The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-22
The California News.

We are in receipt OF the SACRAMENTO anu oah
Francisco papers, which contain much interesting
intelligence in relation to matters near shutdown.
The division question seems to be very seri-
ously considered and pressed with commenda-
BILE zeal. We append extracts of most interest
from the files of papers before us. The San
Francisco Herald says:
The leading topic now engaging the attention
of large portion of our citizens, is the contem-
plated division of the State, and the formation
for the southern portion, of separate territorial
government. The inhabitants Of the counties
south of San Francisco are almost unanimous
in their support of this movement. They COM
plain Of the unequal burdens imposed upon
them, chiefly an agricultural community, and
consider the proposed separation cure for these
evils. Three addresses upon the subject have
been issued, emana,ing from Monterey, Los An
geles, and San Diego-the three principal towns
of Southern California. There is difference
Of opinion among the advocates of division as
to the most suitable time and place of holding
the southern convention. Delegates have been
elected to attend from every southern county.
The question will undoubtedly be brought up
ut the next session of our legislature, and will
form prominent topic of debate.
From the same print we take the following
letter, written by prominent citizen of the new
State, formerly of Texas .,.
Letter from General Green.
Vallejo, Oct 10, 1851.
To the president of the convention for estab.
fishing territorial government in Southern
California: ..e.
The unde signed regrets exceedingly that it
is not in his power to attend in person your
convention, and takes this brief method of sig
nifying his entire concurrence in the objects for
which you are about to assemble.
Two winters since, when first had the honor
of meeting my Southern friends inthe Senate of
California, foresaw the difficulties and griev-
ances of which you now so justly complain. |
saw then, as you see now, that country OF such
immense dimensions, covering greater sea
coast than the old thirteen States at the Decla-
iation of Independence portion, the weak
or, grazing and agricultural, and the stronger,
refining; saw by the operation of our const-
tuition that the weaker would have to bear too
great bnrthen of taxation, because their prop
erty was 10 lands and cattle, while the stronger.
being upon public lands, with a locomotive
habit, would be comparatively exempt. | be.
lieved then, that it would be idle to attempt to
unite in one homogeneous system interests so
distant and so dissimilar Then it was that I
suggested the remedy which you now propose
| What objection can there be to this?
NV republican notions are, tina. If you of the
South prefer to separate yourselves from the
North, for the many strong reasons set forth in
your address, it would not only be manfesty
unjust, but cruel and tyranncal, in the majority
| a a. 18th 10
do not believe the North would do; for. justice i,
the paramount principle of the American bosom
and due regard for the interest of the minorit,
is cardinal principle of our Democratic code
Who will say that California, with an are
greater than South Carolina, Maryland, Della
ware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont
all combined, furnishing now permanent wealtl
greater than the export Of her whole thirty sis
ters is not entitled TO division IL she will sit
II ANYTHING is most calculated to prove danger
Gus 10 the smaller States, il is her great exten
and her enormous wealth. In short time sh
will become the empire State in number, as sh
| is now in productive wealth, and then she ma,
become an empire, too strong for the COHESIVE
qualities Of our federal compact. As one witt
| loves tie Union, If for no other cause, / do con
| fess would like much t. see Southern Caifor
mia, with her luxursnt vineyards, her rich grain!
and tens of thousands Of cattle, under a consti
tuition which fitted, sustained and promoted thes,
happy interests.
Sincerely hoping, gentlemen, that your labor
may prove no. only harm ,nious, but productiv,
Of The great end you have in view, subscrib'
myself,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOS. J. GREEN.