Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-01
A CARD.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 23d, 1850
Of nm Ren,.bJ;,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23d, 1850.
To the Editors of tie Repu6lc
GENTLEMEN: Permit me to state in your columns
that my illness in California and subsequent long
tlnued debility, my numerous pressing engagements
ndispositlon which has paralyzed my energies
for some days have delayed much longer than inen-
ded or expected, my report California. But |
cannot longer permit the public mind to be assaed per-
haps mlsed by lnsinuations, INQUIRIES and innuendoes
which, it not promptly answered, may be considered as
acqulesced IN; or bold assertions, ii Misrepresentation
has assumed that form, to pass unconadiced there
tore assert that did not in connexon with my duties
10 California, nor have at any time received secret
Instructions whether verbal written from the Prea-
Cent OF the United States, any member o. his Cabinet
on the subject OF slavery or any other subject did
not attempt to influence the people OF California to de-
eide the question OF slavery way the other; and
any assertion that | did receive such instruction. or
attempt to exercise such influence, is false.
ANY msnuatons or insidious inquiries which are so
framed or intended as TO induce the people believe
that the President any member OF his Cabinet did
give, or that could be base enough TO receive, such in
sructions, 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 done by the late Adj
minisraon to induce the people of California to form
Estate government | arrived at San Francisco on the
fourth OF June in the steamer [anama. We did not
stop at Monterey nor did see or hold any communi-
cation with Gen. Riley until about the middle of that
month, when he came to San Francisco. His proca-
nation, calling convention of the people of Cafor-
MIA to form State constitution, is dated Monterey
100 miles from San Francisco, the third Of June. The
last paragraph of this proclamation is in the following
words:
1.-The method here indicated to attain what is desired
by all, VIZ, perfect political organization is
deemed the most direct and safe that can be adopted
and one fully authorized by law 1t is the course ad-
vsed by the President and by the Secretaries of Stale
and of War Of the United States and is calculated TO
avoid the innumerable evils which must necessarily re-
suit from any attempt at illegal local legislation 1t is
therefore hoped will the appreciation of the peo-
pie of California, and that all good citizens will unite
in carrying it into execution"
The seamerin which was passenger to San Fran
cisco was the trs conveyance TO carry to the people of
California the intelligence OF the Inauguration of Pres-
dent Taylor, and the appointment OF his Cabinet; so
that at the date OF Gen. Riley's proclamation it was
possible that he could have received any eommuni-
cation from the present Administration The Presdent
of 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 re-
commentators OF this proclamation sustained as they
are in President Folks last annual message that the
people OF California acted in forming their State Con-
sttuton. always addressed the people of California in
my private character and never assumed any official no.
sition among them.
Interested as am in slave labor as Georgian and
southern citizen, was prepared to expect that the OBJ
jects 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 southern
slave holder sent to California to ndocrnate the peo-
pie in my opinions about slavery This was a base
lasehood but il is not halt base rs an attennt Tn
impress on the public mind that was ssn to coerce or
influence California TO exclude slavery.
L, BUTLER KING.
The Cincinnati Advel user states that the whole num-
Der of hogs slaughtered the valley the West during
tho mast wear OYI JOY.