Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-18

Ut Pdssage OF law Tor the cOTectlOn Of TeVenue-
The intelligence of this failure to act in the case, and
action IN the other the part of Congress reached San
francisco on the 2Sth May, 1949 by the u S. propel-
Tor Edith which vessel had been dispatched to Mazatan
6y order OF Gen Smith, the preceding 10th OF April.
NO sooner was this intelligence disseminated through
out the country than became evident to all men that
the political complexion which great question had
sumed IN the Atlantic States had prevented Congress
from establishing Territorial Government even
thorzng the people of California form State Co.
yefnmenti and there grew up at once unanimous
desire IN the hearts OF the citizens of the territory to
adopt the only feasible scheme which promised them
government-that of State organization This sem
t:ient daily gained ground until the beginning OF June,
lS49, when the Legislative assembly of the district OF
San francisco published address 10 the people of Ca
orna, asserting that they believed it to be their du
ty to earnestly recommend to their fellow citizens the
proprety OF elecng at least twelve delegates from each
district to attend general Convention to be held at the
Pueblo de San Jose on the third Monday in August
next, Tor the purpose OF organizing government for
or Temporary State Government to be put into opera
ton at the earliest practicable moment after its ra-
fcation by the people" and "to become permanent
State Government when admitted into the Union"-
Ibis recommendation met with universal approval.
Simultaneously with this action the part of the
Legislative Assembly of the District of San Francisco,
though without any knowledge thereof, Gov. Riley is
sued at Monterey, 30 miles dsant,) the Sd day of
June l949 proclamation, recommending the election
of delegates to Convention for forming State Con-
stltuton, said body to at Monterey the LIST
day of September following. He also evinced dis
position which had not been manifested before, put in
immediate, complete and fair operation, the whole ma
chnery OF the de tdctO government. OF which he claim
ed to be the head he assured the people of his patriotic
desire to accomplish his duty and their welfare by
commencing them to elect all such officers the exist
ing laws authorized, whether provided that such
officers should be elected by the people appointed by
the executive; and he convinced them Of his good faith
by at once coming forward and approprang the "civ
fund of California" which had been collected upon the
imports OF the country without law authority, the
payment OF the current expenses of the de tdctO 60
vernment, which he had determined to put fully into
operation. N Notwithstanding all this however, the ma
ory of the people Of the Territory denied his right to
issue proclamation calling Convention, contending
that the default of the action of Congress- the right to
pursue such course was inherent in the people.
But the opposition of the people the de facto Gov
eminent had sprung from patriotic motives and from
experimental conviction that it was insufficient for the
exigencies of the country. This opposition was
confined in its public manifestations entirely to the
American born population. The Californians proper,
as whole had never participated in any OF the popu-
lar exhibitions OF discontent and the emigration that
daily arriving in large numbers did OF necessity,
enter into the spirit OF the grievances which were COM
planned of by the older residents, espouse either
side of aquarrel Of which they could not distinctly
prehend the nature. Amen, though, ardently desired
settled constitutional form of Government; and it be-
the duty the patriotic to yield their preudces
and abstract opinions, and to unite in one common
effort to promote the public good Congress had aban
doned the Territory to its own resourceshad oppress
ed it by the passage OF unjust lava large portion
gifts population were in determined and open hostility
to the de tacto Goyernment-petty Governments had
been established In several distrctsand anarchy and
civil discord impending over the land 1t was mo- |
ment Of uncertainty and tor California but American |
patriotism and American love OF law and order were
superior to all other considerations, and the present and
future prosperity of California secured by the
imous combination TO form State Government.
On the 7th OF June, lS49 the citizens of San Jose
public meeting, concured in the recommendations of
Gen. Riley and the 18th of the month the |
citizens of Monterey agreed thereto in similar manner
On the 18th day of that month the largest meeting
ofhe citizens OF San Francisco held convened in
Portsmouth square IN that city. That meeting was |
addressed by the Hon t. Butler King, VIM M. Gwin,
Edward Gilbert and other gentlemen but such was the
excited state Of feeling in that district that the meeting
by direct vote refused in the recommended
lion of Gen Riley's proclamation. Corresponding
20 mlttee was however appointed which, on the 18th |
OF June in Address to the public, used the following
language, VIZ:
"'rhe Committee not recognizing the least power, |
as matter of right in Brew Brig Gen Riley to appoiut
time and place for the election of delegates and the
assembling OF the Convention yet these matters are
subordinate and as the people OF San Jose have, in
public meeting, expressed their satisfaction with the |
times mentioned by Gen. Riley, and as we are informed
the districts below will accede to the and it is
ofthe first importance that there be unanimty OF action
among the eope OF California in reference Tia great
leading .akec-the attempt TO form Government for
ourseves-we recommend to our fellow citizens of
California the proprety, under existing circumstances,
of acceding to the time and place mentioned by Gen
Riley in his proclamation and acceded to by the peo~
pie OF some other districts"
In all the other districts of the Territory public meet
ings of concurrence in Gen. Rley's proclamation were
held, The election followed on the LIST
OF August, and the Convention assembled at Monterey
on the LIST Of September 1S49.
The undersigned have not presumed to weary your
patience by laying before you in full the proceedings
and action OF the public bodies to which they have
made allusion have they thought it necessary to
enter into detail OF minor particulars OF difference and
disagreement between the people and the de acto Gov
eminent. They however, deem il their duty to as
you that the persons who figured most conspicu-
ously in the undertaking, enjoyed high share OF the
public confidence and esteem and believe that the
best tribute to their worth and responsibility is to be
found in the fact that many of them members of
the Convention which framed the Constitution and |
now enjoy responsible and honorable positions under
the Government whose basis they periodically con-
tnbuted TO establish
Such, in the opinion ofthe undersigned is blef and
impartial history OF the 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 firm
" and regously believe that perusa of the forego
ing pages, must lead ressbly to the following concu
sions viz:
L. That Territorial Government, under the revisory
power OF Congress, would, far from promoting the
interests ofCatornia, circumscrbe its energies pre-
vent the development offs capacities, and impede its
general advancement, as to be OF discomfort
difficulty and ultimate ruin, either to the government
or governed,
That the wonderful increase of the country in 20.
pulaton, IN wealth, and consequently in commercial
social and political importance renders mperatively ne
cessary the adoption OF such a system of measures as
can only enacted by State Legislature and enforced
by State Government.
- o. mat the neglect and oppr esslon OF the United
States Congress, forced California to form State Gov
ment, il she desired to avoid civil strife and anarchy
And, A. That the people of that country did adopt
such form of government in obedience the dictation
from the Executive here, through Gen Riley there but
on the contrary actually took the initiative in the
men and only concurred in the suggestions of the de
facto Governor matter of course to time, and
with patriotic resolution to merge all minor differ
ences of opinion in unanimous effort to i'm
pending ills and remedyng existing evils.
Much misapprehension appears to have obtained in
Atlantic tn hn n avarv |
in California. The undersigned have hesitation in
saying that the provision in the Constitution excluding
that institution, meets with the almost unanimous appro-
val of that people, This unanimity is believed to re-
suit much from the preudces against the syes-
lem which quite general in the northern portion of
the United States as from a universal conviction that
in no portion of California is the climate and soil of
character adapted to slave labor
Since the discovery Of the mines the feeling 10 onno=