2i6 ELDORADO 



land-voyagers sprealing themselves far and wide over 

 a country which seems suited to their taste. They are 

 cultivating farms, establishing vineyards, erecting 

 mills, sawing lumber, building workshops, and doing 

 a thousand other things which seem natural to them, 

 but which Californians neglect or despise. What then 

 are we to do? Shall we remain supine while these 

 daring strangers are overrunning our fertile plains and 

 gradually outnumbering and displacing us? Shall 

 these things go on until all shall become strangers in 

 our own land? Perhaps what I am about to suggest 

 may seen to some faint hearted and dishonorable. But 

 to me it does not appear so. It is our duty voluntarily 

 to connect ourselves with a power able and willing to 

 preserve us. I see no dishonor in this last refuge of 

 the oppressed and powerless, and I bodly avow that 

 such is the step I would have California take. There 

 are two great powers in Europe which seem destined 

 to divide between them the unappropriated countries 

 of the world. They have large fleets and armies 

 practiced in the art of war. Is it not better that 

 one of them should be invited to send a fleet and an 

 army to protect California, rather than we should fall 

 an cask prey to the lawless adventurers who are 

 overrunning our beautiful country. I pronounce for 

 annexation to France or England." To this speech 

 General Vallejo replied as follows : "I cannot, gentle- 

 men, coincide in opinion with the military and civil 

 functionaries who have advocated the cession of our 

 country to France or England. It is most true that 

 to rely any longer upon Mexico to govern and de- 



