municipal authorities, or to tax prop
erty or the citizens, for the establishment Of po
lice, the erection of prisons, or providing any OF
those means for the protection OF lie and prop
erty which are 80 necessary in all civil communi-
ties, and especially among people mostly strangers
to each other. ytft..
Nearly one million and a half of dollars had been
goods. before our revenue laws had been extended
over the country; and the people complained bit
terly that they were thus heavily taxed without
being provided with a government for their pro-
lection, laws which they could understand, or
allowed the right to be represented in the councils
of the nation.
While anxiously waiting the action of Congress,
oppressed and embarrassed by this state OF Affairs
and feeling the pressing necessity OF applying such
remedies were in their power and circumstances
seemed to justify they resolved to substitute laws
of their for the existing system, and to estab-
sh tribunals for their proper and faithful admins
traton.
In obedience, therefore, to the extraordinary
exgencies of their condition, the people Of the city
of San Francisco elected members to form Legis-
lature, and clothed them with full powers to pass
laws.
The communities of Sonoma and of Sacramento
city followed the example.
Thus were three Legislative bodies organized; the
two most distant being only one hundred and thrty
miles apart.
Other movements Of the kind we're threatened,
and doubtless would have followed in other sections
Of the Territory, had they not been arrested by the
formation of a State government.
While the people Of California were looking tc
Congress for Territorial government 1t was quite
evident that such organization was daily be-
entirely different from that of any Of the Terrific
rics out Of which the new States Of the Union had
been formed.
Those Territories had been at first slowly and
who penetrated the wilderness, or traversed the
prairies in search Of game or new home; and
when thus gradually their population warranted IT.
government was provided for them. They, how
ever, had no foreign commerce, nor any thing be-
yond the ordinary pursuits Of agriculture and the
various branches Of business which usually accom-
pany II, TO induce immigration within their bor-
ders. Several years were required 70 give tnen
sufficient population and wealth TO place them In
condition to require, or enable them TO support,
State government.
Not SO with California. The discovery Of the
vast metallic and mineral wealth in her mountains
had already attracted TO her. in the space OF twelve
months, more than one hundred thousand peoples
an extensive commerce had sprung up with China
the ports Of Mexico on the Pacific, Chill and Aus
tralia.
Hundreds Of vessels from the Atlantic ports Of the
Union, freighted with our manufactures and agri-
cultural products, and filed with our fellow-citi.
zens, had arrived, or were on their passage round
Cape Horn that in the month OF June last there
were more than three hundred going vessels In
the port Of San Francisco.
California has border on the Pacific Of ten de
grees Of latitude, and several important haroor'
which have never been surveyed; nor s there buoy
beacon, lighthouse, or fortihcation, on th'
whole coast.
There are no docks for the repair Of national OF
mercantile vessels nearer than New York, dis
tance Of some twenty thousand miles round Caps
Horn
All these things, together with the proper reguls
tions Of the gold region, the quicksilver mines, th'
justment Of land titles, the establishment OF min
and Of marine hospitals, required the immediate
formation Of more perfect civil government thar
California then had and the fostering care OF Con
gress and the Executive.
California had as IL we're by magic, become
State Of great wealth and power. One short yea
had given her commercial importance but ittl'
inferior 10 that Of the most powerful OF the ole
States. She had passed her minority at single
bound, and might Justly be regarded as fully enu
tied to take her place as an equal among her sister
Of the Union.
When, therefore, the reality became known =
the people Of that Territory that the Government
had done nothing 10 relieve them from the evils ant
ombarrassments under which they were suffering
and seeing no probability Of any change on IN
subject which divided Congress, they adopted, witt
most unexampled unanimity and promptitude, tn
only course which lay open 10 thcm-thc immedi
ate formation Of State government.
They were induced to take this step not only 70
the reason that Il promised the most speedy remed
for present difficulties, but because the great an
rapidly growing interests Of the Territory dc
mandcd Il; and all rejecting men saw, at glance
that il ought not to be any longer, and could no
under any circumstances, be much longer poet
poned
They not only considered Themselves best quail