The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-22

enlightened community endured so made
ouate legal system and SO precarious an
administration. The early Californian
leaders Castro, Vallejo and Pico) were too
discreet to attempt an expulsion of the
Americans after the conquest; and the
Americans were not permitted to throw off
the unsavory Mexican law. The persistent
desire for admission into the Federal
Union was itself doubtless a bar TO the
much-needed local organization. The pro-
found National significance of this new ac-
QUESTION at a time when there was but one
question in American politics is the key
that must be constantly in the hand of the
student who would gain comprehensive
view of the local distracted situation.
Slave extension created California; Cali
fornia effectually checked slave extension.
The American population OF California
during 1876 and 1847 was very small,
widely scattered, and altogether in a
position extremely disadvantageous for
efficient, united political action of any
kind. But it had become evident
to the settlers that the coun-
try was destined to be permanently
American; and it is not surprising that
clamor began to arise for American laws
and institutions, and that expressions of
with the impotent Mexican
Government and seemingly harsh military
be charged to the discredit of the early
settlers that they thus manifested dissat-
isfaction with the existing order OF things
and evinced an earnest and persistent de-
sire for organized government. They were.
for the most part, honest energetic and
intelligent pioneers who had been accus-
toned to law and order. California being no
longer under the corrupt and despotic rule
of Mexico, they were not unreasonable in
hatfa bn tpd
States. But their greatest grievance was
the very want of law adequate to the pro-
lection of life and property, and to the
complete administration of Justice. As the
population increased causes for disaffec-
ton multiplied. Those Americans who
had lived under the Mexican regime had
learned to accommodate themselves meas
urably to the existing conditions and to
the use of the Spanish language; but in
proportion as the American population in
creased after the conquest, and gradually
gained the ascendency of numbers, it was
unreasonable TO expect the new corners to
adapt themselves TO the effete Mexican
laws, at best only partially perpetuated
and imperfectly administered, and labor
iously to acquire mastery of language
plainly and speedily being superseded by
their own English.
While awaiting news of the close of the
war with Mexico and a scheme for civil
government from Washington came the
discovery of gold. The news was being
the tide of immigration had
begun. The already growing desire for
government was greatly accel-
Grated. The need was almost infinitely in
creased and better administration OF JUS
tice seemed to be absolutely imperative
Could honest Americans hope longer for
the promised civil organization from
Washington, or should they themselves
take the initiative?
In the spring of 1S49 General Riley
Colonel Mason as de facto Gov
ernor of California. He recognized the
grave difficulty of undertaking to admin
ister the civil affairs in a province which
was neither State nor an organized Ter
ritory; he desired to keep the military au-
thority, so intolerable to the people, as
perfectly hid from view as possible.
While the undisputed fact of his military