The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-09

OF some efficient system of city government; and
until some general and comprehensive system can
be adopted, applicable to all places in the State,
having certain number of inhabitants, there will
be no permanent improvement in the present I'M
fortunate condition of things
have now suggested TO you, gentlemen, such Of
the more important measures have thought il my
duty to recommend, as the limits of a message
would allow; but there are many other and i'm
porant subjects TO which only very brief allusion
can be made. II will be necessary TO pass an act
in reference 10 crimes and misdemeanors, affixing
such punishment to each may be in just proper
ton to the offence, and in the power of the State to
infict, under existing circumstances. II would
ALEC be highly useful to pass act TO prevent the
desertion of seamen from merchant vessels visiting
our ports By the laws of all civilized countries,
the contracts of seamen regarded as peculiarly
sacred, and are therefore rigidly and specifically
enforced
would also recommend the establishment of an
inspection for provisions at San Francisco that our
people may not hereafter suffer great losses from
the purchase of injured and spoiled provisions.
1t will be necessary to divide the State into coun
ties; to determine the number of Justices of the
peace; to make provisions for the acknowled gment
andregstraton of deeds and the registration Of the
separate property of the wife, and to protect from
forced sale certain portion of the homestead and
other property of all heads of families. II will also
be necessary to make provision for the early con-
struction Of suitable public buildings; such as will
answer for the present purposes, and may be useful
for public offices hereafter
You have before you great amount of labor, and
you will have to assume great and wcighty respon-
sibities. The first Legislature of a new Slate,
under ordinary circumstances, have a difficult duty
to discharge. But our position upon the Pacific
ocean, the relation bear to the other States Of
the Union, and to the civilized and semi civilized
We have to develop. the great resources of our
country. Our commercial advantages are greater
than our mineral, great as those are. The latter
will supply us the necessary capital to build our
mercal cities and N m he wiz al
commerce.
We shall soon be in close commercial intercourse
with the teeming population of the old world. The
rich and cheap productions of Asia are already
pouring into our ports, and few years will give
the wholesale trade of the entire northwest coast
We have new community to organizes new
State to build up. We have also TO create and
tain reputation, in the face of the misconceptions
OF our character that are entertained elsewhere
But we have the most ample and the most excel
lent materials of which to construct great COM
munity, and great State. The emigration to this
country from the States east of the Rocky mountains
consists OF their most energetic, enterprsing, and
intelligent population while the timid and the idle
who had neither the energy the means to get
here, were left to remain at home.
Either a brilliant destiny awaits California, or
one the most sordid and degraded. She will be
marked by strong and decided characteristics
Much will depend upon her early legislation. To
confine her expenditures within due bounds--to
keep the young State out of debt, and to make her
OF the sure and certain means to advance and Sc
cure her prosperity. ! hope we may be able to
build up for her reputation that will bear the Just
criticism Of the sensible, fair, and candid of all par
ties, as well the vindictivc assaults of her enc
mics and the errors and indiscretons of her friends
BE all your efforts to accomplish this great object
You may depend upon my most cordial CO. opera
ton in all such measures as can conscientiously
approve And now, relying with sincere but hum
bic confidence upon the favor and protection of the
Supreme Ruler who governs nations as well as in
dividuals, subscribe myself, your fellow citizen,
PETER II. BURNETT.
Ten thousand copies in English and two thou
sand in Spanish, We're ordered to be printed.
On the 22d the following State officers were elect
ed in convention of the two Houses
Secretary of State-Wm. Van VOORHEES,
IreasWer-Richard Roman
ConlptroL9-J. s. Houston.
Attorney General-Edward j. c. Kcwen
Surveyor General-Charles J. Whiting.
Cig Justices. C. Hastings.
-dssociafe Justices-H A. Lyon, Nathaniel Ben
nett.
The above is outline of the proceedings of the
legislature 30 tar az we have the record In the San
Francisco papers. No steps appear to have been
taken yet to raise the ways and for the sup
port OF the State government. We find the fol-
lowing speculations the subject in letter from
Mr.. Gilbert, one OF the members of Congress elect
and editor of the Alta California:
The source from which the new State is TO
raise its revenue is beginning to be talked Of The
most feasible source of revenue would undoubtedly
be the so-called :" civil fund" collected under the
de Jacfo government by a tax upon imports; but it
Is very uncertain that that will be turned over by
the retiring governor. Should it not be, the only
course can see would be to borrow a half million
OF dollars ON the credit of the State And for this
purpose, commission of or more gentlemen
might be sent to the Atlantic States to negotiate
the loan.
have no doubt that such a loan could be made,
whether the State be admitted or not, and as that
amount would probably keep the wheels Of govern
ment moving for the first year, it would give time
70 digest and NIX upon the proper mode Of Ia xation
am irreconciably opposed to public debt, and
abhor the reasoning by which the doctrine is at
tempted TO be upheld; but cannot see any more
feasible or proper plan Of providing for the govern
ment, in case the /" civil fund" (Which amounts TO
S5o0,OO0) be not placed at the disposal of the
regime.
II is impossible to conjecture what will be the
nature OF the instructions which governor Riley
will receive from Washington relative TO the civil
fund.- but in positive orders should not be re-
ccivcd by him, either to retain il in his possession
or turn II over TO the United States treasury, the
State OF California might give to General Riley a
bond TO hold him harmless in he would place
the funds at the disposal of the Legislature. This
would protect the brave old general from loss, in
case, as many suppose probable, the courts should
decide that these funds should return TO those who
paid them.
Nor would the State be liable to sustain injury by
such a course. Assuming that the funds are the
property OF the pcople-and nothing, il strikes me,
Is more palpabe-it is but proper that the State
should receive them and secure those who collected
them in good faith against all harm. And If the
State should finally be obliged TO refund them, she
will have had the of much money at a time
Of great need, and the costs of suit at law would
not exceed the interest which would necessarily
accrue on the same amount If obtained by another
process.
From the Gold Regions.
We copy the following summary from the Alta
California Of the 3lst Of December:
The SHOWS have descended on the mountain
home Of the gold-hunter, and pick, spade, and
revolving old tin pan" are, with the weary limbs
OF the laborer in surferous sands laid up for the
season. Winter has como down, and wild winds
snow and sleet beating the rude heights of the
Sierra Nevada If for the despoaton Of it's gilt
tering wealth there was fierce avenger in the ee-
ments. The streams rush swollen and laundering
through gloomy and rugged canons, and all day
long the cold rain drives steadily downward, borne
from thick masses of heavy cloud, ON the blast
from the icy north, holding forth hope Of
favorable mining weather again until spring bursts
upon the barren mountain lands, and awakes to
blooming verdure the broad fields Of California.
Operations were not entirelv amended nm the