The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-27

Oh ~
session with a falIknowleigs and an little diff
Guilty possible on al MASTERS Of interest in these
Territories, sent the Hon. Thomas Butler King
as bearer Of dispatches % California, and certain
officers TO California and New Mexico, whose
duties are particularly defined in the accompanying
letters of instruction. addressed to Them severally
by the proper department"
The accompanying letter Of Mr. Craw-
iord states:
"You are fully possessed OF the Presidents
views. and can with propriety suggest to the peo-
pie Of California the adoption Of measures best
calculated to give them effect.
II any doubt exist that the initiatory pros
ceedings Of Riley were approved BY the
Cabinet, Of that he only did what King was
authorized 10 do by the carte bianche Of Mr.
Clayton, / need only refer to the extracts
read BY the gentleman from Virgins, Mr..
Seddon &he Grit from the commander Of
the pac46e station, ~ follows:
"The steamer Edith has been sent to Mazatlan
for the necessary intelligence, and her arrival
with information that no other thar, revenue law
had been passed, General Riley issued procla-
nation for the election Of the necessary executive
and Judiciary officers under the existing laws, and
recommending, at the same time, the election Of
delegates TO q convention to form State Constr
tuition. Mr. King arrived at the time these procla-
nations scere about being issued aud Il ,ras matter
T great congratulations that the Government, by
anticipation, had Gpprored Of the latter measure.
Every means will be used to give the people Of
California an opportunity Of expressing their
wishes on this point, and Of bringing the matters
to happy conclusion.
The second from dispatch Of the Secre-
tary Of War to General Riley, dated August
"A, ls49:
"WAR DEPARrMENr, August "a, 1849.
"In view Of the exercise of the most important
political right which appertains to the people Of
California--that Of forming a constitution and
asking admission into the Union Of these States
this Department has watched with great care and
solicitude the steps already taken to effect these
objects. Regarding your proclamation Of the Sd
June last as a notice intended in part to render
popular action uniform in respect to the desired
organization into more perfect government, it is
seen, with great satisfaction, that your PROPOSE
tons had been accepted with great cheerfulness
supposed selfish and unpatriotic motives prevailed
"GEo. w. CRAWFORD,
g Secretary Of War.
aBrevet Brig. Gen. RILEY,
Monterey, California. =
\ But, as more conclusive than all else, ]
refer to the following extract from the proc
amation itself: #
The method here indicated TO attain what is
desired by all, viz a more perfect political organi-
cation, is deemed the most direct and safe that
can be adopted, and one fully authorized by law.
IA L.. L-.<S
Secretaries Of State and Of Var Of the United States,
and is calculated to avoid the innumerable evils
which must necessarily result from any attempt at
illegal local legislation. 1t is therefore hoped that
it will meet the appreciation of the people of Cali
fornia, and that all good citizens will unite in car
aGiven at Monterey, California, this Sd day Of
June, A. D. 1649. B. RILEY,
"Bt Brig. Gen. U.s.A., and Gov. of California.
"Oficial: H. w. HALLEcK,
" BIT. Capt. and Sec'y Of State"
The verbal and confidential instructions
given to Mr.. King are not impaired in the
message but they can be ascertained with
facility and certainty by looking to his acts
and declarations, which are presumed to
accord herewith. The pregnant sentence
last quoted evidently refers to " views" not
expressed in the written instructions, and
which the Administration deemed it expedi-
ent to reserve as part of the hidden history
Of. this transaction From various sources.
official and unofficial, we are advised that
Mr.. King approved Of the plan Of operations
originated in the proclamation Of General
Riley, urged on their rapid execution, and
in few months after his arrival in Califor-
MIA, the transient adventures in San Fran
cisco and its neighborhood elected delegates,
in conformity with the requirements Of this
proclamation, who speedily thereafter assem-
bled 10 convention and adopted the constitu-
ton which the President says, earnestly
recommend may receive the sanction Of Con-
gress."
We have strong reasons to believe that
the 6 proviso'' incorporated into this con-
stitution was approved by Mr.. King, who
was understood to speak by authority of the
Administration in support Of its views, and
who could "with propriety suggest to the
people of California the adoption Of the
measures best calculated to give them
effect.n
But this is Of little importance in measure
ing the responsibility Of the Cabinet The
Constitution Of California has been publish
ed by the press Of the country, and is ac-
cessible to all. The Cabinet have duly con-
sidered its provisions They know that .
few thousand trancient Adventures, allured
by the Guri sdcra flames, from every quarter
Of the globe, to the shores Of San Francisco
and Sacramento, have, without the authori-
ty of Congress, elected delegates to con-
vention, which convention has defined the
limits Of State, extending through ten de-
grees Of latitude on the Pacific, with IN
area sufficient for half dozen States Of the
first magnitude, and embracing all that is
valuable for mining, commercial, or agrl-