RECEPTION OF THE NEWS.

347

state and national, than in party questions, and more likely to make this a party issue at that time than slavery or anti-slavery, much as they had done to bring on the agitation. There were men in the mines whose journey to California, whose digging and delving, whose gambling and whiskey-drinking, whose prospecting, Indian-shooting, and clubbing of foreigners, were all as lenses that enabled them to see how much of self and how little of public weal occupied the ponderous brains of the eight-dollars-a-day law-makers at Washington!

The defeat of the compromise bill, and consequent probability that no definite action would be taken by congress for the admission of California for some time to come, was engendering angry feelings in the waiting state, where rebellious utterances were beginning to be heard. Judge Thomas, of the district court of Sacramento, openly reproached the government for neglect, and Bear-Flag sentiments were voiced in the streets. Some there were who, in the event of discouraging news by the next two or three steamers, were in favor of a separation from the United States, if separation it could be called where there was no union, and setting up an independent government. Anarchy and confusion would have resulted from such a movement. The public journals generally discountenanced the expression of bitter feeling, but admitted that California would not submit to be dismembered, and acknowledged the critical nature of the situation.45 But the heavily burdened people were to be spared the last straw. Intelligence of the admission of California reached San Francisco on the morning of October 18th, when the mail steamer Oregon entered the harbor flying all her bunting," and signalling the good

45 Id., Apr. 26 and Aug. 30, 1850; Placer Times, May 8, 1850; S. F. Picayune, Sept. 14, 1850; Crosby, Early Events, MS., 52-3.

46 A flag had been made in New York and forwarded by the Cherokee to be given to Capt. Patterson of the Oregon on this side, and another was made on board the Oregon, on which was inscribed, 'California is a state.' The pioneer

news. The revulsion of feeling was instant and extreme. Business was suspended; courts were adjourned; and the whole population, frenzied with delight, congregated on Portsmouth square to congratulate each other. Newspapers containing the intelligence from Washington sold for five dollars each. The shipping in the harbor was gayly dressed in flags; guns boomed from the height; bonfires blazed at night; processions were formed; bands played; and the people in every way expressed their joy. Mounting his box behind six fiery mustangs lashed to highest speed, the driver of Crandall's stage cried the glad tidings all the way to San José, "California is admitted!" while a ringing cheer was returned by the people as the mail flew by. On the 29th there was a formal celebration of the event, when a new star was added to the flag which floated from the mast in the centre of the plaza, and every species of amusement and parade was made to attest the satisfaction of the citizens of the first American state on the Pacific coast. As it is good to be young once in our lives,

47

society is now in possession of these flags, presented by capts Phelps and Cox. S. F. Bulletin, Feb. 5, 1869; Cal. Courier, Oct. 19, 1850; S. F. Alta, Feb. 5, 1869; San José Pioneer, Sept. 15, 1877.

47 The public procession was, considering the youth of the city, quite a remarkable parade. It was divided into 7 parts, in charge of 4 marshals each, wearing crimson scarfs with gold trimmings. The several societies and associations had their marshals in variously.colored scarfs, all mounted on caparisoned horses. After the grand marshal were 4 buglers, then 3 marshals, followed by mounted native Californians bearing a banner with 31 stars on a blue satin ground, with the inscription in gold letters, California. E Pluribus Unum.' Next came the California pioneers with a banner on which was represented a New Englander in the act of stepping ashore and facing a native Californian with lasso and serape. In the centre, the state seal and the inscription, Far West, Eureka, 1846. California Pioneers, organized August 1850.' Then came the army officers and soldiers, the navy officers and marines, the veterans of the Mexican war, and the consuls and representatives of foreign governments. Behind these was a company of Chinese in rich native costumes under their own marshal, carrying a blue silk banner inscribed, The China Boys.' In the triumphal car which followed were 30 boys in black trousers and white shirts, representing the 30 states, and each supporting the national breast-plate with the name of his state inscribed thereon. In the centre of the group was a young girl robed in white, with gold and silver gauze floating about her, and supporting a breast-plate upon which was inscribed, California, The Union, it must and shall be preserved.' After these came the municipal officers and fire department, followed by a company of watermen with a boat on wheels; and finally the several secret and benevolent societies. At the plaza the ceremonies consisted of prayer,

so it is pleasant to remember occasions when our local world seemed revolving in an intoxicating atmosphere of self-praise and mutual admiration. For the encouragement of these agreeable sentiments, admission day continues to be celebrated in California, and is by statute a legal holiday.

The Spanish-sired young state, like a Sabine maiden, had been wrested from her kindred, and forcibly wedded with a greater people. She had protested in vain, and consented with reluctance; yet she had con

48

music, an oration by Judge Bennett, and an original ode by Mrs Wills of Louisiana. See S. F. Picayune, Oct. 19, 30, and 31, 1850; S. F. Pac. News, Oct. 21, 28, 29, and 30, 1850; S. F. Herald, Oct. 19, 25, 28, and 31, 1850; S. F. Courier, Oct. 31, 1850; S. F. Bulletin, Sept. 8, 1875; Sonoma Democrat, Sept. 14, 1878; Napa Register, Sept. 21, 1878; S. F. Post, Sept. 9, 1878; Petaluma Argus, Oct. 5, 1877; S. F. Call, Sept. 9 and 10, 1870; Sac. Union, Sept. 13, 1871; Pac. Rural Press, Sept. 20, 1879; Oakland Transcript, Sept. 9, 1877; Visalia Delta, Sept. 11, 1875. Jacks, of S. F., manufactured a medal which was designed to commemorate the admission of the state, and to compliment her friend, the statesman of Ky. It was 2 inches in diameter, weighing over 2 ounces. On the upper edge was engraved, 'California, admitted Sept. 9, 1850;' on the lower edge, 'City of San Francisco, October 29, 1850. Within the circle was inscribed, Presented to Henry Clay by Jacks and brothers.' On the reverse was a raised rim like a wreath, composed of small gold specimens from Bear, Yuba, and Feather rivers, and from the Los Angeles Mining Co.'s veins. Inside the wreath were 30 small stars, with a large star in the centre, on which stood a piece of white gold quartz of the size and shape of an acorn. S. F. Cal. Courier, Jan. 25, 1851; Sac. Transcript, Feb. 1, 1851.

48 In Feb. 1850, the people of Los Angeles, alarmed at the action of the legislature in taxing land, held a mass meeting to propose some method of escape from the impending evil. They wished not to have to pay the 'enormous expense of a state govt; and complained that the legislature favored the more thickly populated north, disregarding the interests of the thinly populated south. This was unavoidable, as the public domain could not be taxed, and the lands covered by Spanish grants only could. The Los Angeles people said they feared ruin; and proposed to petition congress to form a territory to be called Central California, embracing the country from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. An address to congress was finally adopted, declaring that they had not had time to become acquainted with American institutions when they joined in forming a state constitution. They believed a territorial govt the most suitable. Ruinous taxes would have to be levied to support the state. They could not believe congress would admit Cal. as a state. It was too large, and the interest too diverse. They would have a separation and a territorial govt. It was signed by Manuel Requena, prest, Enrique Dalton and Agustin Olvera, secs. Val., Doc., MS., xiii. 39; Hayes' Scraps, Angeles, i. 5, 12, 29-30; Sta Bárbara Arch., MS., viii. 229-30, 233; Costa Coll., 25-36. On the 9th of May, 1850, Foote produced in the U. S. senate a letter addressed to him by Agostin Harazthy, of San Diego, enclos ing the address of the Los Angeles meeting. The Santa Bárbara and San Luis Obispo people were opposed to the memorial. Foote moved to have the documents printed, but objections being made, they were not received. Cong. Globe, 1849-50, 967.

sented, and now joined in the rejoicings." Henceforth her destiny was one with the superior race. At the union the world looked on amazed.50 The house she entered was divided against itself on her account. But under all these embarrassments she conducted herself. with dignity, doing her best to preserve the honor and unity of the nation, and contributing of her treasures as required of her with a liberal hand. Thrice blessed California! Blessed in giving rather than in receiving; for of all the many mighty states of this American confederation, she has given more and received proportionately less than any one of them.

49 An address 'a los Californias,' urging them to celebrate, was printed in Spanish, and circulated among the native population.

50 The London Times, commenting on the admission celebration at S. F., said: Forgetting for a moment the decorative features of this exhibition, let the reader consider the extraordinary character of the facts it symbolized. Here was a community of some hundreds of thousands of souls collected from all quarters of the known world-Polynesians and Peruvians, Englishmen and Mexicans, Germans and New Englanders, Spaniards and Chinese-all organized under old Saxon institutions, and actually marching under the co nmand of a mayor and alderman. Nor was this all, for the extemporized state had demanded and obtained its admission into the most powerful federation in the world, and was recognized as a part of the American union. A third of the time which has been consumed in erecting our house of parlia ment has here sufficed to create a state with a territory as large as Great Britain, a population difficult to number, and destinies which none can fore

see.

CHAPTER XIV.

UNFOLDING OF MINERAL WEALTH.

1848-1856.

EXTENT OF GOLD REGION IN 1848-9-AMERICAN RIVER THE CENTRE-EL DORADO COUNTY-SOUTH FORK AND SOUTHWARD-MIDDLE BRANCHPLACER, NEVADA, YUBA, SIERRA, PLUMAS, BUTTE, AND SHASTA COUNTIES -TRINITY AND KLAMATH - GOLD BLUFF EXCITEMENT, 1850-1-DEL NORTE, HUMBOLDT, AND SISKIYOU-IN THE SOUTH-AMADOR, CALAVERAS, AND TUOLUMNE-TABLE MOUNTAIN-MARIPOSA, KERN, SAN BERNARDINO- -LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO-ALONG THE OCEAN.

DURING the year 1848 the gold region of California was explored and worked from Coloma to the Tuolumne in the south, and to Feather River in the north, with a slight inroad upon the country beyond and westward to the Trinity. It might have been expected that observations would have extended farther in the south, since this was in a measure the pathway from Sonora and southern California; but hostile Indians, and the distribution of gold in patches and less regular streaks in dry ground, tended to discourage the casual prospector. In the north, on the other hand, every bar could be counted upon to contain sufficient color for remuneration or guidance, with greater indication of finding in this quarter the supposed mother beds. The inflowing hordes of 18491 and subsequent years followed the paths so far opened, and passed onward to the poorer districts beyond the

1 There must have been 10,000 or 12,000 people waiting in August for passage from S. F. to the mines, for small vessels were scarce. Connor's Stat., MS:, 2; Crosby's Events in Cal., MS., 14. It was a repetition of the scenes en route given in the chapters for 1848.