Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-06

| Citil biiO idbbCI WAS NlCbOIl
GUS. Commodore w. B. Shubrick, VIII
succeeded Stockton on March l, 1S41
issued circular announcing Kearny a
governor of California instead of Ere
mont, who had been appointed by Stock
ton, and removing the capital back t.
Monterey. Los Angeles was, however
made the headquarters OF the "militar,
districts of Southern California" Thi
was the first political division, If sucl
it can be called, OF Alta California, un
der American rule. Southern California
was the loser. The fruits OF long year.
OF struggle were ruthlessly destroyed
The northern flibusters were trium
phant!
The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
which was exchanged May 80, 1848
granted Alta California, together with
what is now Arizona and New Mexico
etc., to the United States for $15, 600, 900
THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOM.
The discovery OF placer gold by j. w
Marshall near Coloma, January "a, 1848
singularly caused greater excitement
than had similar discovery near San
Fernando mission six years previously
The effect in Southern California is
thus described by J. j. Warner:
"The discovery of 'the mines in 1S4e
carried away many of the native popula-
ton. During the summer oi
1S49 and winter and spring of 1850, Los
! Angeles was thoroughfare OF travel.
Few could be induced to stop long.
Every head was turned toward ell dora
do. Through the summer of 1850 thirty
Americans could be counted, and most
of these without families. With or with
out means, the incomers had crowded
forward" (See Hist. Sketch of i. A.
Co., p. 39)
The boom then was all in Northern
California.
In 1849 much the larger part OF the
population and of the wealth of
the state was in Northern California.
The total population of the state in 1850
was 92,597 and the total assessment was
$57 $40 $3.50, little over half of that of
Los Angeles county today! There
was no argument then about the wealth
and population being too small to justify
the burdens of statehood. The population
OF Southern California was then about
1883, if the apportionment for the con-
stitutional convention was made on an
estimate of the population. There was
no counting against such odds. Never
theless, Southern California did not
waive her rights. Says Col. ]. j. Ayers,
a pioneer of 40, in the Los Angeles
HERALD: eff at the time of the foun-
dation of this state Southern California
had not been overridden by the great
mass of population suddenly thrown
into the north by the discovery of gold,
this section would never have consented
to become a portion OF the new state.
We were actually forced into it against
the best judgment of the few people
who were here at the time. The objec-
tions advanced at that time have never
been overcome, but. are as positive and
vital today as they were then. The fact
that it is mesalliance crops out when
ever the subject is stirred. It is shown
in the fact that there is no love
lost between the two sections when
ever controversy of interest arises"
THE MONTEREY CONVENTION.
Governor Bennett Riley on June 3,
1S49, issued a proclamation. appointing
August LIST for the election of delegates
to a constitutional convention. The
convention met at Monterey September
1st, forty-eight of the seventy-three
delegates elected being present. OF
these forty-eight, the following nine
were from Southern California:
Jose A. Carrillo, Manuel Dominguez,
Stephen G. Foster, P. Hugo Reid and
Abel Stearns, Los Angeles.
Pablo de la Guerra and Jacinto Rod
riguez, Santa Barbara.
Henry Hill and Miguel Pedrorena.
San Diego.
Southern California was by the pro-
AZ Al IL.
out of the seventy-three, or 10 per cent
of the whole convention, as follows:
San Diego, 2; Los Angeles, Z,
Santa Barbara, 5. The southern
members who did not attend
were Louis Robidoux and Manuel Re-
euena, Of Los Angeles; and Auastacio
Carrillo and Manuel Jimeno, of Santa
Barbara. AS it was Southern California
had Is per cent of the convention.
The following account of the proceed
ings is taken from the printed report of
j. Ross Browne, a copy oEwhich is in
possession of the Historical society Of
Southern California. Enough is quoted to
thow the contest made in the conven-
ton by the delegates from Southern
ment for their section.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DEFEATED.
The convention spent three days in
organization. Robert Semple of Benicia
was elected president, and William G.
Marcy secretary. The very first resolu-
luton discussed was offered by E. Gill
bert of San Francisco:
Resolved, That it is expedient that
this convention now proceed to form a
state constitution for California
This brought Stephen @. Foster of
Los Angeles to his feet, who stated that
''some members are in favor of terri
torial government. For one he was op
posed at present to entering into state
government"
J. A. Carrillo of Los Angeles
said ''The first question is: To
remain a territory or be formed into
state. Whatever determination there
might be on that subject, ! think a
committee ought to be appointed to re-
port upon it, that members might
record their votes upon that question
alone"
0. M. Wozencraft of San Joaquin op-
posed the proposition of the southern
members, on the ground that the dele
gates had been elected to form state
constitution.
President Semple called his attention
to the fact that Governor Riley's proc
lamation referred to a territorial as well
as state government.
HI. A. Tefft of San Luis Obispo said he
was compelled in compliance with the
wishes of his constituents to vote for q