The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-04

For causes before stated the climate Is such that
no white man can work in the sun. This country
now, inhabited by AN offensive, to some extent
agricultural people, is unsuited to the white race,
unless it possess servile labor, But if we confne
our attention to the coast, where the refreshing
sea-breeze nlitigates the climate, then throughout
this same extent you find, down TO San Louis
Obispo, the mountains running close upon the sea;
It's streams short, and the valley narrow. Here,
then, are scattered, some fifteen or twenty miles
apart, few pastoral ranches, with the agriculture
necessary to supply the inhabitants with Indian
corn and beans, which seem to be all that country
produces. ,.".ts ., .#a ...,
To the South, the coast-plain wdens, the noun
tains are depressed, gaps are found, connecting
the plains above with those which slope down to
the sea, until the ridge ceases, and the broad plain
of Los Angeles opens to the view. Here, where
the keen blasts of the North are checked by shell
tcring mountains, and the sloping plains face die
sun, we pass at once into a tropical climate. This
is the land of the grape of cotton, Of maize, OF
the olive, and the sugar-cane Here, so far as
cultivation exists, that cultivation depends upon
irrigation and upon servile labor. 1t is curious
fact that we find here race Of Indians who pass
at once into servity; who, from their complex
ions and characteristics rather seem of Asatic
origin than to be descended from the same parent
stock as the wild and free tribes who were found
in the country Of the United States. The coun-
try to the southeast of these mountains has been
Out Hltle eNplOreu. IL is III lne pOSseSSlOl Oh u
more settled and warike tribe of men; and it is
because they have been so warke and popu-
lous, that so little has been heretofore known of
the country. Shall we, then, abandon these men
peaceful and prone to servility, or warike and
with fixed habitations, to the laws of California
and the aggressions of reckless men' Or shall
we extend that protection Of the Federal Govern
ment over them which a territorial organization
will best enable us to gve' In times past the
United States have suffered bitter reproaches for
their policy towards the natives they found on
this continent-reproaches not always just, indeed
quite undeserved, as was beautifully demonstrated
by the Senator from Michigan (Mr. CAss) many
years ago, if we compare our conduct with that
of other nations, who have exercised control over
the aboriginal tribes of this continent.
The strong, far-reaching arm and unbiased
policy Of the General Government, undIsturbed
by questions of State sovereignty, may govern to
protect these tribes. In the new and even unset
tied condition of California, it is to be feared the
reverse would be the case, if the country were in
cluded in her limits; that aggression would be
followed by hostility to end in their destruction.
But, sir, there is another race with yet higher
claim upon us, in the vicinity Of the coast We
find that very population, who were by the treaty
to have their rights of property when they passed
under our protection secured to them; we find the
pastoral race of Mexicans which inhabited the
country when we acquired it, occupying extensive
are about to be driven from their possessions by
the legislation of California 1t is not to be neg
lected or forgotten that the present Governor Of
California, as we have learned through the PRESS
announced as his policy taxation of the lands
which would compel these rancheros to sell their
possessions. A tax, such would not be felt in
a mining or even farming district, would be de-
structive to pastoral population. This IS the
natural fruit Of Legislation by those who have an
opposite interest and no sympathy with the 9TH
ers, for whom they make laws. Is this the pro
lection Of property, which we guaranteed in The
treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo' Is this the kind
ness which those people have a right to claim
from the Government of the United States' Oris
it not gross act Of IN Justice to the people, who
ignorant of our Institutions, have confded III
our guardian care, and whom it is our duty to
protect?
Then, Mr.. President, whether we con-
slider this question in relation to the sol
and climate or in relation to the great
characteristics of the physical geography, q
division of the country is equally demanded
Whether we consider the question with ref
erence to the present interests or the future
interest and well-being of those who now o.
who are hereafter to inhabt those countries
it is equally clear that South Californi;
should be organized into distinct poitica
community, under laws enacted with refer
ence peculiar characteristic, to the Mexi
can inhabitants and to whom we owe pro-
lection, kind and special in proportion tc
their helplessness. For this we ought to
retain the powers which territorial gov
eminent secures to us over this country,
that we may shield it from the inappropriate
or hostile legislation Of the men Of northern
California. 4"
Mr.. President, we are told that it is the
will of the people to which we should
bow. Do the proceedings Of t e conven-
ton prove that know not that any one
has full and accurate information in relation
to that subject. From such knowledge as
| am able to CLEAN, believe that the PEG.
pie of South California were reduced to the
alternative of sending delegates to that con-
vention to take part in its proceedings, OF
seeing it proceed to establish the fundamen-
tai law Of their country without their CO.
operation or advice.
And, sir, there is another instructive
these delegates, when they left their homes
to attend this convention, unlforml y commended
against State Organization, and in favor Of
territorial government. We find them,
one after another, yielding to different views
under what influences am unable to say;
but it is to be remarked that large proper
ton OF the members secured advantages, OF
received Offices from the action Of the con-
vention to which they were delegates.
But, again, Mr.. President, to decide how
far this is the will of the people, it is proper
to inquire what part Of the population took
part in those elections. | compare two
towns for the purpose of illustrating that fact
Los Angeles, with population Of about five
thousand people, gave about seventy-fve OF
eighty votes; while San Diego, little vii
lage composed of dozen adobe ports, gave
vote OF one hundred and fifty or upwards
Then, sir, the question arises, how did that
happen; The answer is two-fold: LIS An
geles is one Of the districts still inhabited by
the population acquired with the country
they did not choose to become parties to this
! L. Al Al t..