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those of the corresponding officers in the Atlantic and western states.

In order to complete this organization with the least possible delay, the undersigned, in virtue of power in him vested, does hereby appoint the first of August next as the day for holding a special election for delegates to a general convention, and for filling the offices of judges of the Superior Court, prefects and sub-prefects, and all vacancies in the offices of 1st alcalde (or judge of first instance) alcaldes, justices of the peace, and town councils. The judges of the Superior Court and District Prefects are by law executive appointments, but being desirous that the wishes of the people should be fully consulted, the governor will appoint such persons as may receive the plurality of votes in their respective districts, provided they are competent and eligible to the office. Each district will therefore elect a prefect and two sub-prefects, and fill the vacancies in the offices of 1st alcalde (or judge of first instance) and of alcaldes. One judge of the Superior Court will be elected in the districts of San Diego, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara; one in the districts of San Luis Obispo and Monterey; one in the districts of San Jose and San Francisco; and one in the districts of Sonoma, Sacramento and San Joaquin. The salaries of the judges of the Superior Court, the prefects and judges of first instance, are regulated by the governor, but cannot exceed, for the first, $4000 per annum, for the second $2500, and for the third, $1500. These salaries will be paid out of the civil fund which has been formed from the proceeds of the customs, provided no instructions to the contrary are received from Washington. The law requires that the judges of the Superior Court meet within three months after its organization, and form a tariff of fees for the different territorial courts and legal officers, including all alcaldes, justices of the peace, sheriffs, constables, &c.

All local alcaldes, justices of the peace, and members of town councils elected at the special election, will continue in office till the 1st January, 1850, when their places will be supplied by the persons

who may be elected at the regular annual election which takes place in November, at which time the election of members to the territorial assembly will also be held.

The general convention for forming a state constitution or a plan for territorial government, will consist of 37 delegates, who will meet in Monterey on the first day of September next. These delegates will be chosen as follows:

The district of San Diego will elect two delegates, of Los Angeles four, of Santa Barbara two, of San Luis Obispo two, of Monterey five, of San Jose five, of San Francisco five, of Sonoma four, of Sacramento four, of San Joaquin four. Should any district think itself entitled to a greater number of delegates than the above named, it may elect supernumeraries, who, on the organization of the convention, will be admitted or not at the pleasure of that body.

The places for holding the election will be as follows: San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, Los Angeles, San Fernando, San Buenaventura, Santa Barbara, Nepoma, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Juan Baptiste, Santa Cruz, San Jose de Guadalupe, San Francisco, San Rafael, Bodega, Sonoma, Benicia. (The places for holding election in the Sacramento and San Joaquin districts will be hereafter designated.) The local alcaldes and members of the ayuntamientos or town councils, will act as judges and inspectors of elections. In case there should be less than three such judges and inspectors present at each of the places designated on the day of election, the people will appoint some competent persons to fill the vacancies. The polls will be open from 10 oclock a. M. to 4 P. M., or until sunset, if the judges deem it neces

sary.

Every free male citizen of the United States and of Upper California, 21 years of age, and actually resident in the district where the vote is offered, will be entitled to the right of suffrage. All citizens of Lower California who have been forced to come to this territory on account of having rendered assistance to the American troops during the recent war with Mexico,

should also be allowed to vote in the district where they actually reside.

Great care should be taken by the inspectors that votes are received only from bona fide citizens actually resident in the country. These judges and inspectors, previous to entering upon the duties of their office, should take an oath faithfully and truly to perform these duties. The returns should state distinctly the number of votes received for each candidate, be signed by the inspectors, sealed, and immediately transmitted to the secretary of state for file in his office.

The following are the limits of the several districts: 1st. The district of San Diego is bounded on the south by Lower California, on the west by the sea, on the north by the parallel of latitude including the mission San Juan Capistrano, and on the east by the Colorado river.

2d. The district of Los Angeles is bounded on the south by the district of San Diego, on the west by the sea, on the north by the Santa Clara river, and a parallel of latitude running from the head waters of that river to the Colorado.

3d. The district of Santa Barbara is bounded on the south by the district of Los Angeles, on the west by the sea, on the north by the Santa Inez river, and a parallel of latitude existing from the head waters of that river to the summit of the coast range of mountains.

4th. The district of San Luis Obispo is bounded on the south by the district of Santa Barbara, on the west by the sea, on the north by a parallel of latitude including San Miguel, and on the east by the coast range of mountains.

5th. The district of Monterey is bounded on the south by the district of San Luis, and on the north and east by a line running east from New Year's point to the summit of the Santa Clara range of mountains, thence along the summit of that range to the Arroya de los Leagas, and a parallel of latitude extending to the summit of the coast range, and along that range to the district of San Luis.

6th. The district of San Jose is bounded on the north by the straits of Carquenas, the bay of San Francisco, the Arroya of San Francisquito, and a parallel of latitude to the summit of Santa Clara mountains, on the west and south by the Santa Clara mountains and the district of Monterey, and on the east by the coast range.

7th. The district of San Francisco is bounded on the west by the sea, on the south by the districts of San Jose and Monterey, and on the east and north by the bay of San Francisco, including the islands in that bay.

8th. The district of Sonoma includes all the country bounded by the sea, the bays of San Francisco and Suisun, the Sacramento river and Oregon.

9th. The district of Sacramento is bounded on the north and west by the Sacramento river, on the east by the Sierra Nevada, and on the south by the Cosumnes river.

10th. The district of San Joaquin includes all the country south of the Sacramento district, and lying between the coast range and the Sierra Nevada.

The method here indicated to attain what is desired by all, viz., a more perfect political organization, is deemed the most direct and safe that can be adopted, and one fully authorized by law. It is the course advised by the president, and by the secretaries of state and of war of the United States, and is calculated to avoid the innumerable evils which must necessarily result from any attempt at illegal local legislation. It is therefore hoped that it will meet the approbation of the people of California, and that all good citizens will unite in carrying it into execution.

Given at Monterey, California, this third day of June, A. D. 1849. B. RILEY, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A. and Governor of California.

Official-H. W. HALLECK,

Brevet Capt. and Secretary of State.

ACT OF ADMISSION.

AN ACT

FOR THE ADMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA INTO THE UNION.

Whereas, the people of California having presented a constitution, and asked admission into the Union, which constitution was submitted to congress by the president of the United States, by message, dated February thirteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty, and which, on due examination, is found to be republican in its form of government:

Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled, That the state of California shall be one, and is hereby declared to be one, of the United States of America, and admitted into the union on an equal footing with the original states, in all respects whatever.

SECTION 2. And be it further enacted, That, until the representatives in congress shall be apportioned, according to an actual enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States, the state of California shall be entitled to two representatives in congress.

SECTION 3. And be it further enacted, That the said state of California is admitted into the Union upon the express condition that the people of said state, through their legislature or otherwise, shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the public lands within its limits, and shall pass no law and do no act whereby the title of the United States to, and right to dispose of, the same shall be impaired or questioned; and that they shall never lay any tax, or assessment of any description whatsoever, upon the public domain of the United States, and in no case shall non-resident proprietors, who are citizens

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