Part 18 (2/2)
Professor Forrest Shepherd, of New Haven, has made some remarkable discoveries of thermal action in California. In one place where there was nothing on the surface to attract attention, on digging down the heat increased so rapidly that at the depth of two feet he could not bear his hand in the earth, and the thermometer indicated a temperature of 130 degrees. At another place, after wandering for four days through dense thickets, he came upon a chasm a thousand feet deep, through which flowed a stream, the banks of which, on the 8th of February, were covered with vegetation. Following up the stream, the earth grew so hot as to burn the feet through the boots. There was no appearance of lava, and the rocks were being dissolved by a powerful _catalytic_ action. From innumerable orifices steam was forced to the height of two hundred feet. The number of spouting geysers and boiling springs, on a half mile square, exceeded two hundred. The Professor, in the course of a lecture delivered at San Jose, said he did not doubt that silver, lead, and iron abounded in California.
The legislation of Congress in regard to California has sometimes been of a very unsatisfactory character. By an act pa.s.sed in 1850, the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized to contract upon the most reasonable terms with the proprietors of some well-established a.s.saying works then in successful operation in California, who should perform such duties in a.s.saying and fixing the value of gold in grains and lumps, and in forming the same into bars, as should be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and the a.s.sayer was to fix the stamp of the United States, indicating the degree of fineness and value, upon each bar or ingot. This was a measure of convenience, and the merchants of the California ports had then ample means of paying their custom house duties. In 1852, however, Congress pa.s.sed an act, creating a branch mint of the United States in California: and to this act was appended a clause, repealing the act which authorized the office of a.s.sayer, as soon as public notice was given of the creation of the branch mint. In consequence of this legislation, the a.s.sayer's office was abolished, and yet there was no mint for coining in the golden land. Time was required for making the necessary appropriation of money, erecting buildings, and constructing machinery, all of which had not been considered. The clause of the former act which made the stamped ingots receivable for duties was repealed. The merchants of California had no means of paying their duties at the custom house, and great excitement and confusion ensued. Finally, an arrangement was made with the Collector of San Francisco, under which uncoined gold could be received in payment of duties, and then business went on as usual. Care is one of the first essentials of beneficial legislation.
The circ.u.mstance that the people of California are so far from the seat of the federal government, requires a strict attention in legislators, to prevent evils which cannot be quickly remedied.
The people of California seem to be deeply interested in the construction of a great railroad from the Mississippi to the Pacific.
At San Diego, several meetings have been held, and reports adopted, advocating and exhibiting the advantages of a southern route for the proposed railroad. The route which the meetings favored is to start from the Gulf of Mexico or some of its tributaries, and pa.s.sing through Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico to California, and strike the Pacific at San Diego. Its entire length would not exceed sixteen hundred miles, whilst it would have the advantages, as alleged by the report, of pa.s.sing through a section in which universal summer prevails, and of affording opportunities for lateral roads connecting with the cities of Mexico, through which a large trade might be obtained. The subject has been brought to the consideration of Congress, and that body has prudently appropriated a large sum for a survey of the various routes proposed.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX A.
CONSt.i.tUTION OF CALIFORNIA.
PROCLAMATION TO THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA
The delegates of the people a.s.sembled in Convention, have formed a const.i.tution, which is now presented for your ratification. The time and manner of voting on this const.i.tution, and of holding the first general election, are clearly set forth in the schedule. The whole subject is, therefore, left for your unbia.s.sed and deliberate consideration.
The Prefect (or person exercising the functions of that office) of each district, will designate the places for opening the polls, and give due notice of the election, in accordance with the provisions of the const.i.tution and schedule.
The people are now called upon to form a government for themselves, and to designate such officers as they desire, to make and execute the laws. That their choice may be wisely made, and that the government so organized may secure the permanent welfare and happiness of the people of the new State, is the sincere and earnest wish of the present Executive, who, if the const.i.tution be ratified, will, with pleasure, surrender his powers to whomsoever the people may designate as his successor.
Given at Monterey, California, this 12th day of October, A.D., 1849.
(Signed) B. RILEY,
Brevet Brig. General, U.S.A., and Governor of California.
(Official) H. W. HALLECK, Brevet Captain and Secretary of State.
WE THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, GRATEFUL TO ALMIGHTY G.o.d FOR OUR FREEDOM, IN ORDER TO SECURE ITS BLESSINGS, DO ESTABLISH THIS CONSt.i.tUTION:--
ARTICLE I.
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
SEC. 1. All men are by nature free and independent, and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.
SEC. 2. All political power is inherent in the people. Government is inst.i.tuted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people; and they have the right to alter or reform the same, whenever the public good may require it.
SEC. 3. The right of trial by jury shall be secured to all, and remain inviolate for ever; but a jury trial may be waived by the parties, in all civil cases, in the manner to be prescribed by law.
SEC. 4. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and wors.h.i.+p, without discrimination or preference, shall for ever be allowed in this State; and no person shall be rendered incompetent to be a witness on account of his opinions on matters of religious belief; but the liberty of conscience, hereby secured, shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State.
SEC. 5. The privilege of the writ of _habeas corpus_ shall not be suspended, unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require its suspension.
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