The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-06
Correspondent Of he Nse York Herald.

Inc f>rOCccuuSs " the lIeS tssotn'c-- 'o ',sNo-
cry Mopsment-- Tammany Hall in CatJor-
mia, etc.
STATE HOUSE, SACRAMENTO CRY, Feb. I'll.
A review of passing political events in this
distant State, may not be undressing TO your
numerous readers. You are OF course aware
that the Legislature of this State is at present
in session in this city, having left aCapital
Vallejo" alone in its glory soon after the meet
ing Of that body.
Although nearly two months have passed
since the meeting of the legislature, no bill OF
any Importance hasyet passed both houses and
been signed by the governor. A few joint reso-
lutions, instructing our senator's and representa-
tives in Congress- to urge certain measures, &C.,
constitute the sum total of finished legislation.
The frst month of the session was spent in
electing United States senator, although the
unterri6ed are largely in the majority, and have
perfect control of affairs far as voting is con-
cerned. They must shoulder the responsibilities
of all delays and consequent expense they are
adding to the already burdensome debt OF the
State.
might here remark that there is not the ut
most harmony existing in the ranks Of the De-
mocracy in California. Here, as in some other
parts. there are two wings to their army. Old
Tammanys influence has reached these western
shores-has been felt in the halls of legislation
and it's hosts, represented by the unyielding
Frederick, (well known to your readers) have
created no little stir among the Simon Pures
in fact, his chances for senator were for q long
time second to none among the hordes Of as
pirants to this high station. But he had to con-
tend against fearful odds, and his subterranean
plans did not succeed. Southern men are awful
" afraid of Old Tammany. These contending
parties have, of course, delayed the real business
of the session; and then, again, the numerous
contested seats in both branches has been a
source Of delay, one seat in the senate being
vet undecided. might remark, in passing, that
the Democrats keep or get all the seats In dis
pute, as matter OF course, except In one case
where they sent both claimants back to their
constituents, and, in new election, the Wing
(Mr Cook, of Yuba county, was returned.
The Southern propagandist feeling has
exhibited itself very plainly in this Legislature,
and is beginning to put on airs, and talk largely
of Southern rights, &C., encouraged, perhaps,
by the passage of a bill in the assembly in
troduced by Mr.. Crabb "a Whig) relating to
slaves brought into this State previous to the
formation Of the constitution The bill provides
that the owners of such slaves may take them
from the State any time within six months
after the bill becomes law Three years was
first named instead of six months, but was re-
dueed bv amendments-thu virtually, under
the bill, slavery would exist for six months in a
free State. The bill makes 1t binding on all
officers to use their power in arresting said
slaves, afixes. penalties, &c. Mr.. Ellis, of
Nevada, Ia Whig,) fought the bill at every step,
as did also Mr.. Hammond, the Speaker, Demo
crat, (both formerly from slayeholding States,)
but the host of Democrats in the House came
to the rescue, and the bill was passed. II is now
in the hands of the judiciary committee of the
Senate, and may there sleep in death. Embold.
ened by this, next cones the bill of the ex gov
ernor Of Missouri, Mr.. Boggs, to pass law
calling convention of delegates to revise our
present State constitution, or make new one,
and that in direct violation of the constitutional
mode of calling such convention.
The committee, to whom was referred the
bill, made majority report in favor of its pas
sage, and launched out in general terms Of abuse
of the present constitution, its " hoary headed
founders" &c, attributing every evil that the
State now suffers 10 that Acknowledgement
taxation, debt &c, were all its offspring. The
report was a beautiful piece Of bombast devoid
of one strong argument in favor Of change,
or the necessity Of calling convention. They
"a vet have failed 10 show their hand; but none
are deceived as 10 the real object Of the !" con
yention schemers." Slavery must be engrafted
into the constitution, or at least the free clause
stricken out, or the State must be devided, and
n slave State made OF the southern portion.
This is, in fact, the only object the friends Of
convention" have in view. They cannot, in fact
they do not, deny it. Though some of them
admit the impossibity Of making California a
slave State, yet they press the scheme, and hope
for result in accordance with their wishes An
able minority report has also been made by two
of the committee. Both reports have been
printed, and will, Of course, be read by all who
take an interest in California affairs The bill
came MP to-day in the committee Of the whole
and the debate was opened by Ellis, OF Nevada
on the motion Coates, Of klamath, to strike out
the first section of the bill. Mr. f., in written
speech, strongly opposed the bill in every form
-denouncing the convention" not only unne.
cessary, but revolutionary in its tendency He
was replied 10 by Mr.. Peachy, Of San Fran
cisco. Mr.. Hammond opposed the bill, on the
grounds Of IFS being unconstitutional He
would favor a convention called in conformity
with the constitution. He must make a show
Of consistency, for he wants togo TO Congress
and will be candidate at the next election. Mr.
Crabb, in favor Of the bill, had the floor wher
the house adjourned over until "Wednesday
next, 26,h inst, TO allow the members 10 attend
the Democratic State convention, that meets
next Monday in this city.
FRrDAY, Feb. 81. 1852.
The convention closed its labors last evening
after session Of four days, the first three be
ing spent in general fight about the basis o.
representation, and the two delegations from
San Francisco, one headed by s. Hydenfelt &
Co.; and the other by Wells a. Co, being the
Broderick or Tammany party, and, with one
exception, Northern men; while every man o.
the Hydenftlt delegates were Southern men
The South were triumphant, and the banners o.
Old Tammany trailed in the dust amid the shouts
of the assembled hosts. In the temporary or
panization OF the convention, Mr.. Van Buren,, o.
New York, was elected chairman, amidst NOISE
and confusion, after two others bad taken The
chair and ordered 10 leave the same by the con
vention. After two days spent In discussing th'
merits and dement's Of the two San francisco
delegates, the convention was organized by thu
Il 49, n al. n .osf. do,1f