The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-06

Correspondence Of the Nsw York Herald.
The Proceedings gf the Lsgislature-Ihe S!ou-
cry Mopement-I 'dmp.any Hall IN Colyor-
mia, etc.
STATE House. SACRAMENTO CRY, Feb. II.
A review of passing political events in this
distant State, NAV not be unnteresting 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 Capital
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
anv importance has yet passed both houses and
been signed by the governor. few joint reso.
lutions, instructing our senators and representa-
tives in Congress to urge certain measures, &c,
constitute the sum total Of finished legislation.
The first 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 us 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
Tammany's influence has reached these western
shores--has been felt in the halls OF Legislation
and it's hosts, represented by the unyleldlng
Frederick (well known to your readers) have
created no little stir among the Simon Pures I;
in fact, his chances for senator were for 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
ly 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 a matter of course, except III one case,
where thew sent both claimants back to their
constituents, and, in a new election, the Wing
(Mr. Cook, of Yuba county0 was returned.
The Southern propaganda feeling has
exhibited itself very plainly in this legislature
and ia beginning to put on airs, and talk largely
of Southern rights, &C., encouraged, perhaps
by the passage of 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
frat named instead of six months, but was re-
duced by Observation-Disclosures virtually, under
the bill slavery would exist for six months in a
free State The bill makes it binding on all
officers to use their power in arresting said
slaves. atfxes penalties. &c. Mr.. Ellie of
Nevada, "a WhigD fought the bill at every step,
as did also Mr.. Hammond, the Speaker, Demo-
crat, (both formerly from slaveholding 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 comes 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 it's pas
sage, and launched out in general terms of abuse
of the present constitution, its hoary headed
founders" &c, attributng every evil that the
State now suffers TO that Acknowledgement
taxation, debt, &C., were all its offspring. The
report was beautiful piece of bombast, devoid
of one strong argument in favor of change,
or the necessity of calling convention. They
as vet have failed TO show their hand but none
are deceived as to the real object of the =" con.
yention schemers." Slavery must be engrafted
into the constitutions or at least the free clause
stricken out, or the State must be devided, and
a 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
thew do not, deny it, Though some Of them
admit the impossibility of making California
slave State yet they press the scheme and hope
n fhotr uyioho 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 up 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 to by Mr.. Peachy, of San Fran.
cisco Mr.. Hammond opposed the bill, on the
grounds of its being unconstitutional. He
would favor a convention called in conformity
with the constitution. He must make show
of consistency for he wants to go to Congress,
and will be candidate at the next election. Mr..
Crabb, in favor of the bill, had the floor when
the house adjourned over until Wednesday
next goth inst, to allow the members to attend
the Democratic State convention, that meets
next Monday in this city.
FRIDAY, 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 of
representation, and the two delegations from
San Francisco, one headed by S. Hydenfet &
Co.; and the other by Wells g. Co, being the
Frederick or Tammany party, and with me
exception, Northern men; while every man of
the Hydenfelt delegates were Southern men,
The South were triumphant, and the banners of
Old Tammany trailed in the dust amid the shouts
of the assembled hosts. In the temporary Or
panization of the convention Mr.. Van Buren,, of
New York, WINS elected chairman, amidst noise
and confusion, after two others had taken the
chair and ordered to leave the same by the con-
vention. After two days spent in discussing the