HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 423 



expediency of several measures embodied in the Con- 

 Btitution ; but looking to the great interests of the 

 State of California, the peace, happiness, and pros- 

 perity of the whole people, — individual opinions were 

 freely surrendered to the will of the majority, and, 

 with one voice, we respectfully hut earnestly i^com- 

 mend to our fellow citizens the adoption of the Con- 

 stitution which we have the honor to submit. 



In establishing a boundary for the State, the con- 

 vention conformed, as near as was deemed practicable 

 and expedient, to great natural landmarks, so as to 

 bring into a union all those who should be included by 

 mutual interest, mutual wants, and mutual dependence. 

 No portion of territory is included, the inhabitants of 

 which were not or might not have been legitimately 

 represented in the convention, under the authority by 

 which it was convened ; and in unanimously resolving 

 to exclude slavery from the State of California, the 

 great principle has been maintained, that to the people 

 of each State and Territory, alone, belongs the right 

 to establish such municipal regulations, and to decide 

 such questions as affect their own peace, prosperity 

 and happiness. 



A free people, in the enjoyment of an elective 

 government, capable of securing their civil, religious, 

 and political lights, may rest assured these inestimable 

 privileges can never be wrested from them, so long as 

 they keep a watchful eye on the operations of their 

 government, and hold to strict accountability those to 

 whom power is delegated. No people were ever yet 

 enslaved, who knew and dared maintain the co-relative 

 rights and obligations of free and independent citizens. 

 A knowledge of the laws — their moral force and effi- 

 cacy, thus becomes an essential element of freedom^ 



