The San Francisco call., 1896-09-10

later, that the American flag was waving not
only over Yerba Buena but throughout the
whole country from there north TO Suffers
Fort and that it had been hailed everywhere
with satisfaction on account of the protection
it promised to persons and property.
The Mexican War; begun just previous to
this event, placed California safe within the
protecting arms of the United States Govern
ment. Let us now consider the manner in
which the thousands of immigrants who came
into California after the discovery of gold in
1S48 conducted themselves with a view of
observing the intense spirit of patriotism and
love of country that influenced their actions
Remember, they were far away from home
and kindred, and the influence of the staid
manners and customs of older communities.
Woman, with her gentle and restraining in
huence, was not among them. They were in
country having no local government, as ap-
piled to particular localities, yet of themselves
they devised and enforced laws for their own
government-wise, effective and efficient. Not
withstanding the mad rush OF hundreds to
some newly discovered "diggings," and the
absence of any law to the size or possession
of claims they arranged all of these matters
without quarrel difficulty of any nature.
Order, justice and courtesy reigned supreme.
Patches of few square feet of ground, teeming
with the yellow metal for which each individ-
ual in the camp was striving, were as sacred,
neIQ Dy mutual consent, as JnOugn possessed
by letters patent or held by title deeds.
In no community were people more charita-
BILE or generous. Nowhere there less
crime. In hundreds of instances sick, disa-
bled and broken-down miners were returned
to their Eastern homes by their fellow-miners
with sufficient ''stake' given them to keep
want and hunger from their door for many
days. As the population increased, the ne
eessity for a better form of government be-
came apparent, and, pursuant to the call of
Governor Riley. the constitutional convention
met at Cotton Hall in Monterey, September l.
1849. The result of the lsbors of that conven-
tion was a constitution better than any of the
other thirty State constitutions then in ex-
| istence. At the election on November 13 fol-
lowing, the constitution was adopted by an
| almost unanimous vote of the people, and on
December 10 the first Legislature under that
! constitution met at San Jose and proceeded in
! the framing of laws for the new State yet to
! be. For over three months the Legislature
remained in session, and some of the wisest
| legislation ever enacted was the result OF their
| labors No member of that Legislature had
the collar of the railroad round his neck, or
was there to obey the behest of any political
boss. The people of the State of California
would have Jared much better had other later
Legislatures taken this one for q model and
! labored with equal zeal solely for the good of
| the State.
Then began the wrangle as to the proper
! boundaries for California and whether or not
| If admitted she should be free or a slave
State; Clay, Webster, Calhoun, Seward and
| other great statesmen engaging in the debate.
| Gwin Fremont, Wright and Gilbert, the Sena-
tors and Representatives from California were
knocking at the doors of Congress for admis-
sion, that they might enter and take their
seats. over the admission of no other State
| has there ever been such q contention, but
finally the prayer OF California was granted,
and on the 9th of September, 1850, the bill
! admitting her to statehood was signed by Pres
idenI Fillmore. OF the effect this action had
on the history of the Nation the historian of the
future may tell us much. Without the aid OF
] California and her millions of gold who can
tell what the issue OF the rebellion might have
been7 OF the internal struggles contended
with, of the frustrated attempts to hand the
new State over to the South, 1 have not time to
| speak.