The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-05
THINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

The bill submitting to the People Of Califor-
MIA the question Convention or no Convention,
has passed the Assembly of that State. The
measure, it must be recollected originated with
pro-slavery politicians. Judge Heydenfelt for
merly of Alabama, and ap avowed propagan-
dist, was very active in pressing it, and it is
alleged that, weeks before the measure was
acted upon, he exhibited list Of the members
of both houses who were pledged to vote for
it. The bill, it is said will probably pass the
Senate.
We learn from our California exchanges,
that the same Judge has been laboring very
earnestly to effect the abolition of the Superior
Court Of the State and one Of the principal
reasons the Sacramento Journal says is, "that
Judge Heydenfeldt, being most ultra in his feel
ings upon the question Of negro slavery car
ries his preiudices 50 far as TO be DESTROYS to
prescribe from Office any individual who differs
from him in his views upon the peculiar in
stitution,' and that, laboring under the impress
sion that Mr. Satterlee does so differ, he is
most anxious for his removal, and has spared
no exertion to effect it, by the exercise of his
personal influence with the members OF the
Legislature. There are the other consdera-
tons which We presume influenced Judge
Heydenfeldt and which We repressed, because
we were anxious 10 retard the time when it
should become necessary even to recognise the
existence of an issue Of this kind, growing up
between the people Of this State. If we have
been forced to thus recognise this existing feel
ing, and acknowledge that, because any per-
son entcrtains Northern feelings upon Southern
institutions, he is liable to be hunted from
Office by tricks of Legislation, it is not our fault"
Now and then we catch glmpses of the state
of things in California, which reveal de-
PRAYED sentiment in regard to Slavery and
the rights of colorcd people. Take for exam
pie the following paragraph, from the Demo-
cratic State Journal the organ of the DemOc-
racy of that State
"The sky-scraping editor of the ponderous
Alta thus discourseth on niggerology
"'There were some extraordinary proceed
ings in the Assembly yesterday, on the occasion
of the presentation of a petition, signed by
colored men of this city, praying the repeal of
the law excluding the testimony of their race
against white persons in criminal prosecutions
We shall look further into this business at an
early opportunity. Our doughty Assembly
may possibly have laid themselves liable to
the seyerest ccnsure by the remarkable course |
pursued in this matter
"These are surely extraordinary proceed
ings,' but there are more things in heaven and |
earth than are dreamed of in that papers |
philosophy. We hope it will study well this |
slur upon its colOred constituents, and at an
early day deal out its 'severest censure' Such |
censure from such a source, and in such a
cause, would be highly gratifying"
There must have been a great change in
the character of the population of California
since the organization Of its Government.
Every indication points to the fact that the
pro-slavery conspirators have obtained at least
a temporary ascendency The Southern Era |
Richmond, Va) exults at our apprehensions,
and says
Slavery does exist in California now, and |
Slavery will continue to exist there, until it |
becomes Improbable Do what you will and
say what you will, this thing must come to
pass"
The opponents of Slavery there have really |
the numerical superiority. If they suffer the
foul conspiracy now going on among them to
succeed, they themselves will deserve to wear
chains. We hope for better things.