HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



449 



of war, enemies' troops could be landed for many 

 miles south of the entrance of the bay on the sea 

 beach, and thus cut it off by a short line across the 

 peninsula on which it stands. There are points on 

 the bay, more inland, having good harbors and land 

 ings, good water, and open to the whole country in 

 rear, and accessible without difficulty to ships of the 

 largest class. One of these should be the point at 

 which the future depots should be established ; and I 

 propose to go to-morrow in the Edith, in company with 

 Commodore Jones and other officers of the army and 

 navy, to examine tbe straits of Karquinez, said to 

 combine most advantages. I hope to return and 

 report the result of our examination before the next 

 mail boat leaves, (on Monday, 9th,) but at any rate 

 by the succeeding boat, a few days afterwards. 



I hope that in fixing the port of entry, capital, or 

 other public places, the law will leave to the President 

 the selection; otherwise, private interests already 

 involved in speculation here, will, by misrepresenta 

 tion, lead to a very bad choice. 



If Congress has not provided by law for the govern 

 ment of this Territory, or its admission as a State, I 

 would be very glad that the government would official 

 ly promulgate its views as to the civil authority now 

 exercised here. Some important questions of law, 

 involving both life and property, are now depending ; 

 and judges and jurors, without experience in these 

 difficult questions, are called upon to act under great 

 responsibility. 



It appears to be the opinion of merchants in many 

 of the ports of the Pacific and they allege in sup 

 port of it the advice of some of our consuls that in 

 virtue of the circular of the Secretary of the Treasury 

 38* 



