128 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



"I amused myself during the interval bj walking 

 about the town. Every body knew that the Conven 

 tion was about closing, and it was generally under 

 stood that Captain Burton had loaded the guns at the 

 fort, and would fire a salute of thirty-one guns at the 

 proper moment. The citizens, therefore, as well as 

 the members, were in an excited mood. Monterey 

 never before looked so bright, so happy, so full of 

 pleasant expectation. 



" About one o'clock the Convention met again ; few 

 of the members, indeed, had left the hall. Mr. Sem- 

 ple, though in feeble health, called them to order, and, 

 after having voted General Riley a salary of $10,000, 

 and Mr. Halleck, Secretary of State, $6000 a year, 

 from the commencement of their respective offices, 

 they proceeded to affix their names to the completed 

 Constitution. At this moment a signal was given ; 

 the American colors ran up the flag-staff in front of 

 the government buildings, and streamed out on the 

 air. A second afterward the first gun boomed from 

 the fort, and its stirring echoes came back from one 

 hill after another, till they were lost in the distance. 



"All the native enthusiasm of Captain Sutter's 

 Swiss blood was aroused ; he was the old soldier again. 

 He sprang from his seat, and, waving his hand around 

 his head, as if swinging a sword, exclaimed ; ' Gentle 

 men, this is the happiest day of my life. It makes 

 me glad to hear those cannon : they remind me of the 

 time when I was a soldier. Yes, I am glad to hear 

 them this is a great day for California !' Then, 

 recollecting himself, he sat down, the tears streaming 

 from his eyes. The members with one accord, gave 

 three tumultuous cheers, which were heard from one 

 end of the town to the other, As the signing went 



