Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-11-12

4
ID by Gen. Castro, which was construed
er the Americans into a command to lea,
the country. This they determined not
do. About this time, Gen. Castro de
patched Lieut.. Arce with a band of me
to remove some government horses frol
the mission of San Rafael to his headqua
ters at S,"t'. Clara. 1t so happened tn.
J Capt. Fremont with his exploring party
= was encamped at the junction of tn
= Plumas and Sacramento; and the rumo
= spread abroad, that the Californians in
=, tended to attack him, and drive the Amer
ieans from the territory. The settler
locked to the campin great numbers. an,
prepared to make a sturdy defence Will
here, Information was given that ten
Castro wanted the horses to mount bat
talon of 200 men, in order to cxpel tn,
) Americans from the Sacramento Valley
) Immediately, II men volunteered to cap
turc the horses. At daylight, they sur
/, prised the Calfornians and came off sue
cesstul. This act committed the Americans
to follow up the work they had begun
The party increased to 80, marched tc
Soloma, and took the town and garrison
by assault. Here they issued proclama-
ton, stating their intention to overthrow
.the Mexican government, and declaring
the principles which would guide them in
the event Of success. On the ID of July
1916, the L. S. FriGate Savannah, Com.
/ Sloat, arrived at Monterey. The Commo-
dore determined at once to take possession
Of the country; and on the 7th, the Amer
lean flag was raised at Monterey, and on
the Sth, at San Francisco. In the south,
after the conjunction Of the forces Of Gen.
kearney and Com. Stockton, and two or
three sharp battles, the whole body of the
enemy capitulated, leaving the country in
the possession of the United States forces.
y few months after, the New York regiment
arrived with large quantity of munitions,
stores, tools, sawmills, &c, to fortifv the
principal posts, and improve the country.
Thus was the conquest Of California, which
the Americans held in undisputed possess
ION till the recent treaty with Mexico
secured the territory to the L. s. for ever
Under American protection, immigration
into California began to increase, particu-
lariy by the restless spirits of the Western
States; but in the fall of 1913, commenced
the mighty influx without parallel in the
history of nations. In few months, she
had organized a government, prepared her
Constitution, and stood on the floor of
Congress asking for place in the Ameri-
can family. Here followed a series of
manoeuvers, which are only seen when
Wrong tries to evade the demands of
Right. The South, conceiving her insti-
tutions in jeopardy because the young State
had refused to recognize Slavery, pratcd
Of rights which she never had, and virtues
which she could not possess, till she would
have reduced the question to the simple
issue" California and Slavery, or No
California" Like a spoiled boy at a
dangerous age, peevish and qucrulous, dis
posed to admit no law which conficted with
her own predetermined will, she held Cal
ifornia by the throat in the House Of Rep.
rosentatives, and would have strangled her
there, had not the strong arm of the Amer
lean people unclinched her grasp, and held
out the hand Of welcome to their naxen-
haired sister. All honor to the Golden
State for her vindication of humanity
"when Freedom form her native mountain home
Bchcld tho si-ht which auges love TO soe
She tore star from out the domc,
And I!ac'd it in Tie banner Of the free.
No star shines more brightly in the glori.
Gus 81, than the last Of that bcaming gal
axy. If California should hereafter sink
to political dishonor, his will be told Of
her, in peans of praisc-tha: her Constitu-
ton would allow no slave to make foot
print on her soil.
II. Mtr:nsiccNy Various have been
the estimates formed of the actual value
of California to the U. S. and to the world.
Her agricultural and mineral resources
have been the subjects of anxious inquiry
and speculations on her capabilities to pro-
duce and sustain, have engaged the minds
of travellers and statesmen. There have
not been wanting those who have under
rated the worth of this territory, and depre-
Gated the supposed evils which would result
from its conquest, as they deplcred the
events that led to its annexation. What
ever may have been the principles coercing
the dismemberment of Mexican territory,
(and there are not few who believe that
that dismemberment reflected no true
glory On our national name,) California is
now a portion of our domain, and claims
no less interest and regard, than any part
Of our great confederacy. The adaptation
Of the soil to agricultural pursuits, now
admits of no question. Up to 1913, agri-
culture and kindred occupations were the
only means Of livelihood. During the past
century, the lands were accustomed to be
worked until they were exhausted; and
the inhabitants, not being versed in scien-
tifc husbandry, abandoned their fields and
located elsewhere. But of late years, that
dread ofold school farmers, "bool, farming"
has been extensively and successfully in
troduced, and crops have been produced
which would bear respectable comparison
with the far famed product of Buffalo
Valley. Before the discovery of gold,
which withdrew SO many from agricultural
pursuits, the face of the country had begun
to develope the evidences of surprising
~.