The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-10-24
OUR HOME CORRESPONDENCE.


San Franeisco.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. Is, 1851.
Rss~6 Of the Elction-Proposd Dipisiow of Cali
JorHsa-Hs CAUSE.-THE agricultural Prospects Of
Southern Calfornia-State of Society, &C., &c.
The papers contain an account of q movement for
the division of the State. This is an earnest move
ment, and is entirely domestic in its origin and
object, and has nothing to do with the question OF
slavery, or of balance of power between the South
and the North. The Southern, and by far the
larger portion Of the State is entirely pastoral in
its nature and capabilities without miner als'
without agricultural resources, and without any
staple production. Much of it is occupied by
mountains and marshes, and the remainder is d.
vided into large ranches, or grazing farms, many
leagues in extent, producing coarse natural grass
in the rainy season, over which cattle roam at
large, getting very fat in the spring, and almost
starving in the summer, or dry season. From
April to November, no rain falls in this country
and, consequently, agriculture cannot be depended
on. The whole country is, in fact, a treeless
desert, afording, for the greater portion of the
year, only scanty subsistence to cattle and horses
OF the most hardy species. In the centre of wild
tract, the Ianchero built his house Of adobe, and
derived bis principal food, which, with such escu-
Tents as grow along the scattered streams in tho
lower valleys, and an occasional supply of rice
from abroad or Of wheat from the river valleys Of
the upper country, maintained his family the year
round His wants we're few, and those we're easily
supplied by the slaughter Of few bullocks, whose
hides and tallow, transported to the nearest
port, provided all superfuities which needed
ior family use, or for social or religious festivals
Such was the peaceful and happy life led by the
native Californans, before the Americans came, or
gold was discovered. Bat with the coming of
those two events came the dawnins of ne " era.
A o sOuls set
down in the midst of desert, and disdainng the
chrysalis condition Of territorial government leap
ed at once into the position of State But
with the independent condition also the
sity of an indie pendent support ofthe government
by itself The new government was compelled to de-
rive the means of its own subsistence fro its own
population Thus arose taxation, and ia Ration
which was as excessive, compared with that OF any
other State, as the expenses of living and the saIa
ries OF State officers exceed those Of other States.
While this has been endurable in the well settled
ana agricultural districts of northern California,
it has fallen like the blight Of desolation upon the
pastoral districts of the south 1t be well
1maglaed how ruinous o taxation of even twenty
Eve cents an acre would be to the owner of rancho
OF twenty or thirty thousand acres, who for years
perhaps had not possessed, felt the need Of pos
sessing, an hundred dollars in cash. 1t has been
found impossible to sustain the weight of State
taxation. The finest ranches in southern California
have been sold at merely nominal rates for taxes.
The owners Of others have collected their cattle
and driven them away into Lower California, de-
sertpg their ranchos and choosing rather to turn
to the soil of Mexico than to bear the burden of a
ruinOus taxation. The whole population of the
southern portion of the State find this burden
equally uncomfortable.
Hence this movement for the division of the
State. It is proposed that it he divided on a pa
ralle of latitude about sixty miles to the south of
San Francisco, of about thirty seven degrees of
northern latitude. This would cut off from the
State tract five hundred and Fifty miles in length,
by three hundred broad. But out Of this territory
/ q
btants seek to escape the evils and expense of
State government. They desire to return to a
territorial form of government under the fostering
care and protection of the United States To or
ganize new State would only aggravate the evils
of which they complain, and which they wish to
escape. To sever them from the existing State Of
California, and erect over them territorial 60
vernment, of which the United States would assume
the responsibility and the expense, would alleviate
present suferings, and afford a guarantee for the
future.
This movement progresses at the South with an
almost entire unanimity In fact the South vote 1,
at the beginning, in favor of continuiny in terri
torial condition Appearances Indicate that it will
also be acceded to at the North. For the manifest
injustice ofthis enormous and dspropotionate tax
alton, is everywhere conceded; and besides, where
the half of whole State indicates the wish follow
certain line, the disposition Of most Californiaus
is to let it have its own way 1t is therefore, ha-
harding but little to predict, that Congress will be
memorialized by the Legislature, at its coming
sion in favor the proposed DIVISION and that the
new territory will be erected with general consent,
unless small politicians in the States combine to
interfere with what they cannot understand, and
succeed in defeating measure ofjustiee to peace
full and suffering people.
This letter is already so long, that presume to
say but word more; and that is to remark, that
our police records show the commission Of crime
has almost entirely ceased in our city. No more
burglaries, no more robberies; all is peaceful and
quiet Ofcourse, this is not to be attributed to the
terrible efficiency of the Vigilance Committee.
SPECTATOR.