Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-01
IN REGARD TO STATE DIVISION.
A Comprehensive Statement of
the Question.
The Causes Which Render Separa-
tiOn Necessary.
A History of the Continued Troubles
Between North and South-State
Division Legal - Cost of
State Governments.

Of patriotic Southern Californians than
that of separate statehood for their grow
ing, enterprising and wealthy section.
The trainers of the first constitution of
the state, who met at Monterey in the
year 1849, agreed that the territory OF
California is too large for one state, and
that when population should increase
sufficiently to justify it, the state ought
to be divided into two or more statee.
The state is naturally divided into two
great and separate physical sections by
the Sierra Nevada mountains, which en-
tirely cross it southwesterly from about
the 35th parallel of north latitude to
Point Conception. Their altitude is
from 1000 to $4,000 feet Their effect
upon the climate and products of the
soil of Northern and Southern California
make these two sections as different in
these particulars as the Alps make
France and Italy.
Out of the differences grow interests
so diverse that they never can be harmon
lied under one legislative government,
and all efforts to do so will only continue
and increase the friction and discord be-
tween the two sections. Only a politi-
cal division of the state will remove the
cause OF all trouble, and permit each
section to work on it's own destiny.
The diversity of these interests has
been recognized from the first settle
ment of the country by Europeans. AS
early as 1810-11 10 missions had been
established along the California coast
from San Diego to San Francisco. The
college OF San Fernando offered to cede
to the college of Orizaba the nine mis-
sions from Santa Ynez south. The
southern friars protested "that the
southern establishments are the richest
and most desirable in respect of climate,
soil and products, is as clear as the noon
day sun !" and spoke OF the 10 northern
missions as worthless skeletons"
Their protest was successful and the
cession WAS not made.
AS the country increased in popula-
ton the conflict between the diverse in
terests of the two sections continued to
increase. So rapidly did it develop,
that two great political parties grew up
in the Mexican province of Alta Cali
fornia. They were known respectively
as the arribefios or norteflos upper or
northern people, and the abajefios or
sureilos (lower or southern people). AL
varado, Vallejo, the Castros, Haro and
of a.
norteflos. The Picos. the Carrillos,
Echeandia, Bandini and Stearns were at
the head OF the surenos.
The very first Mexican legislature,
which met at Monterey, in 1922, inaugu-
rated the opening of long and bitter
quarrel between Northern and Southern
California. Nor did it cease among the
Mexicans until the time of American
occupation. And, since that event, there
has been no cessation. The natural
causes underlying it still exist, and so
long as they continue will their effects
follow.
The opening of the quarrel at Mon
terey began with struggle for suprem-
acy between the nortefios and the sur
eflos. Luis Arguello, nortefio, was
elected to command during Governor
OOld d dUbtuCc Ill N1oAlCO, duu bu6 sur
efios were bitter over their defeat.
When Echeandia became governor his
preference for Southern California,
which came from his love for its superb
or climate, provoked the enmity of the
nortef1os. He convened the Legislature
at San Diego. The nortefios revolted in
force at Santa Barbara.
of -
caused a general revolution throughout
California, which led to his overthrow
in 1882, and Echeandia again became
governor, with the capital temporarily
at Los Angeles.
The nortef1os revolted and elected A.
V. Zamorano governor. with their cap
ital at Monterey. Echeandia and Ia
morano agreed to the division of the
territory, and this state of things contin-
ued until the central government sent
out Governor Figueroa in 1884.
In 1885 decree of President Barra-
gan of the Mexican republic erected the
town of Los Angeles into a city and
nortefios controlled the legislature, and
geles. Among other reasons that it's
iACLnUOi5 o SnNO lot lCdidlAluS dU mVulo-
rey was that it mad "mlld climate and
fertile SOIL"
In 1885 the nortefios revolted and de-
posed Governor Gutierrez. and, with J.
B. Alvarado at the head of their party,
issued pronunciamiento declaring
California free and independent of Mexi-
co. The surefios protested, but Alvar-
ado organized company of American
rihemen and crushed southern opp osl-
tion. When commissioner from the
central government appeared, Alvarado
took the oath of allegiance, and the
California republic collapsed.
Gen Manuel Micheltorena succeeded
Alvarado in 1912. His convict soldiers
gave such dissatisfaction that there was
a general revolt. The no,tei1os alone
were not able to depose him. Michel
torena adopted Alvarado's plan, and
raised force of American allies under
General Su.ter, and Alvarado retreated
to Los Angeles He was there COM
PEELED to concede the leadership to Pho
Pico.
A company OF Americans was raised
to Offset Suffers forces. When the op-
posing forces met on the bloodless bat
tle-ground of the Alamo, the Americans
combined, Micheltorena surrendered
Pico became governor, and the legisla-
ture went to Los Angeles, which then
became the capital de facto, and so
remained until American occupation in
1S46.
In lS49 the first constitutional con-
vention met at Montarav Southarn