The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-23
From tks Saa Frsaeiseo Sunday Despatch. Sept IA
The Proposed Division Of California.

Thr Proposed Division 81 CauIsrniA.
TIE South, from Monterey down. are
thoroughly awake TO the necessity or such dl-
vision Of our State as will enable each act OF
intrests Ia California to collect aud be regulated
around Its proper centre. From the adjourn
ment OF The constitutional convent IN, there has
existed jealousy on the part OF the South
against the North We have the numerical
strength, and notwiths anding that concessions
have beea made to the South, the government
has been anything bat favorable to that section
Of The State
The mountains, rivers and valleys Of Califor-
nil, are so arranged AS to form geographical
system, naturally suggesting the proper bound
aries for State. And when We regard these,
the coast counties from Monterey to San Diego
seem attached in our State rather by al arbitra-
ry rule, than from any geographical economical
con ,iderations
A birds eye view of California presents to
the mind four parallel lines. The first is the
line of breakers along the Pneihc shore, from
klamath to San Diego, the second Is the ridge
OF the coast range, the third ID formed by the
rivers sacramento and San Joaquin, the former
flowing southerly aud the latter nor therly until
they meet; the fourth is the glitterng sno "
tipI ed ridgs of tie Sierra Nevada. From the
litter line to the great rivers Of our State lies
|
From the two rivers to the summit Of the coast
range, lies ano her Thus is formed the great
valley Of California, the northern half being call
cd Sacramento valley, and the southern the San
Joaquin.
We have now glanced from the eastern boun-
dairy of our State down into long valley, and
up to the ridge of the coast range; rs we look
farther west, we find third inclined plane slop-
ing from the summit of the coast range down to
the Pa cifc
Thus the eastern portion of our State is com
posed of one great valley, and the western OF
an inclined plane, upon whose green hills the set
ting sun shines, and at whose foot the breakers
of the Pacific dash. Along this western slope,
from San Francisco bag soulher'y, lie the coun-
ties desiring to separate from us and form ter
ritory. They are Santa Cruz, Santa Clara,
Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los
Angeles and San Diego. Lying as they do, they
form geographical system Of themselves.
Their interests are identical, their soil is fertile,
their climate presents few changes, their popu-
lation is, "a a general thing, agricultural and
they are separ tied from the rest Of the State by
the natural boundary Of high mountain range.
And how il it with the North! The Sacra-
mento with its tributaries, furnishes a system
Of cheap highways, which bind together the
northern half Of the great valley the San Joa-
qun with its tributaries, binds the southern half
Of the great valley together, and both rivers
meeting and flowing through wide gap 10 the
coast range, unite each section to the other,
and the whole to the bay of San Francisco.
Here we cannot but notice another geographical
system. San Francisco il the root, and the bays
Of San Pablo and Snisun, brarches through,
which flow nourishment and supplies to thous-
ands who are toiiing among the mines, or are
directly dependent upon them.
If, therefore, tho State is to be divided, nature
points out to us where the boundary should lie.
Although large agricultural population is set
ting along the banks of the Sacramento and
the San Joaquin, yet the mines hive created, and
will maintain, interests different from those which
exist in the counties that are to petition the next
legislature to be SET off from the State. So Gar,
therefore, as geography and interests are con-
cerned, we are actually two States united to-
gether
] Besides, California is too large long to con-
tinue under one government. The mineral char.
acter of the North, and the Transactions which
tlke place there, are such as to require a State
government whose expenses areabsolutely enor
nous as compared with the necessities Of the
South. The business of the southern merchants
and the incomes Of most of the southern ran
cheros, will not warrant the payment of their
Nor Is il fair for US to ask il of them The
whole South will find that their property is be
ing eaten up by taxes. And il this state OF
things continue many years will not elapse be-
fore every wealthy man among them will be a
begger. They are unanimous in his petition
for a separation. We have the power to out.
vote them, it is true, but if we take this step, il
Can be looked upon in no other light than the
tyrtnnieal exercise of power on the part of o
majority. IL they wish TO 90, an are unanimous
In the wish, it is the spirit of republicanism 10
let them 90.
j We will admit that if separation takes place
there is great probability VI the introduction OF
slavery into the territory. But consistency is q
jewel, aud they have the same right to introduce
it as we hnd to exclude it,
The ouly argument we have seen urged
against division, appeared in the Herald, day
or two since, and il is certainly deserving Of Sc
rious consideration. 1t is in substance that, by
allowing the southern coast portion of Cslifornia
to leave u.s. slavery might be introduced, and
thus The Union again be put in jeopardy. Were
the storm which threatened to wreck the Union
passed, were the compromises likely TO satisfy
forever the North and the South, there would be
weight in this argument But we look upon the
tempest "a but just commenced. The South are
determined to introduce new slave States and
the North are just as determined that they shall
not Why Is there such rousing from South
Carolina to Louisiana, IN favor Of the independ
ert movement In Cubal Does any one doub
: for a moment that Cuba will eventually throw
off the yokel Does any one doubt that her in
dependence will be recognized by the federal 90
vernment? Does any one doubt that she will
Gnally ask admission into the Unionl Does any
one doubt that abs will be allowed to come in
We can sit with our hands idle In California
but a storm Is sure to burst upon our country
Il Again, what TO do with the Sandwic
Islands The North want them for free State
What are we to do with every inch of land
around our borders SO long as the United
States have boundaries not identical with those
of the eoailncSi 80 long will the storm impend
over her.
4 Abolitonism Is FIRE which has been III in the
North. Within the last ten years we have seen
il spread TO oonfagration, and il never can rest
satisfied until slavery is licked from existence
We are in lull, not in settled calm. And
while il seems to us that the action Of California
will make but little difference in the great result