Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-09

be vain act as long as the northern
part OF the state is as generally opposed
as it now is to separation to venture on
popular vote on the question.
The practical purpose of this meeting.
take 1t, is to help to educate the people
up to the idea, to agitate the question
and accomplish what results we NAV.
hope it will be only the fret of a series
OF meetings for this purpose, which will
ultimately bring about the end we have
in view"
The Committee on Resolutions then
reported as follows:
WHEREAS, Our representative in the
National Congress, General William Van
dever. has introduced into the Congress
bill for the division of the State of Cali
fornia, which provides for a State of
South California, to consist of the coun-
ties OF the Sixth Congressional District
and the counties of Merced, Tuolumne
and Mariposa; and
WHEREAS, The State of California as
now formed is ill-shaped to remain a
a single State, with the dense population
now rapidly flowing over her borders.
being more than 800 miles long and a
little over 200 broad on the average. and
is especially inconvenient and expensive
to the people of Los Angeles county and
Southern California, where population
of more than 100000 people is living an
average distance of above 500 miles from
its State capital, and separated from t
by two ranges OF mountains, and broad,
thinly settled tracts of land and
WHEREAS, No time is likely to be more
favorable for division than the present,
there being no State debt, portion of
which we would have to assume no COM
munity of interests with the North which
cannot be equally as we'll served in the
capacity OF separate States, no risks or
dangers OF any magnitude involved in
the step, or which are not less now than
they are likely to be again, and,
WHEREAS, The interests of Southern
California require the direct and
exclusive attention of a State
Legislature devoted to them, and
hampered by obligations to no other
section applying its efforts to the build
ing up of its own State with singleness
of purpose and effectiveness of effort i'm
possible when so large a territory and
such diversity OF interests as those of
our whole State are involved, and
WHEREAS, There is no claim which the
rest of the state can urge against the
proposed division but that of pride in
the grand State of California, which SEN
timent, though highly commendable
and justifiable, and felt strongly by our
selves, is not necessary to and should
not stand in the way of the prosperity of
either section of the State. Therefore,
be it
Resolved, by this assembly of repre-
sentative citizens of Los Angeles city
and county, that division of the State
into two States on an east and west line,
as near as possible along national
boundary lines and upon a fair and
honorable basis should be effected at as
early date as practicable, and our rep.
resentatives in the State and National
Legislatures are hereby requested to use
all honorable efforts to bring about such
a division.
A very lively debate followed the
offering of these resolutions. Colonel
Boyce was of the opinion that thew
ought not to be put to vote lest the sue
cess of the movement should be- hazarded
by defeat before people were ready to
come to decision upon it. He Thought
the best thing was to call for a conven-
ton OF delegates from various parts of
the southern half of the State and put
the matter in their hands. He offered
a resolution to that effect, which he sub
sequently withdrew when he was assured
that the committee had in hand another
resolution covering this point.
Judge Redick said that every lawyer
would be Of the opinion that the old law
Of 1859 would still hold good. But that
did not make it any the less necessary
that work should be done to rouse
people. He had no doubt that the great
majority of the people in the southern
part Of the State would be greatly in
favor of the plan if it could be brought
before them. "Let us cut loose from
our enemies" said he, "and carry on a
State by ourselves and for ourselves.
We have been taxed for their
bere6t long enough"
Mr.. M. L. Wicks took the floor and made
a strong speech against the resolutions
and in opposition of the plan to divide
the State. II cannot sit still here"
said he, "and hear no one raiie his voice
on the other side of this question. The
plan may have it's attractions for the poli-
ticians, but believe that the solid busi-
ness men OF the State and the bulk of the
people will vote against it. 1t is form
of secession; the same arguments that
held good in the South in 1860 can be
repeated here now: difference of inter
est, and hence separation. And when
it is divided once why not twice and
thrice times? Why not cut
it up into trihing fragments
go that each section will have its own
special interests all to itself. 1 believe
in State sovereignty, and 1 deny the
right OF Congress to cut States to pieces
as it sees fit. What would the people of
New York or of Massachusetts say to a
proposition to divide their States? Mol
am Californian, and would rather be a
humble citizen of that grand old State
than both the Senators and all the
Congressman from your new South Cali
fornia."
Mr.. Wicks' remarks, which were elo-
quent at times, drew forth applause even
from those who evidently did not aprea
with him. The resolutions were mt to
a vote, but only 16 were found who were
willing to stand up and put themselves
on record as opposing them. They were
therefore passed amid great cheering.
addition to the resolutions already
passed:
BE 1t also resoIued, That a committee
OF five be appointed to select an execu-
tive committee, which latter committee
shall be empowered to take such measures
as to it shall seem best to carry out the
wishes of the people of Los Angeles city