Columbia gazette., 1854-01-21
Appendix +. correspondence with Gen
Hitchcock

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Hitchcock
The prerequisites of securing the ap-
proval of the Secretary of the Interior,
and patent for the lands selected, from
the General Government, are executive
duties, aud will all be ATTENDED % at as
"a: ly a period as practicable.
! A thorough revision Of our Militia
system, is believed to he iniispensab!y
necessary We now have on our Stat
ute books. two acts of the Legislature:
the first passed April 10th, 1880, the
second, May lst, 1852; the provisions of
which. To some extent, conflict. and vet
both are iii force unless the first should
he regarded as eonstruetively repealed
! by the second.
Saould Ii become necessary to call into
active service the Militia Of the State,
this conflict of law certainly would ope-
rate as 4 very serious obstacle to efficient
organization. BY the act of April 10th,
! 1850, the State WAS divided into Divis-
ions and Br;gades, and the Legislature,
the same session under the law, elected
MAJOR and Brigadicr Generals. The
officers then elected, it is proper here to
state, still hold their places. The act
u May lst, 1852, divides the State in
to seven Military Districts, the head OF
each to be an Aid de Camp with the
rank OF Colonel, to be appointed By the
Commander in-thiet In this act, it is
true, ample provision is made for the or
!anlzatlon OF volunteer companies, but
IN ether important respects, it is very
deficient, rendering the organization OF
any considerable force under it, utterly
/ iinpracticab!e.
The State of California has hereto
fore been compelled, ALMOST entirely, to
protect her own citizens against Indian
ag@ressions, and in so doing has incur
red heavy debt. The United States
it is true, has had forces in the country,
but numerically, totally inadequate to
)ur protection.
Ia view Of these facts and Others not
necessary here to communicate, it is be-
leved that every possible encourage
ment, b. legislation, should be extend
ID to independent or volunteer compa
1its, and a Militia system matu-cd, suf-
icicntly comprehensive in its details to
combine the whole available force of the
State VIXEN required for active service,
nov numbering over two hundred thou
sand men.
! The w.rlilie preparations now being
made south Of our bsrders, would seem
10 justify, en- our part at least, a more
fall compliance with the requirements
OF tie Constitution and Laws of the Uni
ted States on the subject of Military Or
ganizasion.
In this connection, it is also proper
TO inform you, that the Legislature oil
1852, By joint resolution, applied through
our delegation in Congress to the Presi-
dent OF the United States for ''twenty
thousand stands of arms, and one thou
sand Colts drasoon pistols" Believ-
iag that this important matter may not
| have received attention. the application
WAS by me renewed short time since.
The arms applied for are much requir-
ed st this time. In the north the Iu-
dians continue hostile, and depredations
by them are OF frequent recurrence.
The southern portion Of the State is in
tested with organized bands of robbers,
who are formidable as to render the ex-
ecution of the laws by the proper officers
exceedingly difficult and dangerous.
With the arms applied for, the State
could equip under the law, volunteer
military organizations, at exposed points
and through them, render mate
rial aid to the civil authorities in the ex-
ecution of the laws and, in short time
give perfect security to the people Of the
! whole State.
! 1t is deemed proper to inform YOU,
that the Pacific Maa Steamship Compa-
ny, though in the full enjoyment Of the
protection afforded by our laws, in the
prosecution of an extensive and lucrative
business, persist in denying the right of
the State to tax their vessels, on the
ground that the owners of property
sought to be taxed, are citizens Of other
States of the confederacy, and subject
to taxation on the same property in the
place of their residence. 1t is true, that
the taxes due last year, were paid by
the company, under protest; but it is al
ready been instituted by them for the
recovery of the whole amount paid, with
interest, and the State is now compelled
at great expense, to assert her rights in
the Supreme Courtof the United States.
herewith transmit for your informa-
ton copy of a report, received on the
18TH OF November, 1853, from Gen E.
"A. Hitchcock. commander of the Pacif-
lc Division of the Army of the United
States, exhibiting the number and char
acter of troops under bis command in