228 ElyDORADO 



commanding officer on the field of battle and addressed 

 him as follows : 



GENERAL: I have been appointed by the dele- 

 gates elected by the people of California to form a 

 Constitution, to address you in their names and in be- 

 half of the whole people of California, and express 

 the thanks of the Convention for the aid and co-opera- 

 tion they have received from you in the discharge of 

 the responsible duty of creating a state government. 

 And, sir, the Convention as wou will perceive from 

 the official records, duly appreciates the great and 

 important services you have rendered to our common 

 country and especially to the people of California, and 

 entertains the confident belief that you will receive 

 from the whole people of the United States, when 

 you retire from your official duties here, that verdict 

 so grateful to the heart of the patriot: 'well done 

 thou good and faithful servant !' 



"General Riley was visibly affected by this mark of 

 respect, no less appropriate than well deserved on his 

 part. The tears in his eyes and the plain blunt sin- 

 cerity of his voice and manner went to the heart of 

 every one present. 'Gentlemen,' he said, 'I never 

 made a speech in my life. I am a soldier — but I can 

 feel ; and T do feel deeply the honor you have this day 

 conferred upon me. Gentlemen, this is a prouder day 

 to me than that on which mv soldiers cheered me on 

 the field of Contreras. T thank you all from mv heart. 

 T have no fear for California while the peoole have 

 chosen their representatives so wiselv. Gentlemen, I 

 congratulate you upon the successful conclusion of 

 your arduous labors, and T wish you all happiness 



