The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-22
From the .aLta California, October l3,
The DlyIs,0n Of California.


From the paters which we received by the
Ohio, we find that the people of the South are
at last taking united action with reference to
the place where the Southern convention is to
be held This was, of course, to be expected,
although considerable feeling existed at one
time in relation to the matter. All seem at
last to be convinced that the town of Santa Bar
bara is the point most easy Of access, and the
Goth inst. is the time selected for the delegates
to assemble there. Santa Cruz, Monterey, Los
Angeles, San Luis Obispo, and San Diego have
by this time appointed their delegates, and we
notice that the citizens of Stockton are moving
also in the matter. The feeling in favor of the
division seems to have died out to a great ex-
tent in Santa Clara county since the capital has
been removed to SSH Jose, and it is somewhat
doubtful whether they are represented at all in
the convention.
If each delegate, prior to leaving his county
would take pains to arm himself with proper
statistics, valuable information might transpire
relative to the taxable property of the South,
the amount Of land claimed by different parties
there, the present cash value of that land, the
amount under cultivation, he number of acres
that have been sold for taxes, and the annual
revenue of each mans rancho. In this way the
South could make apparent, if such a thing
were possible the burthens they, are forced to
bear through their connection with the North.
They could show to the world whether or not
the taxes paid by the South for the support of
the State government bear any disproportion,
considering the population, to the taxes paid by
the North Statistical information of this kind,
however distant an approximation It might be
to the truth. would have more weight than the
loose ipse drits of different delegates. What
the people of our State want, and what Con
gress will want, are facts, "a nearly rs they can
be ascertainet. not mere assertions.
The population of the South is exceedingly
sparse, and if few citizens have large tracts of
land it is not to be supposed that they bear the
brunt of the State expenses. 1t must be re-
membered that there is little, and often abso.
lutely no demand for that land It's cash value
must therefore be very little, and the taxes on
it proportionably' slight Let us know the sta
tistics. Let us know the number of acres
claimed, and the taxes that have been assessed
thereon, the number Of acres under cultivation,
and the probable income derived from the
ranches. We shall then know what conclu sion
to arrive at ...."
When we take into consideration the low
value of the land at the South, ard the probable
amount of taxes thereon, as compared with the
rich market which the North has opened up for
its products, the facilities which it has to trans.
port those products to San Francisco and the
large towns in the interior and the fact that
cash is returned for all that is sent it seems to
us that the South has little cause to complain on
the score of taxes. When, were its prospects
brighter! When could its cattle and sheep be
sold to better advantage?
Besides, would they be much better off with
n government at Washington than with one at
San Jose, or some other point in the central part
Of our State1 One would think that we had
had sufficient experience to learn that the action
of Congress is ta-dy in the extreme towards a
distant territory; and however slow the growth
of the South may be, it will be sufficiently rapid
for them to experience the Inconvenience of that
tardy action.
The convention will meet next Monday
Whether any definite information will be laid
before the body upon which it can base its argu.
ments, and present clear case to the State and
to Congress, we cannot say. An address will
doubtless be prepared. 20 be published and cir
culated through the State in reference to the
matter of division; and petition will be drawn
up to be laid before the next legislature at IN
early day. Proper committees, Of course, will
be appointed to see that the subject is presented
to Congress with despatch, should il meet with
favor in our Legislature.
We perceive by the different published docu.
ments, that an early action in the matter is looked
for from the legislature. In this we think our
friends will be disappointed. That body is
largely Democratic, and strict unity Of action in
the party is too much to be looked for. The
members from the South will be able, by comb
nation, to hold the balance of power on many
questions, and it is to be expected that the ques
ton of the division of the State will be put of
from week to week, as n very convenient lever
by which other measures can be moved through
the assembly and senate.
On the whole, the probability of division Of
the State taking place, as a result of the present
movement, appears to US very slight