The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-03
From the London Times.
THE BIRTHDAY OF A STATE.

In order TO appreciate the story we are goin(
to subjoin, the render must recollect that thre,
short years ago the name Of California con
veyed no more impressive ideas to European OF
! even American ears than that Of Kamtschatki
or Bhootan. The country itself was a vast IN
explored desert, and the shores Of the Pacific
about San Francisco were scantily tenanted by
few scores Of Russians and Spaniards who
lived without rivalry or suspicion, and who
scarcely waited for the sanction of their re-
spcctive Governments to effect such changes OF
sales of ground as convenience might suggest
| Nobody knew or cared whether the enormou,
tract beyond contained inhabitants or not, and
journey across its plains was considered nj
remarkable as a journey through central Africa
IL We we're to speak at this moment Of the prov.
nce Of Sonora, it is probable that nine-tenths OF
our readers would be without any distinct concep-
ton Of the locality referred to yet Sonora is the
next county" to California, and, in ls47, one
region was about as we'll known az the other.
This remote district is now the seat of pow
erful independent State-a State which has been
founded and constituted, from beginning to end,
in about thirty months time, and which, though
junior In political birth even to the French Re.
public, has obtained q formal recognition Of its
existence, and is exercising all the functions Of
an organized Commonwealth. When the pre-.
cious metals Of Potosi and Peuu were first poured
into Europe, the discovery exerted an instantans-
Gus influence on the affairs of the Old World, but
failed to create any corresponding movements in
the New. The treasures Of California, on the
contrary, have hitherto wrought their chief won.
ders in the land of their production and, though
they have not yet materially affected the curren-
cy Of Europe, they have called into being, at the
extremities Of the Pacific, a community unpar-
alleled in the manifold fusions Of races or
combinations of men. Apart, therefore, from the
amusing features Of the following sketch, we se-
riously commend to the readers observation the
extraordinary purport of the scene, as an earnest
of what the industry Of oil nations may succeed In
compounding
The Goth day OF December was selected by the
Caifornians M the birthday Of their State--as q
festival to be celebrated In honor Of their admis.
sion to the American Union, and in this wise was
the ceremonial solemnized. AS the day broke
| upon San Francisco, the American banner, aug
mented by an additional star, was hoisted In the
centre of the town, under federal saluten of
| artillery The echoes were taken up by the ships
in the harbor, and the flags Of every country IN
der the sun found their appropriate place. Then
commenced the procession, which, according 10
the sentiments Of the reader may be lkcned
either TO the tournament in lvanhoe, or the open.
ing pomp Of pantomime First came the Chief
Marshal, In white and gold, and his staff In sky.
blue and silver. Next followed the Mounted
Cslifornians,n who wonld, we are told, have been
stronger hal they not been disappointed 10 horses.
They were succeeded by the "Californian Pho
neers," who carried a banner Of white satin,
fringed with gold, and charged with n device ex-
hibiting pioneer just landed, who strikes of q
piece Of rock with his hammer, and discovers the
State seal Of the community underneath. From
his mouth issues the exclamation, Eureka
while by his side stands native In genuine at
titude Of disnay. Afer these, followed q the
Guards commanded by Captain Howard" an
arirtocratic battalion, which appeared In new uni
forms for the occasion, and attracted particular
applause. The Offices OF the State and Of the
revenue filled up the interval between the mill
tary and the civil portion Of the procession, which
WIS headed by company Of Englishmen, under
the red cross Of st. George, and attended by
Germans, Italians, and Spsniards Next came
the settlers from the Celestial Empire, arrayed
In the richest brocades Of the East, who carried
banner Of crimson satin, on which was an Ia.
stripton Of great length and elaborate calig.
rsphy, but which, when interpreted, imported
nothing more portentous than "china boysn
In number they were about fry, commanded by
their own chief, and decorously obedicnt to his
word
At this stage Of the procession was introduced
the triumphal oar. This cspacious vehicle was
drawn BY SIX white horses and contained thirty