Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-20

California as an American state wit
messed repeated efforts on the part of
Southern California to secure state di-
vision.
In the year 1851. conventions were
held at San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa
Barbara and Monterey, for the purpose
of state division. Later Agostin Har-
azthy canvassed the state on the propo-
sition.
In 1856 John O.swhee eler started q
weekly newspaper at Los Angeles. 1t
was named the Southern Californian,
and was the organ of the state division
party.
Several bills were introduced into the
Legislatures, along in the '50s, haviu g
for their object the division of the state
on different boundary lines, but were
defeated.
In 1859 one was actually passed, ap-
proved by the governor, ratified by a
vote of the people and forwarded to
Washington for the approval OF con-
gress, where it still lies in the pigeon
holes.
The question was revived after the
WATs duu u COnVOutkOu blbblnk lA LO6 h4-
geles, in 1880, arrived at the conclusion
effect, and only needs the action of con-
In 1883, Gen. William Vandever in
division of the state on line eastward
Such is succinct history of the move
x~oau<a IL, Gal;fDrpso Coz I,xyso,or of tho
state since its admission into the union,
the particulars OF which follow.
An unwilling party to q covenant, it
is natural that occasional efforts would
be made by Southern California to gain
her freedom. I quote from the San
Diego Herald, the paper made famous
by Phoenix, files of which are now in the
possession OF K. w. Morse, Esq, OF San
Diego. In the issue of that paper of
July "a, 1851, there was column COM
munication from Agostin Harazthy,
then sheriff of San Diego county. He
urges the indispensable necessity for q
convention of the citizens of the south
ern portion Of the state. to be held at
Los Angeles or Santa Barbara, for the
purpose of taking into consid-
GRAFTON the propriety of petitioning
congress for territorial govern
ment, and gave the following reasons:
L. Every law passed at the last legis-
lature has different provisions for the
southern part of the state than those OF
the northern part. They were in re-
gard to the fee bill, the salaries of judges,
the settlements OF county treasurers,
and regarding justices of the plains.
2. There is no difference in the state
taxes, making the south pay much
larger quota for the maintenance of the
government in proportion to the popu.
lation than the north.
8. The south, not being so well
adapted throughout for grain-growing
country, on account of great deficiency
of water and timber, it is destined to re-
main a stock-raising country, requiring
large tracts of land for the support oi
one family.
4. There are few inducements to settle
in the south as compared with the north.
Mote: The irrigating and horticul-
tural resources of the south were then
unknown. Mr.. Harazthy would write
differently were he here today
5. The great distance from the capi.
tal-6O0 miles-entails enormous ex-
pense ON travellers.
s. The north will not oppose the sep
aration.
Z. There will be almost no taxes un-
der territory.
Mr.. Harazthy's ideas met with q
hearty approval throughout the entire
south. A letter from a correspondent
signing himself "Cornest," dated al
Monterey, August %, 1851, which ap-
peared in the San Diego Herald six days
later. saws:
"Mr. Harazthy's letter in the San
Diego Herald Of July Oath meets with
the cordial support of the landed pro-
prietors as far north as the pueblo de
San Jose. The south had no voice in
the formation of the state. The south
ern people are permanent residents, en-
gagged in farming and grazing. The
northern people are more erratic in theil
pursuits, Rancheros are compelled to
mortgage their lands to pay taxes. The
northern interest carried the capital
from Monterey to San JOSE"
Both ~Cornest" and Mr.. Harazthy
spoke of the condition of affairs as they
existed forty years ago; still many
things they said remain true. The
legislatures still discriminate against
the south, as also do the courts. The
south still bears unequal portions in re-
gard to taxes. Nearly all the state in
stitutions are in the north, and the dis
tance for those to travel who have officia
business with the state still remains 9
hardship. 1t is true that the south had
no voice in the formation of the state
and but little in running it since.
SOUTHERN TICKET.
It will be of interest to note that &C
strong did the state division sentimen
grow in the south, that state ticket
was put in the field, although it cut nc
great figure in the general result. Say
the San Diego Herald OF July 8, 1851:
1--WE perceive that large number o
the intelligent and influential men re
siding in this southern portion OF the
state, being disgusted at the manner il
which the recent nominations for stat
officers have been made by both politi
cal parties, and being sensible Of tn,
great injustice done us in not selectin
. single card late from this section
have compare notes, talked over thei