PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.

247

population came greater traffic, increased and varied supplies, and new industries, comforts, and conveniences of every grade.

The progression made by California during the first two years of the golden era is remarkable, not only for its individuality, but for its rapidity, and as being taken by a community of energetic and intelligent men, aided by the appliances of their age. The main considerations for the present are the suddenness, magnitude, and mixed composition of the gathering, the predominating and marked influence of Americans from the first, and the peculiar features evolved therefrom, and in connection with the adventurous trip, the mania for enrichment, the general opulence, sex limitation, camp life, and climate. Note especially the reckless self-reliance which braved hardship and dangers by sea and land, in solitude and amidst the mongrel crowd, and marked its advance by upturned valleys and ravines; by the deviated course of rivers, the living evidence of settlements and towns that sprang up in a day, or the mute eloquence of their ruins; by the transformed wilderness and the busy avenues of traffic; by thronged roads and steam-furrowed rivers. Note the lusty exuberance which trod down obstacles and lightly treated reverses; lightened work with the spirit of play, and carried play into extravagance, and all the while tempering avarice with a whole-souled liberality Note the elevation of labor and equalization of ranks, which, rejecting empty pretensions and exalting honor and other principles, elevated into prominence the best natural types of manhood, physical and mental, for the strain of life in the mines demanded a strong frame and constitution, and in other fields the prizes fell to the shrewd and energetic This wild game and gambol could not pass without deplorable excesses, but even these had a manly stamp. Vice was more prominent than general, however. Deceived by the all-absorbing loudness of its aspect and outcry, writers are led to exaggerate the extent. On the

other hand, the sudden abundance of means exploded economic habits in general, and the prevalence of high prices and speculative ideas, together with the absence of restraining family ties, did not tend to promote prudence.

In this short, spirited race between representatives of all nationalities and classes, save the very poor and the rich, all started under certain primitive conditions, unfettered by traditional and conventional forms, yet assisted by the training and resources derived from their respective cultures. Some aimed short-sightedly only for the nearest golden stake, and this gained, a few retired contented; most of them, however, continued in pursuit of ever-flitting visions. Others, with more forethought and enterprise, enlisted wider agencies, organization, machinery, and for a greater goal; and seizing other opportunities by the way, they multiplied the chances of success in different directions. While accustomed to subdue the wilderness, Yankee character and institutions have here demonstrated their versatility and adaptiveness under somewhat different conditions, and in close contest with those of other nationalities, by taking the decisive lead in evolving from magnificent disorder the framework for a great commonwealth, the progress of which structure is presented in the succeeding chapters.82

82 For fuller and additional authorities bearing on early California society, I refer to Burnett's Recoll. of Past, MS., i.-ii., passim; Bartlett's Statement, MS., 2-3, 7-9; Barry and Patten's Men and Mem., 46, 61-92, 144–8, 223, 251, 351; Carson's Early Recoll., 21, 25-6, 29; Janssen's Vida y Av., 198; Armstrong's 49 Experiences, MS., 8, 12; Larkin's Doc., vi. 41, 43, 51-2, 66, 144, 172, 175, 195, 198; vii. 92, 140, 206, 219, 231, 287, 338; Clarke's Statement, MS., 1-2; Hyde's Hist. Facts on Cal., MS., 9-13; Dow's Vig. Com., MS., 2, 5; Davis' Glimpses, MS., 265-78: Farnham's Cal., 22-7, 271-4; Fay's Historical Facts, MS., 1-3, 10; Fernandez, Cal., 184, 189-92; Annals of S. F., passim; Du Hailly, in Rev. des deux Mondes, Feb. 15, 1859, 932; Bauer's Statement, MS., 2-3, 5; Alger's Young Miner, passim; Bouton's Cal. Indians, MS.; Arch. Monterey Co., xiv. 18; Beadle's Western Wilds, 38; Averill's Life in Cal., passim; Bancroft's Hand-book; A View of Cal., 167; Ariz. Arch., iii. 297; Antioch Ledger, July 1, 1876; Barstow's Statement, MS., 1-4, 7-12; Cal., The Digger's Hand-book, 7, 36-41, 49-54, 65–71; Buffum's Six Months, 83-4, 117-18, 121, 124; Dutch Flat Enquirer, Nov. 26, 1864; Farwell's Vig. Com., MS., 5; Johnson's Cal and Ogn, 96–209, 236, 244; Kelly's Excursion, ii. 244-9; Schmiedell's Statement, MS., 4-6, 145-6; Frisbie's Reminisc., MS., 36-7; Garniss' Early Days of S. F., MS., 8-23, 29-32; Frink's Vig. Com., MS., 25; Bluxome's Vig. Com., MS., 1, 5; Gerstäcker, Kreutz und Quer; Kip's Cal. Sketches, 18–19; Lambertie, Voy. Pittoresque, 202-9; Lett's Cal. Illust., 48–55, 70–129; Alameda

Reporter, May 31, 1879; Kanesv., Iowa, Front Guard, May 16, 1849; Feb. 1850; Polynesian, iv. 162, 183, 207; v.-vii., passim; Merrill's Statement, MS., 2-6, 9-10; Lawson's Autobiog., MS., 11-17; Currey's Incidents, MS., 4, 8; Frémont's Year Amer. Travel, 66-8, 98-103, 112-13, 148; Brooks' Four Months, 83, 201-2; Doolittle's Statement, MS., 21–2; Drinkwater, in Miscel. Statements, 1-2; Gillespie's Vig. Com., MS., 1-6; Carson City Trib., Sept. 23, 1879; Chico Enterprise, Aug. 8, 1879; Bryant's What I Saw in Cal., 427; Schenck's Vig. Com., MS., 14, 16, 20, 22, 44-8; Earll's Statement, MS., 6, 8-10; Cox's Annals of Trinity Co., 62-3; Conway's Early Days in California, MS., 1-2; Brewer's Reminisc., MS., 35-7; Helper's Land of Gold, 36–9, 47, 63-75, 82-4, 144, 158, 167-9, 237-53; Delano's Life, 249-54, 289-90, 365; Grimshaw's Narrative, MS., 14; Borthwick's Three Years in Cal., 46–67, 77, 83-5, 127, 151-4, 165-6, 289, 334, 357-74; Hancock's Thirteen Years, MS., 119-20; Hall's Hist., 232; Green's Life and Adv., MS., 17, 19; Guide to Cal., 80-132, 157; Kirkpatrick's Journal, 14-16; Gold Hill News, Nov. 29, 1867; Geary, in Miscel. Statements, 5; Hawley's Observations, MS., 5, 9-10; Bolton vs U. S., App. to Brief, 99-101; Bingham, in Solano Co. Hist., 333; Dameron's Autobiog., 22-3; Hunt's Merch. Mag., xx. 458; xxi. 136; xxii. 696; xxxi. 114, 386; Los Ang. Star, May 14, 1870; King's Rept on Cal., 7, 215; Hittell, in Dietz' Our Boys, 166-8, 174–7, 179; Brown's Statement, MS., 14; Dean's Statement, MS., 1-2; Marin Co. Hist., 121; Mason's Rept; Massett's Exper. of a '49er, 10; Bennett, in Sawtelle's Pioneers, 5; Ward's Letter of Aug. 1, 1849, in New York Courier and Enquirer; Nevada Journal, Dec. 19, 1856; Nevada Gaz., May 2, 1864; Sonora Union Dem., Sept. 29, 1877; Morse, in Direct. Sac., 1853-4, 5-10; Berkeley Advocate, Dec. 25, 1879; Cray's Vig. Com., MS., 1; Costa R., Atl. and Pac. R. R., 7-16; Hübner's Ramble around the World, 146; New West, 342; Evans' A la California, 226, 236, 272, 359, etc.; Dilke's Greater Britain, 209, 228-32; Red Bluff Sentinel, June 14, 1873; New and Old, 35, 37, 69; McCollum's Cal. as I Saw It, 33-6, 60-3; Dana's Two Years, 432; Nidever's Life and Adv., MS., 139; Low's Observations, MS., 4-7; Hutchings' Illust. Cal. Mag., i. 33, 78, 83, 215, 300, 416, 464; ii. 401; iii. 60, 129, 210, 254; v. 297, 334-7; Holinski, La Cal., 108-10, 136; Benton, in Hayes' Scraps, Cal. Notes, v. 60; Bigler's Diary, MS., 77–9; S. I. Friend, vi. 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 85, 88, 96; vii. 8, 15, 69, 74; viii. 28, 95, etc.; S. I. News, ii., passim; Morse's Pion. Exp., MS., 7; Colton's Deck and Port, 352, 386, 401; Pioche Journal, June 4, 1875; Pierce's Rough Sketch, MS., 105-8, 111; Cole's Vig. Com., MS., 3; Mex., Revol. Sta Anna, 154; Pan. Star, Feb. 24, 1849; Commerce and Navig. Repts, 1850-67; Overland Monthly, xiv. 320, 327-8; xv. 241-8, etc.; Nouv. Annales, 1849, 3, 224; Parson's Life of Marshall, 96, 99-103, 157; Connor's Early Cal., MS., 2; Coast Review, Oct. 1877, 377; Oakland Transcript, March 1, 1873; May 5, 1875; March 25, July 14, 1877; Monterey Herald, Feb. 13, 1875; Le National, Oct. 4, 1869; Russian River Flag, Jan. 9, 1873; Morse's Statement, MS.; Henshaw's Hist. Events, MS., 1-2, 7-8; Hesperian, ii. 10, 492, 494; Rednitz, Reise, 106; Olney's Vig. Com., MS., 1-3; Ventura Free Press, Sept. 29, 1877; Mining and Scientific Press, Aug. 3, 1878; Lyon Co., Nev., Times, March 24, 1877; San Diego Arch., 331; San Diego Herald, Dec. 5, 1874; Frignet, La Cal., 83, 94, 117, 121–2, 135; Foster's Gold Regions, passim; Cerruti's Ramblings, 25-7, 50, 67; Clemens' Roughing It, 410, 417, 444; Home Missionary, xxii. 92-3, 163-7, 186; xxiii. 208-9; xxvii. 159-60; London Quart. Rev., Jan. 1881, 45-6; Pion. Mag., i. 174; ii. 80; iii. 80-1, 147; iv. 314; Player-Frowd's Six Months in Cal., 22-3; Placerville Republ., July 19, 1877; Coke's Ride, 354-7; Pion. Arch., 29–31; S. F. Occident, March 5, 1874; S. F. News Letter, Jan. 17, 1874; S. F. Exchange, Jan. 13, 1876; Elite Directory, 1879, 11-19; S. F. Golden Era, March 8, 1874; Jan. 26, 1878; S. F. Chronicle, July 6, 1878; June 4, 1879; Oct. 3, 31, 1880; S. F. Call, Jan. 6, 28, March 1, Aug. 23, 1865; Sept. 1, 1866; Aug. 1, 1867, etc.; San José Pioneer, Aug. 4, Dec. 1, 14, 1877; Feb. 16, May 4, July 27, 1878; Aug. 16, 1879; Hist. San José, 209-16; San Joaquin Co. Hist., 21, 23, 34-5; S. F. Times, Jan. 12, 1867; S. F. Town Talk, Apr. 10, 1857; S. F. Post, Apr. 3, 1875; Feb. 10, 1876; July 27, Nov. 1, 23, 1878; Chamberlain's Statement, MS., 1; Cassin's Statement, MS., 5-7, 10-18; Hist. Doc. Cal., 1-508; Olympia Standard, July 22, 1876; Sargent, in Nevada Grass Val. Direct., 1856, 29–31; Sta Cruz Sentinel, Feb. 20, 1875; Sta Cruz Times, March 12,

1870; Ross' Narrative, MS., 12, 15-18; Roach's Hist. Facts, MS., 3; Modesto Herald, Feb. 14, 1878; Richardson's Mining Exper., MS., 10-11, 27–30; Melbourne Morn. Herald, March 29, 1849; Hist. of Los Ang., 73-4; Lloyd's Lights and Shades, 18-21, 513-16; Robinson's Cal. and its Gold Regions, 10, 105, 214; Capron's Hist. Cal., 125-6, 129, 146, 165, 220, 233; Roach's Statement, MS., 2-3, 9; Campbell's Circular Notes, i. 98-129; Revue des Deux Mondes, Feb. 1, 1849, 475; Miscellany, ix., pt. i. 77; McDaniels' Early Days, MS., 6, 49-50; Sac. Union, Dec. 16, 1854; Sept. 1, 1855; March 13-15, Apr. 4, May 21, June 26, Sept. 16, Dec. 25, 26, 31, 1856; Sept. 14, 1858; Sept. 4, 1865, etc.; Sac. Bee, June 12, 1874; Sac. Wkly Bee, Aug. 16, 1879; Shasta Courier, March 25, 1865; Shaw's Golden Dreams, 37-42, 47, 179-83; Catholic World, 795, 807; Cal., Pop. and Col. Scraps, 126-7; Sayward's Pioneer Remin., MS., 4, 29–33; Ryan's Pers. Adv., ii. 170-220, 250-7, 265-6; Id., Judges and Crim., 80-2; Cal. Pilgrim, 54, 136; S. F. Bulletin, Jan. 2, March 29, Apr. 1, July 7, 8, Aug. 5, Sept. 15, 20, 25, Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 1856; Sept. 27, 1862; Feb. 28, Oct. 28, 1865; Apr. 30, 1866; Jan. 23, 25, 1867, etc.; Cal., Pion. Celebrations Scraps, 8-10; Id., Polit. Scraps, 123; Cal. Archives, Unbound Doc., 20, 55, 56, 58, 59, 64-7, 224-6, 228, 319-20, 322-3, 328–9; Cal., Advent. of a Captain's Wife, 18, 20, 27-8, 41-2; Cal. Past and Present, 107-9, 149-50, 159-60, 163; Sacramento Illust., 8, 12-13; The World Over, 92-110; The Mines, Miners, etc., 790-1; Thomas, in Sac. Direct., 1871, 52-3, 76, 1034; McCabe's Our Country, 1054-6; Mayne's Br. Columbia, 157, 163; The World Here and There, 14-27; Matthewson's Statement, MS., 2-3; Sutton's Early Exper., MS., passim; Stockton Indep., Aug. 31, 1878; July 28, 1879; Soule's Statement, MS., 2, 4; El Sonorense, May 2, 1849, p. 4; La Armonía Social (Guadalajara), March 2, 1849; Miller's Songs of the Sierras, 69, 79, 280; Solano Press, Dec. 11, 1867; Solano Co. Hist., 164; Wilmington Enterprise, Jan. 21, 1875; Tuthill's Hist. Cal., passim; Vanderbilt, in Miscel. Statements, 32, 35; Shuck's Repres. Men of S. F., 936-7; Shinn's Mining Camps, 137; Virginia, Nev., Chron., May 21, 1877; Sac. Record, March 6, 1875; Tinkham's Hist. Stockton, 166-75; Sherwood's Pocket Guide, 64-5; London Times, July 25, 1850; Little's Statement, MS., 3, 11, 16; Upham's Notes, 221-2, 225-6, 265-72; Mrs Tibbey, in Miscel Statements, 19–20; Tiffany's Pocket Exch. Guide, 16, 124-6; Tyler's Mormon Battalion, 242-334; Taylor's Oregonians, MS., 1-2; Id., Spec. Press, 114, 50, 57, 500-3; Id., Eldorado, i.-ii., passim; Id., Cal. Life Illust., 164–7, 190-4; Crosby's Events in Cal., MS., 10-17, 22-3, 25, 38-9, 46; Torres, Perip., 62, 99– 100, 109, 112, 145; La Motte's Statement, MS., 1; Ryckman's Vig. Com., MS.; Van Dyke's Statement, MS., 3; Voorhies' Oration, 1853, 4-5; Vinton's Quartermaster's Rept U. S. A., 1850, 245-8; Cal. In and Out, 254, 344, 360; Ver Mehr's Checkered Life, 344, 367-8; Todd, in Miscel. Statement, 21; Watkin's Vig. Com., MS., 1, 24; Vallejo Wkly Chron., July 26, 1873; Velasco, Son., 325; Soc. Mex. Geog., Bolet., xi. 129; Vallejo, Col. Doc., xxxv. 47, 148, 192; Willey's Thirty Years, MS., 37, 39; Id., Personal Memoranda, MS., 127-8; Wheaton's Statement, MS., 2-4; U. S. Govt Doc., 31st Cong., 1st Sess., H. Ex. 17, pp. 693, 845, 968-9; Yuba Co. History, 147; Wilmington Enterprise, Jan. 21, 1875; Williams' Statement, MS., 3-14; Id., Rec. of Early Days, MS., 1–13; Id., Pion. Pastorate, 44-8; Carson State Register, Oct. 19, 1871; Upton, in Overland Mthly, ii. 135-7; Winans' Statement, MS., 3-6, 14-18; Turrill's Cal. Notes, 22-7; Shirley, in Miscel. Statements, 13-16; Woods' Pion. Work, 17-18; Id., Sixteen Months, 46, 62, 68, 72, 74-6, 87, 148, 167; Cal., Statutes, 1850 et seq.; Id., Journal House, 1850, p. 1344; Id., Journ. Sen., 1850, pp. 481, 1299, 1307. 1340, and index; 1851, pp. 921-4, 999, 1516-34, 1583, 1658–76; S. F. Alta Cal., Jan. 25, June 5, 14, Aug. 2, Dec. 15, 1849; Jan. 14, 16, May 27, June 25, July 1, Dec. 19, 21, 24, 1850; 1851-2, passim, etc.; S. F. Daily Herald, 1850, passim; Feb. 19, Sept. 30, 1851; Apr. 7, 1852; Neall's Vig. Com., MS., 3-5, 14-16, 23-8; S. F. Minutes Assembly, 1849, passim; Id., Munic. Rept, 1859-60, pp. 167-8; 1861-2, pp. 259-60; 1866–7, p. 520; Id., Manuel, pp. ix.xvi.; Sac. Transcript, Apr. 26, May 29, June 29, Sept. 18, 30, Oct. 14, Nov. 14, 29, 1850; Jan. 14, May 15, 1851; Hittell's Hist. S. F., passim; S. F. Pacific News, Nov.-Dec. 1849, passim; 1850, passim; Jan. 1, 10, 21, 23, Feb. 7, 14, Apr. 11, 1851; Parker's §. F. Direct., 1852-3, 7-18; Kimball's S. F. Direct., 1850, 124-30; Sac., Placer Times, May 5, 12, 19, 26, June 2, 30, 1849, passim.

CHAPTER XII.

POLITICAL HISTORY.

1846-1849.

THE SLAVERY QUESTION BEFORE CONGRESS-INACTION AND DELAY-MILITARY RULE IN CALIFORNIA-MEXICAN FORMS OF CIVIL AND JUDICIAL GOVERNMENT MAINTAINED - FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR MASON-PRANKS OF T. BUTLER KING-GOVERNOR RILEY-LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY-CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AT MONTEREY-SOME BIOGRAPHIES PERSONNEL OF THE CONVENTION-MONEY MATTERS-ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION-ELECTION.

In the anthem of human progress there is here and there a chorus of events which rolls its magnificent volume around the world, making all that went before or that follows seem but the drowsy murmur of the night. In this crash of chorus we regard not the instruments nor the players, but are lifted from the plane by the blended power of its thousand-stringed eloquence, and under the spell of its mighty harmonies become capable of those great emotions which lead to heroic deeds. The political history of California opens as such a chorus, whose mingling strains, distinctive heard for more than a decade, come from a few heavy-brained white men and four millions of negro slaves.

Calhoun, the great yet sinister Carolinian, knew, when he opposed the conquest of California, that the south, and he more than all, had brought about the event; and while pretending not to desire more ter

1 Benton, in the congressional debates of 1847, in which Calhoun opposed the acquisition of more territory, and into which he introduced his firebrand resolutions-see Cong. Globe, 1846-7, p. 455-made a clear case against Calhoun, showing unequivocally that either he had three times changed his