Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-03-02
A CARD FROM HON. T. BUTLER KING.


WASHINGTON, FEBRuARr %, 1850.
! To the Editors of the National IateArgencer
| GENTLEMEN. Permit me 10 state in your CO
lumns that my illness in California and subsequen
long-coatinued debiGty-my numerous pressing
engagements since my arrival here, and the effects
of recent ndisposition, which has Paralyzed my
energies for some days, have delayed much longe
than intended or expected my report on Cafor
MIA. But cannet longer permit the public mine
TO be assailed, perhaps misled, by insinuations in
quiries, and innuendoes, which, if not promptly an
swered, may be considered as acquiesced in; OF
bold assertions-if misrepresentation has assumed
that form-to pass uncontradcted. |, therefore
assert that did not receive, in connexon with my du
ties in California have at any time received
cret instructions, whether verbal or written, from
the President of the United States, or any member
of his Cabinet, on the subject of slavery or any
other subject. i did not attempt to influence the
people of California to decide the question of slave.
ry one way or the other; and any assertion that
did receive such instructions or attempt to exercise
such influence is false. Any insinuations or in
sidious inquiries which are so framed or intended
to induce the people to believe that the President
or any member of his Cabinet did give, or that
could be base enough to receive, such instructions,
declare to be totally without foundation in fact
and without the shadow of truth.
beg leave to call the attention of the public to
some facts, which will show what was done by the
late Administration to induce the people of Cafor-
MIA to form a State Government / arrived at San
Francisco the fourth of June, in the steamer Pa
mama /; we did not stop at Monterey nor did see
or hold any communication with Gen. RILEY until
about the middle of that month, when he came to
San Francisco. His proclamation calling Con-
vention of the people Of California to form State
constitution is dated at Monterey-one hundred
apI al ~ I'll &c
June. The last paragraph of this proclamation is
in the following words:
The method here indicated to attain what desired by
ALL viz perfect political organization, deemed the
mos. direct and safe that can be adopted and fully au
'horzed by law. 1t is the advised by the President
and by the Secretaries of State and of War of the United
States, and is calculated avoid the nnumerabe evils which
mast necessarily result from any attempt at illegal local e
sgislaion. Il therefore, hoped will meet the approba
lion of the people Of California and that all good citizens
will unite in carrying it into execution"
The steamer in which was passenger to San
Francisco was the first conveyance to carry to the
people of California the intelligence Of the inaugu.
ration Of President TAYLOR and the appointment Of
his Cabinet-so that, at the date of Gen. RnEY's
proclamation, it was not possible that he could have
received any communication from the present Ad-
minstration. The Presdentsof the United States
to whom he refers was Mr.. Polk the Secretary of
State Mr.. BUCHANAN, the Secretary of War Mr..
MARCY. 1t was in accordance with the recommen-
dations Of this proclamation, sustained as they are
in President PoLK's last annual message, that the
people Of California acted in forming their State
constitution. always addressed the people Of Ca
lforna in my private character, and never assumed
any official position among them. Interested as
am in slave labor, a Georgian and Southern
citizen was prepared to expect that the objects of
my mission would BE perverted in the North; and
find accordingly that during the last fall elections
in that quarter was there represented as South
the people in my opinions about slavery. This
was base falsehood; but it is not half so base as
an attempt to impress on the public mind that was
sent to coerce or influence California to exclude
slavery. +. BUTLER KING.