DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. A. S. Ponifield, Cal. 02. 601 NEW or ALTA CALIFORNIA was discovered about 1542, by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who explored the coast as far north as the forty-third degree of north latitude. Portions of the coast were visited by Sir Francis Drake in 1578, by Francisco Galli in 1582, and by Sebastian Vescayna in 1603. Vescayna discovered the ports of San Diego and Monterey, and closed the career of northern exploration which had originated with Cortez. In 1767, the Jesuits, by whom the settlement of Lower California had been accomplished, fell under the displeasure of the government of Spain, and were expelled from the peninsula. The Marquis de Croix, who was at that time viceroy of New Spain, replaced them by the rival order of the Franciscans, upon whom he strongly urged the spiritual conquest of the upper province. This enterprise the government considered more important than the settlement of the peninsula. The accounts which were current of the wealth of the country were very flattering, and political reasons induced them to lend efficient assistance to the adventure. Both France and England at that time evinced considerable interest in the islands of the Pacific, and the countries upon its coast; and the explorations of Bourgainville and Cook had begun to excite alarm. Russia also, with noiseless, but certain advance, was stretching her gigantic empire alone the western coast, and Spain recognised the necessity of preventing these dangerous intruders from obtaining a foothold in her American possessions. Under these circumstances, the spiritual subjugation of Upper California was accomplished in a comparatively short time. The same career of privation and toil was run by the priestly pioneers as marked the settlement of the peninsula, but the missions grew up more rapidly, and the difficulties were, on the whole, fewer. The results were equally unimportant. Neither Mexico nor the colony was much benefited. The country offered great inducements to a profitable trade, and was believed to possess large deposites of quicksilver and gold; but the narrow and unwise policy of Mexico, both when an appendage of Spain, and an independent state, rendered the development of its resources impossible. The government fettered commerce. It imposed restrictions instead of granting facilities; levied onerous taxes, and stretched a barrier of customhouses across ports which a liberal policy would have crowded with profitable trade. The interests of the country were wholly disregarded; and California became a refuge for invalid soldiers, indolent priests, and pampered officials. The missions, however, aided by large donations from the pious in Mexico, which were consolidated into what was styled "the California Pious Fund," rapidly grew in importance. They brought the mass of the native population into a condition of comparative vassalage, and gradually absorbed the valuable lands, almost to the exclusion of the white settlers. They existed in a state of almost total independence of Mexico; and although ordinary government establishments were kept up, as in the other provinces of the vice-royalty, the priests were virtually the owners of the soil, and the masters of the country. Affairs remained in this position until the occurrence of the Mexican revolution in 1824. This revolution, which separated Mexico from Spain, annexed California to that republic. The Californias were then erected into territories, not having sufficient population to entitle them to be federative states, and were each allowed to send one member to the general congress, who was privileged to take part in the debates of that body, but had no voice in its decisions. As territories, they were under the government of an agent styled the commaudant-general, whose powers were very extensive. The country has several times, since the Spanish power was exterminated, suffered from revolution; and for the last ten or twelve years of its connexion with Mexico, the authority of that nation over it was very loose. Its distance from the metropolis would indeed tend to such a result. The people more than once declared themselves independent, and as often rejoined the confederacy. In 1846, on the breaking out of the war between the United States and Mexico, California was occupied by the United States forces; and, by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Feb. 2, 1848, the whole country was ceded to the United States. In the latter part of the above named month, a mechanic, named James W. Marshall, was employed in building a saw-mill for Captain Sutter on the south branch of a river known as the American Fork. On Fremont's map, the river is called "Rio. de los Americanos." While cutting a race for this improvement, Mr. Marshall discovered the scales of gold as they glistened in the sunlight at the bottom of the sluice. He gathered a few, examined them, and became satisfied of their value. He informed Captain Sutter of his discovery, and they agreed to keep it secret until the mill of Captain Sutter was finished. It however got out and spread like magic. Remarkable success attended the labors of the first explorers, and in a few weeks hundreds of men were drawn thither. Examinations were prosecuted at other points along the stream and almost everywhere with success. The result was extraordinary. Thousands flocked to California from all parts of the world, and a lively commerce was thus initiated which bids fair in a few years to become more extensive and valuable than all the present foreign trade of the United States together. Previous to the discovery of the precious metals in California, the principal route to the Pacific coast of North America had been around Cape Horn. This long, perilous, and fatiguing voyage, consumed a period of from six to eight months, and sometimes longer for its accomplishment, and many of the earlier emigrants to California, reached there by this tedious route. But, pre- isthmus is in rapid process of construcvious to this period, however, arrange- tion, which, when finished, will greatly ments had been entered into by govern- facilitate, as regards both time and comment, under appropriations made by fort, that most fatiguing portion of the Congress for that purpose, for the estab- journey. Another route, by the way of lishment of a line of semi-monthly mail- the river San Juan and across the lake steamers to California and Oregon by Nicaragua, and about twenty miles by the way of the isthmus of Panama. stage to the Pacific coast, has been esThis line was soon in operation; but tablished. This route is about a thouthough it proved entirely successful as sand miles shorter than that by the way a medium of rapid transmission of the of Panama; and the voyage, from San mail to and from that distant region, Francisco to New York, via Nicaragua, shortening the period of transit from has been made in twenty-eight days. New York to California to less than May we not hope that the day is not forty days, it was still inadequate to the distant, when a railroad directly across demand for passages of the thousands the continent, shall shorten the passage and tens of thousands, who, determined between the Atlantic and Pacific metroto emigrate to the new El Dorado of politan cities to one fifth of twenty-eight the Pacific. To meet this demand, days; when the triumphs of science and vessels were chartered in all the Atlan-art shall render them comparatively tic ports for the conveyances of passen- near neighbors, contributing to each gers to Chagres, on the Atlantic side of other's prosperity, greatness, and hapthe isthmus, this being a far quicker and safer route than a voyage round Cape Horn. The passage across the isthmus was made in canoes up the Chagres river forty miles to Gorgona, and thence overland on mules, a distance of twenty miles to the city of Panama on the Pacific side of the isthmus. So immense was the number who chose this route, that the vessels on the Pacific side proved entirely inadequate to their transportation up to California, and soon several thousands were collected on the isthmus, many of whom had to wait months, ere they obtained a passage up the Pacific, though every possible sort of craft that could be pressed into the service, was made available to supply the demand for passage. The view of Panama, placed on the following page, shows a party of Americans converting canoes into vessels, in which to reach the golden land of their "hope deferred." The engraving is no fancy sketch, but was drawn by a gentleman residing at Panama, who witnessed their labors from the window of his hotel. Additional steamers have, from time to time, been put upon the route, on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides, until this medium of travel can now accommodate all requiring a conveyance to or from the land of gold. A railroad across the piness; and when, literally, from sea to sea, a continuous line of enlightened, civilized communities, shall greet the eye of the traveller, as he makes a rapid transit east or west across the American continent! In September, 1849, in consequence of the disorganized condition of things, and the insecurity which generally prevailed, the people of California, by their delegates, met in convention, at Monterey, and formed a constitution, which was ratified by the people in November, 1849. The constitution being submitted to Congress, was ratified by that body, and the state of California thus admitted into the Union, September 9, 1850. The intelligence of the reception of California into the Union was welcomed at San Francisco with expressions of universal enthusiasm. The steamer which bore the tidings was decked with flags and streamers of all nations, with a piece of canvass extending from fore to mainmast inscribed with the words “Cali fornia is admitted." The salvos of artillery and the waving of flags soon spread the joyful news to every part of the city. All classes of the inhabitants shared the general hilarity, and with exchanges of mutual congratulations exulted in the accession of California as the thirty-first state of the federal Union. A more formal celebration of this event took place on the 29th of October, in which the citizens generally participated with patriotic joy. A procession was formed in honor of the occasion, salutes were fired, banners displayed, an oration pronounced, a national ode sung, and the festivities closed with a ball and supper. According to the terms of the constitution the legislative power is vested in a senate and assembly, called the legislature of California. Senators not less in number than one third, nor more than one half the number of members of assembly, are elected by the people in districts, for a term of two years, so classified that one half may be chosen annually. Members of the assembly are elected by the people annually, in districts. There shall not be less than twenty-four, nor more than thirty-six, until the population is one hundred thousand; and afterward, there shall never be more than eighty nor less than thirty. Senators and members of the assembly must be qualified electors in their districts, and be citizens and inhabitants of the state one year, and of their districts six months, before their election. The executive power is vested in a governor, elected by the people for a term of two years. He must be over twenty-five years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the state two years next before the election. He may veto a bill, but two thirds of the legislature may pass it afterward. A lieutenant-governor is elected by the people at the same time, and for the same term with the governor, and must have the same qualifications; he is president of the senate, and in case the office of governor be vacant, he acts as governor. A secretary of state is appointed by the governor. A comptroller, treasurer, attorney and surveyor general, are to be elected by the people at the same time, aud for the same term as the governor. has been fixed at Vallejo. Divorces by the legislature, lotteries, banking charters, and paper-money, are prohibited. In elections by the legislature, the members vote viva voce-by the people by ballot. The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, district courts, and county courts; the judges of all which are elected by the people. The supreme court consists of a chief justice and two associates, elected for a term of six years. District judges are chosen for a term of six years. One county judge is elected in each county for four years. County officers are chosen by the people. A superintendent of public instruction is elected by the people of the state, for a term of three years. Every white male citizen of the United States, and every citizen of Mexico under the treaty of Queretaro, twentyone years of age, resident in the state six months, and of the district where he offers to vote thirty days preceding the election, is entitled to vote. Indians and their descendants may be permitted to vote in special cases, by a two thirds concurrent vote of the legislature. Slavery, or involuntary servitude, except for the punishment of crimes is for ever prohibited. A design for a state seal was adopted by the constitutional convention, an engraving of which, of the exact size of the seal, forms a part of the vignette at the commencement of this sketch, on page 601. It was designed by Major R. S. Garnett, of the United States army. Each region wished to be represented in the seal. The Sacramento district wanted a gold mine, with a miner at work; San Francisco, its harbor and shipping; the Sonoma members thought no seal would be complete without something from their ancient "bear-flag;" while those from Los Angelos and San Diego wished their corn, vines, and olives, to be represented. These several requirements were met, as far as possible, in the design. The annual election is held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday of November, and the sessions of the legis- Around the bevel of the ring are replature are to be held annually, and com-resented thirty-one stars, being the nummence on the first Monday in January. ber of states of which the Union would The place for the seat of government consist, upon the admission of California. |