History of California

re deeply stirred and hope deferred caused bitter disappointment. When the treaty of peace with Mexico was ratified by Congress it left the Pacific c

ntil some one with a better right took his place. The only other official was the local alcalde of each community. This was a Mexican office, but was at that time often fil

Congress, was made alcalde of Monterey, and

oys. I am supreme in every breach of peace, case of crime, disputed land title, over a space of three hundred miles.

but was a terror to evil doers. Those he put to work quarrying stone and building the solid structure afterward na

nly shown than in the Mexican war. The war was brought upon the United States in a great degree by those interested in slavery, not b

as, was what they really fought for, and when they got it, it became their undoing. When a commissioner went to Mexico to arrange for peace, he demanded California for the United

re mention of such a thing is an impossibility. No American

ery into a territory gained from them excited the strongest feelings of abhorrence

half should be slave territory. The Northern people, who disliked slavery, had no commercial interest in it, and felt it a disgrace to the nation, resisted this demand. Then began a bitter s

er a slave state, were added to the regular appropriation bill which provided for the expenses of government and without which the government wo

ual to any. Such a war of words and a battle of great minds! Many eyes were turned to the clock as it drew near the hour of

d while they remained in session. So, through the long night, the struggle went on. About four o'clo

their homes. The Spanish Californians, also, were anxious to know what they had to expect from the laws of the United States. At last it was decided by the people, and agreed to by the military governor, Riley, who was

ys of San Francisco to go upon the hill and watch for her coming. The 4th of June they were rewarded by the sight of her. As she came int

taxation without representation. In the plaza and on the streets the crowds were loud in their disapproval. The excitem

lavery question for ourselves," said one. "

9, the constitutional co

ted condition of the country," says the minutes of that meeting, "the delegates voted to open the session with prayer."

rstood fairly well the needs of the times. Later, in the United States Senate, Mr. Webster quoted Mr. Carrillo of "San Angeles," as he called it. Another delegate, Dr. Gwin, was a Southern man who had recently come to C

pposed to slavery in their new state, and Dr. Gwin soon found that he must either forego his hopes of becoming senator or give way on this point. The constitution finally adopted was that of a free state with its

ussion grew so bitter that in January Clay brought forward his famous Omnibus Bill, so called because it was intended to accommodate different people and parties, and contained many

reat advocate of slavery, who was at that time ill and near his death, prepared a speech, the last utterance of that brilliant mind, which was delivered March 4th. He was too ill to read it, but sat, gaunt and haggard, with burning eyes, while his friend spoke for

his life. In it he said, "The law of nature, physical geography, and the for

he dissolution of the Union itself. It seems to me that the perpetual unity of the empire hangs on this day and hour. Try not the temper and fidelity of Cali

50, California was

on of slavery; but from the sorrowful struggle there arose a better and happier nation, a united North and South. There are two things to be remembered: that into the ne

tion to be adopted, and for their representatives to be received in C

shouts and clapping of hands the people rushed to the wharf. Tears were pouring down the faces of men who did not know what it was to cry; women were sobbing and laughing by turns. The shrill cheers of the California boys rose high above all. There was the report of

steamer day. On the very next morning he left for San Jose on the stage coach of Crandall, one of the famous drivers of the West. The stage of a rival line left

and away they went, horses at a gallop, passengers shouting and singing. As they passed through a to

d, looking back, they would see men shaking hands and tossing hats on high, and small boys

through Santa Clara, then at a gallop down the beautiful Alameda to S

admission day, which was described in the paper

its treatment of the land question in California the United State

in Mexican and Spanish law, and his carefully prepared report declared that the greater part of the rancheros had

Against the bill that was finally passed Senator Benton protested vigorously, saying that it amounted to con

lived on his land, to prove his title to it, and that, too, while the Unit

and language of which he did not understand. Meantime his property was rendered hard to sell, while taxation fell heaviest upon him because he was a large land owner. Often, too, he would have to

ld fill a volume. Guadalupe Vallejo, in the Century Magazine (Vol. 41

mines. I will fence the field at my own expense if you will give me half of it." Vallejo agreed, but

ealing. It tells how Americans, who were afterward prosperous citizen

ere. Of course there were some of the lower class, many of whom were part Indian, who would lie, steal, or, if they had an opportunity, murder; but of

sed to bear an ill opinion of our whole nation on account of the rough men here. They think that it

ne, banished some, and two they sentenced to be flogged. Shirley from her cabin heard what was going on. She tells how one of them, a gentlemanly young Span

eets robbery and murder were of frequent occurrence, no one was safe, and wrongdoers went unpunished because, frequently, the officers of the law were in league with them. At last the best cit

hed. Several of the worst offenders were executed, many were banished from the country, and

ps, where there were many crimes; but not all the Vigilantes displayed the same care and fairness as

to get their parcels and mail to them as promptly as possible. For this reason several express companies were started and did excellent work

following advertisement ap

e Missouri River on Tuesday, April 3d, and will run regularly weekly hereafter, carr

rider off. The same day, the same hour, the Western mail started on the thousand-mile ride

loped into Sacramento, and hurried to a swift river steamboat which immediately started for the Bay. News of his coming was telegraphed ahead, and was announced from the stages of the San Franci

ht, accomplished riders, coolheaded, and absolutely brave. They were held in high reg

t to treat animals cruelly, and not to do anything incompatible with the

had to double the distance, and once, when the messenger who was waiting was killed by Indians, "Buffalo Bill" (

st, alone, always alone, often chased by Indians, though, owing to their watchfulness and the superiority of their ho

ess was the delivering of Linco

d wild cheers the express was off. Horses were waiting every ten miles. What a ride was that! "Speed, speed! faster, faster!" was the cry. Each man tried to do a trifle better than the last, while the thousands on the Pacific coast seemed to b

ghty-five hours, the message had traveled-at an average of a li

o-day, let us not forget what these brave men of the f