Washington telegraph., 1850-03-20
A CARD.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23d, 1850.
, Editors of tie Republic.

70 the Editors of tie Repat6lac.
GEr-LEMEN: Permit me 10 state in
.,our columns that my illness III Caiifor-
tia ana subsequent tlong-contiifued debili-
w. my numerous pressing engagements
since my arrival here. and the effects of a
recent indispositioh which has paralyzed
INV energies for some days. have delayed
much longer than inteaded or expected,
nv report on California. Bat cannot
LONGER permit the public mind to BE as
sailed, perhaps misled, by insinnations,
;,ouiries and innuendoes, which if not
,n,omptly answered, may he considered
as acauiesced in; or bold assertions. if
instrumentation has assumed that form,
sto mass uncomtradicted. | therefore as
>sfrt that did not, in cOnnexlon with
,nv duties in California, nor have l at
sanv time, received secret instructions,
whether verbal or written. from the Pres
9deut of the United States, or any MEN,
Der of his Cabinet, on the subject OF sla-
yerv or any other subject. L did not at
tempt TO influence the people OF California
10 decide the question: of slavery Que way
or the other; and amy assertion that did
receive such Instructions, or attempt TO
exercise such influence, is false. Any
;nsinuations or insidous inquiries which
are so framed or intended, as TO induce the
neonle TO believe that the President or
,anv member of his Cabinet did give, Or
that could be base enough to receive,
,such instructions, | declare TO be totally
without foundation i'll tact, and without
the shadow of truth.
+ Ia, 10
public 10 some facts, which Will show
what was done hv the late Administration
TO induce the people of California 10 form
a State government. l arrived at oah
Francisco on the fourth OF June, III the
steamer Panama We did not stop at
Monterey, nor did | see or hold any COM
municatiou with General Riley until
about the middle of that month, when he
came 10 San Francisco His proclama-
ton. calling a convention Of the people
of California to form State constitution,
is dated at Monterey, 13O miles from San
Francisco, the third of June. The last
paragraph of this proclamation is III the
following words:
The method here indicated to attain
what is desired by all, viz. more per-
most direct and safe that can he adopted,
and one fully authorized 10y law. Ii Is
the course advised by the President, ana
by the Secretaries of State aud OF War
of the United States, and is calculated TO
avoid the innumerable evils which must
necessarily result from any attempt at IL
legal local legislation. 1t is therefore
hoped it will meet the appreciation OF the
people of California, aud that all good
cltlZens will uuite Ill carrying II lnto exc
S.uIiou.'
The steamer in which | was passen-
ger ID San Francisco WAS The first col.
yeyance to carry TO the people OF CaliIor-
ma The Intelligence of the Inauguration OF
President Taylor. and the appointment OF
his Cabinet; SO tlat, at the date or Gen.
Riley proclamation 1t was not possible
that he could have received auy cOmmu-
nication from The present administration
Ihe President Of the United States TO
whom he refers was MIR. Polk. the Sec
retary of State Mr.. Buchanan, the Secre-
tary of War Mr.. Marcy. 1t was i'll accor-
dance with the recommendations OF this
proclamation, sustained as they are III
President Polk : last annual message, that
the people of California acted IN forming
their Stale constitution. L always ad-
dressed the people of California IN my prl-
vate character, and never assumed any
official position among them. interested
as [ am in slave labor as Il Georgian and
southern citizen, | was prepared TO ex-
pect that the objects OF my mission would
be perverted in the North; and | iud ac-
cordineiy that. during the last tall cleo
tions IL that quarter, was there repre-
sented as southern Shareholder, sent TO
California TO iudoctrinate the people Ill
my opinions about slavery. This was
base faisehuod. bat it IS not half SO base
as the attempt 10 impress on the public
mind that was sent 20 coerce Orlnf1uence
California to exclude slavery.
T. BUTLER KING.