History of the State of California Part 16

"SHALL CALIFORNIA BE ADMITTED?--We desire once more to state calmly and firmly the grievances under which the State of California labors, in order that Congress, in her hesitation, which may terminate in an open refusal to admit us as equal sharers in the benefits, as we are of the burdens of the general government, may not act in ignorance of the true state of feeling existing here upon a point so vital to our future.

"California feels that she has been made the sport of gambling politicians long enough. This is the universal sentiment of one hundred thousand citizens of this State, expecting daily reinforcements which will swell the number to an aggregate of two hundred and fifty thousand before the second session of the present Congress. She feels that such a ma.s.s of men, born under the flag of the Union, have a right to some of the privileges which they were taught to suppose it typified. She feels that she has no right to be taxed and not protected--to be taxed, and not represented, to be taxed, and nothing but taxed. Nothing else has been done for her. We hear of no Indian agent in the country. American citizens are slaughtered weekly if not daily by savages on our border. An agent of the Postoffice Department has been sent here, but his power to put into successful operation a thorough mail system, commensurate with the wants of the people, has been effectually crippled from the want of an appropriation to meet the necessary expenses. We are without admiralty courts; yet the interests of the commerce of the Pacific are centring in the Bay of San Francisco. We are paying millions into the treasury of the United States yearly. Our custom-house is thronged daily with captains and consignees of vessels, paying government dues, which eventually come from the pockets of the citizens of the whole State; yet there is hardly a possibility that one dollar in a thousand will ever be expended for our benefit.

"This state of things is unnatural--too much so for a quiet endurance, unless stern necessity is at the bottom. Were there any reason why we should be treated thus, we could patiently suffer on. But there is none. And now a sentiment is fast gaining ground here, that it is the intention of Congress--or a portion of Congress, to throw us back upon a territorial organization. It may not be amiss to state that California, under no circ.u.mstances, will give up her State organization. She has just escaped from the crudities and unintelligibilities of the Mexican code. Under it, she would still be laboring, had the action of Congress been awaited. Neither to this state of va.s.salage to inst.i.tutions foreign to the habits and education of her citizens, nor to a second va.s.salage of territorial government under Congress, will she submit now. She knows her interests too well for this. If we are driven to take matters into our own keeping, the responsibility rests not upon us, neither should the odium, if any attaches. Should Congress ever come to its senses, and do what naked justice demanded months ago, California will ever be ready and proud to form one of the States of the Union; but it is asking too much that she should offer herself a willing sacrifice on the altar of demagogues."

This is strongly and firmly said; and we hope that it will exercise some influence on those to whose attention it is directed. Nothing can be more unjust in politics than taxation without a due compensation of protection and of law. There is scarcely any prospect, however, that California will be required to go back to a territorial organization.

Such a request would be absurd in the highest degree, and none but ultras recommend it.

Whether California be admitted into the Union at the present session of Congress, or not, we may consider her Const.i.tution and many of her laws necessary for carrying out the provisions of the Const.i.tution, as fixed and operative. We have then, in a knowledge of their laws, a view of the character of society in California, in many particulars, but there are others which require further observation. One feature strikes the observer at first glance. It is the variety of nation which marks the population of the princ.i.p.al cities of California.

There may be seen the rapid, yet prudent Yankee, with a sharp eye to the main chance, and a ready comprehension of the consequences of a bargain or a speculation; the cool, slow, and heavy-moving Englishman, wis.h.i.+ng to be sure of his game, and, therefore, late in grasping for it; the lively and sociable Frenchman, contrasting appearances and manners with things in Paris; the coa.r.s.e-looking German, with a lively conception of the wealth of the country, and a deep consideration of the means of grasping a goodly share of it; the half-Spanish native of California, with his love of indolence, and easy of satisfaction; the Chilian, with the ferocity and the cowardice of the descendants of the Spaniards, and loving fandangoes and riding horses, as intensely as the Californians, the Chinese, with dirty, but industrious habits, and the native Indians--a mean, degraded specimen of that n.o.ble race that once were lords of the American forests.

At the present time, it is a matter of doubt, whether the Americans or the foreigners predominate in the population of California. It is certain that the former have things pretty much their own way in the various cities and in the mines. But that may be from a want of unity of action among the foreigners. The habits and modes of life belonging to the Americans are generally prevalent in the cities; but in the smaller and older towns, the native Californians conduct every thing in the old Spanish mode. The difference between the society of Los Angeles and Sacramento City, is wide, and affords a good contrast between the restless, enterprising, utilitarian spirit of the Americans, and the indolent, pleasure-loving spirit of the Californians. With the Americans, in the cities where they are in the majority, business is the uppermost consideration upon all occasions, and profit and loss, and chances of obtaining a competency, the constant subject of thought. With the Californians, the enjoyment of the present, which alone is theirs, is at all times a matter of prime importance; and gambling, drinking, dancing, guitar-playing, and riding on horseback, are the princ.i.p.al sources of their pleasures.

Which of these modes of pa.s.sing away life is the most philosophical, we leave to the speculative. But it is apparent in California, that the energy of the American character is exercising a great influence on the descendants of the Spaniards. Their spirit is infectious. In some of the towns upon the coast, one half of the buildings are occupied by persons who have emigrated from the Eastern States; and the contrast between their log and brick houses, and the _adobe_ houses of the Californians, is singular, and seems as if the old dead looking trunk of the tree had suddenly sent out new branches full of life and freshness.

All the vices consequent upon a heterogeneous population, suddenly thrown together and stimulated to an extraordinary degree of activity, have fully exhibited themselves in California. Nearly every body in the mining regions carries deadly weapons of some sort, and with the promptings of avarice, and the excitement of pa.s.sion, many shocking, secret murders, and many open, revengeful encounters are continually occurring. The practice of carrying deadly weapons can only be abolished when a stronger feeling of security, induced by a confidence in the protection of the laws, shall take the place of constant dread.

The mining population is of as mixed a character as that in the commercial cities; and national jealousies will occur occasionally.

The elation consequent upon successful gold digging and speculating, leads to excess in drinking and gambling, and these lead to frequent quarrels and deadly encounters. The remedy for these things is only to be found in the reaction to which a few years will lead, when the power of the law shall be supreme throughout the gold region.

The princ.i.p.al thing which has contributed in some degree to influence the prospect and the labors of the miners, is the government tax upon the foreigners who wish to work upon the public lands in digging and was.h.i.+ng gold. The tax is certainly a just one, but many are of opinion that it is too high. A lighter tax would more readily receive the a.s.sent of the ma.s.s of foreigners; but whether it is not just that they should pay a tax of eight dollars for every ounce of gold they obtain from the land of others, is another question. The greater portion of the gold region belongs to the government, and was paid for by the government. The people of the United States should, therefore, have the sole right to occupy it; and it is but just, that those people of foreign nations who wish to reap a profit from it either by digging gold or cultivating the ground, should pay for the use of it.

The effect of the tax is, that those who must pay it, either must give up mining or work harder to reap sufficient profit. In either case, the country is benefited.

The mining region is constantly increasing in extent. The _placers_ first worked still yield a profit sufficient to reward the gold seeker for his labor, and the frequent discovery of new ones by parties prospecting, keeps up the heat of excitement. The region is constantly extending towards the north. The vicinity of Trinity River is the most northern part of California where gold is obtained in any considerable quant.i.ty, and the source of the San Joaquin, is the most southern. The entire region embraced between these two points is known to abound in the precious metal, and is traversed by the gold "prospecters." Of the gold obtained, a great quant.i.ty--a third, at least, remains in the country. Another is carried out of California by the foreigners, and the remainder is sent to the Atlantic States of the Union. This is but a rough estimate; but it seems warranted by the facts of the number of foreigners in the country, and the necessary current money of the residents. Certain it is, that were we to judge of the quant.i.ty of gold obtained in California, by the amount received in the United States, we would fall far too short of the truth.

The growth of the commerce of California necessarily carries with it the growth of all those cities and towns which have any commercial advantages, or which are connected with the various ports. Not only has San Francisco constantly in her harbor a tremendous fleet of merchant vessels from all parts of the world, pouring into her lap the commodities necessary to a new country and a rapid building city, and Sacramento, the commerce of the mines continually pa.s.sing through it, but all the towns along the coast have felt the impulse, and have become the seat of a traffic of some sort. San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Pedro, and Monterey, are all commercial ports, which have become the resort of those traders who wish to escape the crowd of compet.i.tors to be met with at the more northern towns, and to have a pleasant place of residence besides. Los Angeles, twenty-five miles from the port of San Pedro is the centre of an extensive inland trade, and from its being a delightful place of residence, will contribute to the building up of San Pedro in a greater degree than the commerce of San Pedro can influence it.

At present, San Francisco is a city of about thirty thousand inhabitants, and in spite of the repeated visitations of the calamity of destructive fire, it has suffered no stoppage in its rapid progress. On the contrary, these fires seem to give a new impulse to the energy and enterprise of its inhabitants, and, by impressing upon them the utility of building their houses and stores of the more substantial brick, to have been of permanent benefit. Like the water of a rapid river, which, meeting with a serious obstacle in its course, is checked for the moment and then, having gathered new strength, surmounts the barrier and springs forward with renewed energy, San Francisco has pursued her course. The late fire, decidedly the most disastrous the new city has experienced, produced for awhile a general stand in business. But the go-aheadative principle was too strong for a continuance of a stagnation; and all the sufferers set about doing their utmost to retrieve their fortunes. Success must wait upon such persevering energy.

Sacramento City is fast treading upon the heels of her commercial sister city. Improvements are constantly being made to the appearance of the city and the comfort of its inhabitants. A levee is in course of construction, which, it is thought, will effectually protect the city from being flooded during the season of the rise of the river.

The overland emigration of which Sacramento is the goal, contributes to swell the population rapidly; and, during the rainy season the greater portion of the population of the northern mines flock into the city for refuge till the digging season commences.

Stockton, Benicia, San Jose, and Sutter are each increasing the number of their residents and their trade very fast. The first is the depot of the southern mines; the second, the military and naval station, chosen by the government officers; the third is the capital of the State; the last is a thriving town, near Sacramento, but in a better situation.

One of the most interesting features of California is the number of the missions in various parts of the State. They are and will continue to be interesting, because of their age, and the self-denying and energetic labors with which they are connected. They were the centres, established by a few Catholic priests, from which the rays of enlightenment and civilized enjoyment were spread to the native Indians of California. Each mission was a little princ.i.p.ality, with many leagues of land attached, with some thousand head of cattle, and all the neighboring Indians subject to the control of the padre, and cultivating the land for their own and the padre's benefit. In 1800, these missions were sixteen in number, and three only have been added since that time. They are named and located as follows:--San Rafael and San Francisco Solano, north of San Francis...o...b..y; Dolores, near San Francisco; Santa Clara and San Jose, near Pueblo San Jose; San Juan, Santa Cruz and Carmel, near Monterey; Soledad, San Antonio, and San Miguel, in the valley of Salina River; San Luis Obispo, La Purisima, Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara, and San Buenaventura, near Santa Barbara; San Gabriel and San Fernando, near Los Angeles; and San Luis Rey, San Juan Capistrano and San Diego, on the coast, south of Los Angeles.

The wealth and power of these missions have fled, and they are all, more or less, in a state of decay. The Indians who were prospering under the care of the priests have either taken refuge in the mountains or linger about the old mission buildings, in a degraded and ignorant state. The immense quant.i.ty of land which was once attached to them has been taken from them from time to time, and now they but seem the ruins of former greatness. The beauty of the country surrounding those of the missions which are still existing, and the picturesque appearance of those which are in ruins make them well worthy a visit to the lover of the antiquated.

The usual attendant of the American enterprise, the printing press, has found its way to California, to contribute to the information and convenience of the people. Several papers are in extensive circulation in the cities and towns, and projects for others have been formed. The princ.i.p.al are the _Alta Californian_, the _Pacific News_, the _Courier_, and the _Placer Times_. The three first are published in San Francisco, and the last at Sacramento.

The want of facilities for transportation must be severely felt in the interior settlements of California. Steam vessels of the swiftest and most commodious character are the means of easy communication and transportation between San Francisco and the towns on Suisan Bay and the Sacramento, as far as Sacramento City. Communication by the same means will doubtless, soon be established between the different ports on the coast. But railroads and ca.n.a.ls are requisites for increasing the social communication and drawing the people of all parts of the State more closely together. These, however, will not be long in demand, after the State has been admitted into the Union. The companies for such purposes will feel secure in their charter, and receive a.s.sistance from the government. There is nothing more efficacious in binding a people together and maintaining peace and harmony of action, than the mechanical facility of communication. The Atlantic States of the Union afford plentiful ill.u.s.tration and evidence of this a.s.sertion. Mark the differences of habit and sentiment in those States, where the means of intercourse between the inhabitants are comparatively few and far between. The interests of the different sections of a large State are of course, dissimilar, and produce the widest separation of feeling and opinion, which cannot be harmonized without the facilities of intercourse afforded by railroads and ca.n.a.ls. In no State are there greater means of communication between the people of the different sections, than in Ma.s.sachusetts; and in no State is there a more harmonious action in the Legislative department of the government. Let the railroads and ca.n.a.ls be so constructed in California as soon as possible, and the effect will be the same.

We have elsewhere mentioned and characterized the different harbors of California. There has been one other surveyed and p.r.o.nounced excellent, and the beginning of a town made upon its sh.o.r.es. This is called Humboldt, after the distinguished traveller. It is about one hundred and seventy-five miles north of San Francisco. The river formerly called Pigeon, but now Trinity, empties into it. The harbor is sheltered from the south-west winds, but is exposed to the north-west. The north-west winds prevail from November till March, and are severe; but the south-west winds during the remainder of the year, are violent, and the harbor that is sheltered from them is considered a good one.

The Indians who inhabit a large portion of California, have been, and will be, the subject of considerable trouble to the white residents.

It is a matter of the first importance for their safety, and that of the Indians themselves, that agents should be sent among them, with power to negotiate and settle all claims made by them and disputes arising between them and the whites, else, a destructive war will be the consequence. They should be induced to relinquish their claims to the soil of California as far as the Sierra Nevada, and receive due compensation therefor. But for the want of properly const.i.tuted agents from the government, they have been either driven from their old haunts by the mountaineers and other settlers, or remain amongst the whites to be a constant source of trouble. The Shoshonees, or Snakes, are the most numerous tribe to be found within the limits of the State, but there are others which are more warlike and untameable.

They have all suffered considerably from the aggressions of the white emigrants, and their attacks upon individuals and parties are but the promptings of revenge, which should be taken into consideration.

Lately, a war of extermination against the whole number of certain tribes was commenced on account of the doings of one or two of them.

Few of them are provided with better weapons than bows and arrows, and, of course, they can make but a poor resistance to the rifles of the white men. In ill.u.s.tration of the treatment of the Indians, we quote an account of the doings of a war party against them, described in the work of a California tourist:--

"A few days before our arrival in the mines, five men from Oregon, named Robinson, Thompson, English, Johnson, and Wood, were murdered by Indians while engaged in gold digging. Having but one rifle, they imprudently left it in their tent. This the Indians some thirty or forty in number, first secured, and then commenced their attack with bows and arrows. The Oregonians defended themselves some time, repeatedly driving the Indians with no other weapons than the stones they found on the _bar_ where they were at work, but upon reaching the edge of the _bar_, they were each time obliged again to retreat. At length three of them, stuck full of arrows, were exhausted with loss of blood and overcome; while the other two attempted to escape by crossing the fork, one succeeding in reaching the other side, but both finally meeting the fate of the others. One of the warriors of the tribe who partic.i.p.ated in these murders was afterwards taken prisoner, and furnis.h.i.+ng the above narration, his life was spared on condition that he should guide the whites to their _rancheria_.

"Accordingly, on the 16th of April, a war party was made up of about twenty young mountaineers, mostly Oregon men, and including also the young Greenwoods. Well mounted, and equipped with the enormous gingling California spurs, they rode up to Old Greenwood's for a review from the old man preparatory to starting. Each man carried besides his inseparable rifle, a long Spanish knife usually mounted with silver, and stuck in the folds of his deerskin leggings; and many were also provided with a brace of pistols or bowie knife, worn in the red Mexican sash around the waist. Old Greenwood shouted 'Mind the scalps and squaws for me, and be sure you bring 'em all in, boys,' and away they went, at a thundering _lope_, eager for revenge."

The day afterwards, the party returned. They were preceded by a party of Peruvians and Chilians, with a number of their _peones_, or slaves.

"Following closely this motley group, came on foot a body of about sixty California Indians. Warriors and boys, squaws with _papooses_ tied on boards and slung at the back, all were prisoners. Cl.u.s.tered together like sheep driven to the slaughter, they hastened through the gorge with uncertain steps, the perspiration rolling off their faces now pale with fright. Many of them were quite naked, and the men and boys especially, looked more like ourang-outangs than human beings.

"In flank and rear rode the war party, which had left the Culloma Valley two days previous. Every man's rifle lay across the pommel of his saddle, and dangling at both sides hung several reeking scalps.

Among them was a das.h.i.+ng young mountaineer named John Ross, who had two scalps for his share, and sticking in his sash was the red-sheathed bowie knife, which the writer had sold him a few days previous for an ounce of gold dust. Used previously to sever the rinds of pork, or shovel in rice and frijoles, it had now been 'wool gathering' or collecting wigs for old Greenwood's fancy stores.

"'Well done, boys,' shouted Grover, 'you have given it to them this time; now, what's the news?' In reply to this inquiry, we learned that the captured Indian had led them the night before according to promise, to their _rancheria_, on Weber's Creek, where some of them showing fight and others attempting escape, they were fired upon and some twenty to thirty were killed. Their chief fought until shot the third time, rising each time to his knees and discharging his arrows, Ross finally killing, cutting off his head and scalping him. Their _rancheria_ was then searched and burned; the Indians delivering up the papers of the Oregon men, obtained at the time of their murder, and confessing that they had afterwards burned their bodies to ashes on the mountains.

"The subsequent facts were related to the writer by his highly esteemed friend, Mr. Donald Grant, a native of bonnie Scotland, who was one of our party to the mines, and an eye witness to the scene; not having left on his return to San Francisco till the following day.

"Arriving in the Culloma valley with their prisoners, the mountaineers and miners had a grand revel and jollification to celebrate their achievement. During the day most of the prisoners were released, but a few squaws and seven warriors were retained. The latter were questioned and examined relative to their partic.i.p.ation in the murder of the Oregonians. Nothing being elicited to prove their guilt, it was nevertheless determined that they should die; because being bad looking and strong warriors, it was believed they were partic.i.p.ators in the murders. Accordingly the consumption of champaigne and brandy continued till sunset. At that hour the seven Indians were brought forth, and knowing well their fate, one of them put up his hand as a signal, and all leaped along the valley in rapid flight. Quick as thought the rifles began to crack in every direction, while old Greenwood raving around his cabin remonstrated at the deed, tossed his arms aloft with violent denunciation; and stooping down gathered the dust in his palms, and sprinkled it on his head, swearing he was innocent of their blood. Meantime, John Greenwood stood beside the old man in stoic silence, too brave to partic.i.p.ate in the ma.s.sacre, but too much of a crow to utter his disapproval. But frantic with excitement the others thought only of revenge, and the b.a.l.l.s whistling in every direction laid five of the warriors dead in the valley and mortally wounding another, only one escaping unscathed. The dying rays of the sun deserting the b.l.o.o.d.y scene, yet lingered on the mountain top, and the smoke of the discharge rolled in thick volume, like a pall over the corpses of the slain, while that solitary warrior turned from his distant height, to gaze after his companions, a moment in vain. But his heart quivered with vengeance, and the thin white locks of the old man in the valley, still mingled with the gray twilight, like the sackcloth and ashes of despair.

"And this is what they call fighting the Indians! A few days before only, we saw a young mountaineer wild with rage, threaten the life of an American who had ventured to suggest, that the murders committed by these Indians were provoked by many previous murders by the whites, and that they should be avenged by the death of the _guilty_ among the Indians, and not by an _indiscriminate_ slaughter."

We cannot think highly of the civilization of the white men who take such unmerciful and indiscriminate revenge as this. Such are not the means to gain the Indians over to a peace. Revenge only breeds revenge; and those who commit such slaughter in retaliation for the murder of one or two men must look to the consequences.

The great body of the travel to California is at present by way of the Isthmus of Panama; but those who intend to settle permanently in the State, and who will increase the real population of it, take the overland route from Independence, Missouri. The shortest and best route for commercial purposes will soon be opened across Nicaragua.

This will have many advantages over the old Isthmus route, but will not cause that one to be abandoned altogether. Chagres has become somewhat Americanized, and so have Gorgona, Cruces, and Panama. Travel has been somewhat facilitated by the addition of American boats on the Chagres River, and the provision of the mountain mules for the rough road to Panama, in sufficient number to lower the price of travel and decrease the delay.

The facilities of intercourse between California and the States east of the Rocky Mountains will tend to cement her to the Union by all the ties of trade and mutual interest. The people of that State, being at so great a distance from the rest of the States, would seem to be alien to them in interest, and, therefore, that an independent government would contribute most to their prosperity. But mechanical influences--the telegraph--the railroad and the steam vessel--annihilate distance, and will be the means of attaching the Californians to the confederacy. In her union with the other States, there is her strength. She will add much to their wealth and power, but her free inst.i.tutions--entirely American, require the support of the confederacy which produced them--at least, until the State has reached her maturity.

What will be the future California is a question which admits of a ready answer. If she retains her present boundaries, with her extensive sea coast, and her progress bears any proportion to that since the conquest, in fifty years--it is a warranted conclusion--the State will surpa.s.s any of those upon the Atlantic coast. For, what State has such united commercial facilities and vast resources? Where are such internal wealth and such splendid harbors to be found united?

It is probable, however, that the State may be divided, after the population has reached a sufficient number. It is the opinion of some of the members of the present Congress, that there is too much sea coast for one State to possess, and that has been made an objection to her admission into the Union, with her present boundaries. But it is of little weight at this time. After the State has existed a few years, the utility of such a division as is proposed will be manifest or disproved. In the mean time, let California be admitted into the Union as her people have created her, and then she will have every thing necessary for her to go on in the fulfilment of a glorious destiny.

The gold discoveries in New Mexico and Oregon will have but a slight influence on California affairs. Yet for that slight influence, they deserve to be mentioned. The recent discoveries in New Mexico, would seem to indicate that the El Dorado of the early Spanish voyagers has been found, and nearly in the place to which their attention was directed by the Indians. A late number of the Houston Telegraph, says:

"That preparations are in progress in all parts of the State, for a grand expedition to the gold region that has been discovered in New Mexico, not far from the ruins of the celebrated city of Grand Quivira. Gold mines have been found all along the great chain of mountains extending from the sources of the Arkansas and Platte Rivers, by Santa Fe, to the Puerto. Immense excavations are shown along the feet of these mountains, and the ruins of vast cities indicate that these mines were once worked by millions of people. The geographical formations of this region are so similar to those of the gold regions of California, that they appear to be identical, and contain similar deposits of the precious metals. These facts have been made known throughout Texas, and the Telegraph would not be surprised to find that the emigration to the gold region of Texas, in the ensuing autumn, should exceed the emigration to California."

The "consummation devoutly to be wished" has been attained. California has at length been admitted to take her place as a star of the confederated republic. The bill for that object pa.s.sed the House of Representatives on the 7th of September, 1850, by a vote of yeas, one hundred and fifty, nays fifty-six. It had previously pa.s.sed the Senate by a no less decisive majority. The announcement of the pa.s.sage of the bill was received with the greatest enthusiasm by its friends, and considerable excitement upon the part of its opponents. The most constant exertions were made by members from the Southern States to defeat the bill by adjournment and by numerous amendments, but they were unavailing. California triumphed.

CHAPTER XVI.

EVENTS IN CALIFORNIA FROM THE ADMISSION OF THE STATE INTO THE UNION TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF 1853.

Since the foregoing chapters were written, events of considerable importance have transpired in California. Remarkable political steps have been taken, and disastrous accidents by flood and fire have happened.

The crimes of robbery and murder becoming of so frequent occurrence in San Francisco that all security of person and property was threatened with destruction, a meeting of citizens was called, and it was resolved to organize a Vigilance Committee, for the summary trial and execution of offenders. This was an open manifestation of contempt for the const.i.tuted authorities, and they protested against it. But a majority of the citizens of San Francisco, feeling that extraordinary measures were necessary, supported those persons who were appointed upon the Committee. Such officers generally abuse the extensive authority conferred upon them; but justice requires that we should say, that the members of the San Francisco Vigilance Committee acted throughout with a due appreciation of an awful responsibility. Several persons were arrested, tried, convicted and hung. One or two were notorious criminals, who had often been up before the regular courts, and always contrived to elude justice. By the certain and summary measures of the Committee, security was in a great measure restored, and the members then surrendered their authority--acknowledging the entire supremacy of the courts.

In October, 1851, the State elections occurred. The contest was spirited. The Democrats were generally successful. John Bigler, their gubernatorial candidate, was elected by about thirteen hundred majority over Mr. Reading, the candidate of the Whigs. At the succeeding session of the Legislature, John B. Weller, formerly of Ohio, was elected to the Senate of the United States, to succeed John C. Fremont, who had resigned his seat. Mr. Weller had long been a prominent member of the Democratic party. He commanded the Ohio regiment in the Mexican war. It was believed that he would be an efficient colleague of the industrious and practical Senator Gwin.

The Chinese portion of the population of California has gradually become quite numerous. They have proved themselves steady, energetic and useful citizens. Gov. Bigler, however, had a different estimation of them. As they do not respect the oaths and forms established by law for the regulation of business in California, he thought they could not be bound sufficiently in their bargains to suit the business community; and accordingly he recommended to the Legislature, that some measures should be adopted for checking Chinese immigration. This called forth a spirited remonstrance from the Chinese citizens of San Francisco. They argued with much reason, that they had conducted themselves properly ever since they had entered California, and that there was no real ground of complaint against them. The methods of binding them were explained, it is believed, to the general satisfaction of the business community. We should think that Chinese labor would be in great demand in California, as the "Celestials" not only work for less than the Americans, but can endure more toil and exposure.