The San Francisco call., 1895-05-18
PETER q. BURNETT.


Peter FL. Burnett. the first Governor of
California, is dead. To the world at large
this announcement will hardly have any
other effect than that of recalling the
rapidity with which California has grown
from the sparsely settled region with
scarcely town worthy of the name within
its borders, to rich and populous COM
monwealth containing a metropolis rank
ing among the most noted cities of the
globe. 1t is natural that this should be SO,
The growth of the State has been so mar
velous, and in his later years the life of
the Ex-Governor has been SO quiet and Sc
cluded, it can hardly be otherwise than
that to the general public the swift growth
of the State should be everything, and the
man little more than name
To older Californians, however, and par
ticularly to the pioneers, the death of
Burnett will recall much more than the
growth of the State. They will consider
the man him self, and do honor to his
noble memory. California was fortunate
in her first Governor. He was one of the
brave men who came to this coast not
merely to seek for gold, but to lay the
foundations of great commonwealth. In
an interview with member of the CALL
staff, little more than a year ago, the
venerable old hero himself stated this fact
in these words: "When / left my home in
Nashville, had three objects in view: To
improve my wife's health, to pay my
debts, and to help establish an important
American community on the Pacific
Coast" Thus patriotism, combined with
tender love and an honorable ambition for
success in life, induced him to make his
home here, and these commingled mo-
tives made him the honest gentleman,
the true man and the honored ci tizen in
all the walks of life.
1t is hard to overrate the value of the in
fuence of such men as Burnett in the early
days of CALIFORNIA; S history as an Ameri-
can State. In the license, the bravado and
the lawlessness of the time, he and the
men like him, who stood up manfully for
obedience to law with right reverence for
religion, were the true builders of the COM
monwealth. It is significant also that this
man of Southern birth, who not only never
fought duel, but who never hesitated to
condemn the custom and those who prac-
ticed it, even at that time when it was
most honored and observed, was elected
the first Governor of the new common
wealth. This fact attests that respect for
law and for men of high religious prin-
ciples was more common among the early
pioneers of California than is generally
supposed. The aiority of them evidently
were not mere adventurers, but sturdy
law-abiding Americans, who came here to
make, not a fortune only, but to found
State.
From his first entering into the State,
Burnett displayed genuine California
patriotism. He never cherished any ideas
of making fortune here and returning
East to spend it as so many others desired.
In his letter resigning the Governorship of
the State he said: SIN the humble sphere
of private citizen 1 shall still cherish for
her that ardent attachment she so Justly
merits. Within her serene and sunny linn
its expect to spend the remainder of my
days, many or few, and should an unfor-
tunate crisis arise when such sacrifice
might be available and necessary for her
safety, my limited fortune and force and
my life shall be at her disposal" These
words were not an empty protestation.
They were the utterances Of brave and
loyal heart and meant in all sincerity what
was said.
In the wonderful future that lies before
California the succession of men who fol-
low one another in the high Office of Gov
ernor will soon produce list too long to
be remembered, and even history will do
little more than record their names. He,
however, whose high fortune it was to be
first in the Office will, by that very fact, be
assured of more than ordinary remem-
brance. Future generations will desire to
know what manner of man California hon.
ored in that early day, and to crafty that
knowledge the career of Burnett will be
not infrequently studied. His own pub
ished works will assist in making this
study more interesting and more accurate.
Fortunate it is for the honor of the State
that our first Governor was man whose
career we can submit to the closest scrut-
my. He was strong type of the best
American manhood of his day and we'll
deserved to be chosen as the first magis-
trate of California.