the latter to invite the Californians as friends to join her
standard, but compelled her to take possession of the country to
prevent any European power from seizing upon it, and, in doing so,
some excesses and unauthorized acts were no doubt committed by
persons employed in the service of the United States, by which a few
of the inhabitants have met with a loss of property; such losses
will be duly investigated, and those entitled to remuneration will
receive it.

California has for many years suffered greatly from domestic
troubles; civil wars have been the poisoned fountains which have
sent forth trouble and pestilence over her beautiful land. Now those
fountains are dried up; the star-spangled banner floats over
California, and as long as the sun continues to shine upon her, so
long will it float there, over the natives of the land, as well as
others who have found a home in her bosom; and under it agriculture
must improve, and the arts and sciences flourish, as seed in a rich
and fertile soil.

The Americans and Californians are now but one people; let us
cherish one wish, one hope, and let that be for the peace and quiet
of our country. Let us, as a band of brothers, unite and emulate
each other in our exertions to benefit and improve this our
beautiful, and which soon must be our happy and prosperous, home.

Done at Monterey, capital of California, this first day of March,
A.D. 1847, and in the seventy-first year of independence of the
United Suites.

S.W. KEARNY
Brig.-Gen., U.S.A., and Governor of California.

The proclamation of General Kearny gave great satisfaction to the
native as well as the emigrant population of the country. Several of
the alcaldes of the district of my jurisdiction, as well as private
individuals (natives of the country), expressed, by letter and orally,
their approbation of the sentiments of the proclamation in the warmest
terms. They said that they were heartily willing to become Americans
upon these terms, and hoped that there would be the least possible
delay in admitting them to the rights of American citizenship. There
was a general expectation among natives as well as foreigners, that a
representative form of territorial government would be immediately
established by General Kearny. Why this was not done, is explained by
the recent publication of General Scott's letter to General Kearny,
dated November 3rd, 1846, of wh