San Andreas independent., 1858-03-27
Important International Letter from
Judge Crane to his Constituents

Important International Letter from
Judge Crane to his Constituents.
WASHINGTON, Feb. ls. 1858.
q FELLOW ITIZENS lit affords me much sat-
lsfaction to furnish you, in ADVANCE informa-
ton OF great interest. The Committee on Ter
ritories have unanimously agreed to report a
bill forthwith to establish a Territorial Gov
ernment out of western Utah, under the name
OF Sierra Nevada. 1t will be bounded on the
east by the Goose Greek mountains, on the west
by the Sierra Nevada or the eastern boundary
line o. California, on the north by the Oregon
line, and on the south by the Colorado river
/ The bill will be pressed through both Houses
OF Congress by all parties. as having an i'm
mediate connection with the present-miitary
movements against the Mormons. 1t has been
agreed upon that it shall form part of the
measures designed to compress the limits oi
the Mormons in the Great Basin, and to defeat
their efforts to corrupt and confederate with
the Indian tribes who now reside in or roam
through western Utah. For these and many
other reasons no time will be lost to organize
Territory over western Utah, that there may
be concentrated there large Gentle popula-
ton, as check both upon the Indians and
| Mormons
The Lecompton Constitution will pass both
Houses OF Congress in two weeks, at least for
In each branch there is clear majority, and
when this is effected the Mormon war and our
Territory will be the next subject for grave
debate and prompt consideration. Perhaps by
the time you have read this letter, thus pub
lcly addressed to you, the bill creating our
| Territory will have become a law. Icongrat-
ulate you on the success which has attended
our joint efforts, To the Hon. VIM. Smith,
the able member of Congress from the Orange
Congressional District in Virginia, (well known
in California; yon and | owe AN everlasting
debt OF gratitude TOR bringing about this aus
picious result. .d
In few weeks, or soon after our Territorial
bill passes Congress, arrangements will be
made to establish at the head of Goose Greek
and at Stony Point or Gravelly Ford, on the
humboldt. military stations to keep open the
routes between the Great Salt Lake and Ore
gon and California. have no doubt one will
also be established at Cedar Greek or Cedar
City, on the great Salt Lake and the San Ber-
nardino route, at or near the place where the
MormonS inhumaIly caused the Indians to
murder in cold blood. last summer one hun
dred and thirty-onc emigrants to California
from Arkansas. These military posts, with
the heavy emigration which will pour into our
Territory, from our side, and this side, of the
continent, in connection with the regular and
volunteer force which will enter the Basin
from our side us active troops against the Nor
mons and their Indian allies, will, doubt not
be sufficient to defend and protect you all as
well as the overland enigrants OF one thing
you may feel satisfied that while cannot
claim to accomplish much for you yet. what
ever can do shall spare no time or labor to
effect.
Ia connection with this subject, permit me
to say (for am not writing to you unadvised-
ly) that you all SOW and plant heavy crops Of
grain and vegetables this spring. for they will
bring ready sale ut good cash prices, to supply
The army and the Indians on their reservations
1t is important that you know this and act ac-
corlingly. for have no motive to deceive you
us am one of you and feel as if YOU were
bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. A new
and nob.er era is dawning on us. Let US,
therefore, have faith and perSevere and all
Will be well If we labor and faint not.
AS soon as shall get my seat, think can
secure mail routes between Carson Valley uia
Gold Canon, Ragtown, Sink of tlre Humboldt,
to the Great Salt Lake, and from uoney Lake
to the Humboldt. where the two lines will
form junction. AS to the estabi> >hment of
other necessary mail routes in the Territory,
have no fears. In connection with this sub
ject also have great hopes of having bill
pass to bridge the deep snow region on the
Sierra Nevada over the Honey Lake and Placer
vile routes, so as to keep open communica-
tion between our Territory and California all
the year around. The deep snow region on
the PlacervilIe route, is ] think, about eight
miles in extent, and on the Honey Lake route
cia Shasta about the same Neither will cost
e "a cocn coA M
very simple in their constructions and they are
now used in Italy for crossing the Alps in the
winter time. Every five feet on either side
strong upright is erected in the ground, to
ascend upward about seven feet high, on which
a covering or roof in the shape of A is erec-
ted. Thus, when the snow falls to any extent
on the roof it soon slides off, have no time
to explain farther.
In conclusion, hope the Legislature ofCal-
ifornia will be as liberal and as generous to
you, as Virginia was to Kentucky in her DAYS
of infancy and trial, and as Georgia was to
Alabama in her days of infancy; and like them.
withdraw her jurisdiction ove~ valleys living
east of the Sierra Nevada. that they NAV all
come under our Territorial Government. Gail
ifornia can never do justice to the people in
habiting these valleys. while we can She is
the mother of States on the Pacific, and she
should encourage and uphold the Young ones
who are clustering around her like children.
and are fondly attached to her. In the name
of our Territory salute you. In the name
of our country, ask that you be good and
dutiful citizens and in the name of the Most
High. invoke his choicest blessings upon you
and your children.
Ever your faithful friend,
JAMES VI. CRANE