Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-15
CALIFORNIA.
Memorial Of her Senators and Representatives.
o7o,y to Coorrosc


elect, to Congress.
The New York Tribune publishes (having OBJ
tanned copy through its Washington correspon-
dent) long and snguary able memorial address, |
ed to the two Houses of Congress by William M.
Gwin and John C. Fremont, George w. Wright
and Edward Gilbert, the Senators and Represen-
tatives, elected by the Legislature and people of
California. The paper possesses great political
and historical value, and we only regret that the
preoccupation of our columns prevents us from
placing it at once before our readers.
The memoriasts represent it to be their object,
in presenting in formal manner the request of
the State of California for admission into the
American Union, to remove by narration of
facts, the ignorance, misapprehension and mis-
conception which exist in the public mind of the
Atlantic States relative to their country, its citi-
zens and the proceedings by which State Govern
ment has been recently formed, and thus once and
forever to ''sence those who have disregarded
the obligations of courtesy and all the rules of JUS
tice by ungenerous insinuations, unfair deduc-
tons, false premises and unsound conclusions
They proceed, therefore, to give history of all
the proceedings in California since the establish
ment of American authority, having reference to
the organization of civil government. They
make it appear, beyond all dispute, that the people
were greatly disconnected with the de facto GO
vernment of COL Mason, and took measures to
establish in its stead provincial Territorial 60
vernment Meetings were held in most of the
districts, in the latter part of 184S and early in
lS49, originating entirely with the people them
selves, and having in view the holding of con-
ventlon for the purpose OF framing the form of
Government generally desired. In consequence
of the want of intercommunicaton, and other
causes the time for holding this convention could
not be agreed upon. Early in March, 1849
twelve delegates elected to the convention met at
San Francisco and issued an address advising
the people to elect delegates to new Convention,
which should meet on the first Monday of August
ensuing, and to invest them acuh poaoer TO form a
State Constitution This was the first sugges-
ton Of the idea of State. 1t originated in pub
lie sentiment adverse to the rule of Col. Mason,
who acted under instructions from President Polk,
and was anterior to the arrival of Gen. Riley, who
was also sent out by Mr.. Polk. Gen. Riley ar
rived on the 9Th April, l849. The news of the
failure of Congress, at the short session of
1859, to establish government for California,
reached San Francisco on the 29th of May This
intelligence excited a unanimous sentiment in ia
YOUR Of State government. Already several
Districts, in the absence of other satisfactory civil
authority, had established independent legislative
assemblies, whose acts confcted with the iuris-
dicton of the de Jtacto government. Early in June
the Legislative Assembly of San Francisco issued
an address to the people of California, urging them
to elect delegates to Convention, to be held at
San Jose on the Sd Monday in August, for the
purpose of forming conditional or temporary
State government" TO become permanent upon the
admission of the State into the Union. Without
concert with this movement, as it appears General
Riley, on the Sd of June, issued from Monterey
his official proclamation inviting the election of de-
legates to Convention to be held at Monterey on
the LIST of September Mr.. Thomas Butler King
Gas we know from his own statenent) arrived at
San Francisco on the 4th of June, in steamer
which bore the first tidings of Gen. Taylor's in
auguration Of course, therefore, the present adj
Ynnstration, is not responsible for the invitation
either of Gen. Riley or of the San Francisco Lee
CURED in the recommendation of Gen. RiIev's
proclamation. AT large public meeting in San
Francisco, it was voted down; but committee,
appointed at the meeting, soon after recommend
ed the people to acquiesce, whilst they utterly de.
MED the Generals authority to take any such ac-
ton. General concurrence in the proceeding then
ensued, the popular election of delegates took place
onthe list of August, and the Convention met at
Monterey on the lst of September, and fashioned
the constitution which is now the subject of so
much disputation.
. we copy from this part of the memorial the fol-
lowing important extracts:
Such, in the opinion ofthe undersigned is b,ef and
Impartial history o. Inc causes which have resulted in
the formation OF the present State Government Of Cali
torna and the presentation OF her request for admission
into the American Union. And the UNDERSIGNED fiT,n
" and reigiously believe that perusal of the forage
ing pages, must lead resistbly to the following concu-
That Territorial Government, under the revjsorv
power OF Congress, would so tar from promoting the
IN teests otCatola so clrcumserbe its energies pr-
vent the development OF lis capacities and impede its
general advancement, rs TO be source OF discomfort
dlfcuy and ultimate ruin, either to the government
governed
2 THAI the wonderful increase Of the country in DO.
pulauoh, IN wealth, and consequently in commercial
eocal aug pouca Importance, renders imperatiVelY
Hessafy tne adopuon OF such system of measures as
only be enacted by State Legslare and enforced
iy State Government w
g. That the neglect and oppr ession of the limited
States Congress, forced California to form State Gov.
ment, ii she desired 10 avoid civil strife and anarchy
And, 4. That the people that country did NOT adont
such form OF government in obedience 10 the dctatdn
from the Executive here through Gen Riley there bt
on the contrary actually took the initiative in the move
lnent and only concured in the suggestions Of the do
J1cto Governor as matter of course 10 save time and
with patriotic resolution TO merge all minor dffsr
ences OF opinion III one unanimous effort to avert i'm
pending Ills and remedying existing evils.
The Atlantic States relative 10 the question of slavery