Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-19
CALIFORNIA; DEMAND
FOR ADMISSION INTO THE UNION.
ICONCLEDEn.


California, as liked by the Constitution. The Couven-
ton which settled upon the existing boundary was en-
gagged during three days in debate upon that subject
There were two parties rather two propositions l.
To take in the whole of California as existed when
department of Mexico but with proviso that Con-
gress and the State Legislature might limit the bounds
leaving it to Congress establish Territorial Govern
ments over such portions of the country as might see
fit. q To divide the whole Territory on the ll6th de-
OF west longitude, from the Southern boundary of
Mexico, that portion OF said territory lying West of one
hundred and sixteenth degree of West longitude and be-
tween that line and the Pacific ocean to constitute the
State OF California, The opinion OF the Convention
was so nearly divided between these two propositions
that both were supported by majority at dfeent times
during the informal stages; and the final passage
the present boundary adopted a species OF com
promise. This question called out the most vehement
and an angry debate, which witnessed during the
sitting of the Convention The project of fixing the
southern boundary of the State on the parallel Of 80
deg 80 min was never entertained by that body. In
deed when it is recoeced that eleven of the delegates
sitting IN the Convention represented large constituent
cy south OF that line is at apparent that it would
have been most unjust and discourteous act to have
listened to such proposition, unless from them
The people OF that southern portion OF California most
certainly did not WISH and probably never would con.
sent to such separation In former years they const-
tuted the great majority OF the popuation-hey have
always been governed by the same laws-and they
would be the last to sanction division of California as
they have always known it. In political point of view
too, would seem desirable that these original Mexican
citizens should become as speedily as possible Ameri-
can IN sentiment and language, and there certainly
be no more effectua mode of accomplishing this than
by bringing them into that daily contact which an ex-
istence under the same laws and the same social poll
teal and commercial regulations must inevitably pro-
duee
In the extreme North also, the adventurous miners
had crossed the coast range and penetrated to the head
waters OF the Trinity river which finds its way through
an UNEMPLOYED and dangerous Indian country the Pa
clfc Ocean. As the abundance of gold found there
rendered it probable that large community would soon
become permanently established in that region the Con-
ventlon fe that it could not refuse them the benefits
ana protecnon OF Government by crcamscrbing the
limits OF the State in that direction The eastern boun
Diary OF the State so far explored and known runs
through desert small portion of the Eastern slope
OF the Sierra Nevada is said to be adapted to agrcu-
lural and grazing purposes, and that country when
settled, must necessarily find outlet across the noun
tans INTO the vales OF the Sacramento and San Joa-
gum Rivers, and il could have any natural con-
necuon with the country to the eastward oft by reason
OF te great DESERT 1t was thought advisable and proper
to include that st p OF territory within the bounds of the
State. hat portion Of the State lying to the south
ward and eastward OF the Sierra Nevada and the coast
range and between those mountains and the Colorado
River is believed to be arid desert So much as lies
upon the usual emgrant trail from the Colorado to San
Diego, and that further North in the vicinity of FIRE.
monfs explorations is known to be of that character
ne general impression therefore is that that part of
the Territory included in the State boundaries is of lit
tie or value.
The superficial area of The State of Ca ifornin ar
cordng to the boundaries prescribed in her Constitution
is 155 $50 square miles, or 95 $50 900 soma re aores
elusive OF the Islands adjacent to her coast glance
at + femonts map, upon which the above calculation is
based will at once satisfy all that the topopraphca
characteristics OF that country are peculiar and novel
Two great chains OF mountains the Sierra Nevada and
the coast range, traverse it in nearly its whole txent
from North to South. The large vaies that lie be-
tween these two ranges, and the small lateral vallies
that pierce their rugged sides in every direction are the
valuable arabic portion of the land Of California. As
sumlng then that two-ourths of the whole superficial
area OF the State covered by mountains that another
fourth desert waste, and have left one-fourth as
useful Tor agricultural purposes that is SO 1871 square
miles, ORA 900 square acres of arabic and produe-
tive land i his estimate, in the opinion of the under
signed fully borne out by the Typographical surveys Of
the country but, anxious as they I'd avoid msstae-
men they do not hesitate to assert their belief that is
quite apparent after all due allowances that three-fths
CT the whole territory embraced in the State of Calfor
MA will never be susceptible OF cultivation or useful to
man. This, then, would give as the remaining two
htths 1920 square miles, 39S2O80O square acres
which would constitute the total of valuable arabic
and grazing land embraced within the boundary fixed
by the constitution OF the State of California and dis
rbuted at intervals the whole surface of the coun-
try from Its extreme Northern to its extreme Southern
limit. The foregoing believed TO be substantially
the reasons which led to the present boundary of Cali
tornis. ~
The qualifications prescribed for voters by General
keys proclamation were carried out at the election of
delegates to the Convention. These qualifications
were generally approved, and believed to be correct
Weny-one years OF age and actual resident of the
district where he offered his vote three classes of yo
tiers were declared eligible, viz l. American citizens:
z Mexicans who had been elected under the treaty. to
become American citizens; and 8 Mexican citizens
who had been forced to leave their country in conse
queLce OF giving aid and succor to the American arms
during the recent war These requirements were faith
fully compiled with, beyond all doubt Such would
seem to be the undenabe fact as no COMPLAINT was
ever made OF illegal voting.
Under the provision relative the right of SUFFRAGE in
the Constitution Of California, white male American
cltzens' twenty-one years OF age and white male c-
zens OF Mexico OF the same age, who had elected
to become citizens OF the United States under the rea
ty Peace were permitted vote in the districts 1T
their residence, upon the ratification of the Constitution
and Tor the various officers be elected under if No
other persons were allowed to vote-no other persons
did vote The allegation, therefore, that foreigners,
aliens and Adventures adopted the Constitution Of Ca.
NORMA Is Is not warranted by facts. Ths, Constitution
was ratified by over 1900 in its favor of which
1t lrmly believed, not single was that of TO-
relgner; and from the best information it is past doubt
that there were only about some 300 California votes
whilst the remaining 10 700 were totally American
The undersigned believe that they would iaiI to ful
81 lhelr upEy, they did not in connection with this
subject express the regret which they so strongly feel
at the unjust attacks which have thus been ade upon
their constituents, They regard such assautsas not
only ungenerous toward the citizens of California bnt
as direct offences against the nobility and sacredpess of
the American character itself They look upon such
lnsnuauons as hurlu and Injurious to the last degree
-
existed. You will search history in vain for an exam.
pie OF order under excitement like that which California
has presented for the last two years. And it is the
proud boast of every American that to the renubcsn
education which that people has received, is due the
extraordinary state OF things which has heretofore rem
dered lte and property secure, where there was no
law but the law OF force Yet the people, whose con-
duct has excited the admiration of every portion of the
civilized world where their course is understood, are
disparaged by portion of their American brothers!
The Convention which formed the Constitution of
California assembled at Monterey on The LIST dav Of
September, lS49. Under the apportionment fixed by
the proc amaton OF Gen. Riley. it would have consist
ed OF 81 delegates This apportionmen was based upon
aDepartment OF Mexico but nasmuch as the recent
large Immigration had changed the relative importance
OF the Dlstcgs IN regard to the number OF population
Der of supernumery Delegates from each District as the
inhabitants thereof might deem proper Most of the
Districts acted on this suggestion aud of the first
of membership, and the adoption OF new apportion-