224 ELDORADO 



fied by the United States the following March and 

 officially proclaimed by the President, July 4th, 1848; 

 and thus the title to California and New Mexico was 

 complete. California was received into the sisterhood 

 of states without having had a territorial existence, 

 contrary to all former precedents. 



She had, as if by magic, become a state of great 

 wealth and power. One short year had given her a 

 commercial importance, but little inferior to that of 

 the most powerful of the old states. According to the 

 recommendation of General Riley, an election of dele- 

 gates to form a Constitutional Convention was held 

 on the first of August, 1849. "^^^^ number of dele- 

 gates to be elected was thirty-seven. The Convention 

 met on September 4th, at Monterey. The proportion 

 of native Californian members to the American was 

 about equal to that of the population. Among the 

 members was Captain John A. Sutter, the pioneer set- 

 tler of California, General Vallejo, and Antonio Pico, 

 who had both been distingutshed men before the con- 

 quest. The whole body commanded respect as being 

 dignified and intellectual. The Declaration of Rights 

 was the first measure adopted by the Convention. The 

 clause prohibiting the existence of slaverv was the 

 unanimous sentiment of the Convention. The discus- 

 sion upon the adoption of the Great Seal of the state 

 was somewhat amusing. A number of designs were 

 offered, the members from different districts were all 

 anxious to have their particular localities represented. 

 The choice finallv fell upon one offered bv Major Gar- 

 nett. The principal figure is Minerva, with snear and 

 shield, emblematic of the manner in which California 



