424 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



and makes public education of primary importance. 

 In this view, the Constitution of California provides 

 for, and guarantees in the most ample manner, the 

 establishment of common schools, seminaries and col- 

 leges, so as to extend the blessings of education 

 throughout the land, and secure its advantages to the 

 present and future generations. Under the peculiar 

 circumstances in ^hich California becomes a State — 

 with an unexampled increase of a population coming 

 from every part of the world, speaking various lan- 

 guages, and imbued with different feelings and preju- 

 dices, no form of government, no system of laws, can 

 be expected to meet with immediate and unanimous 

 assent. It is to be remembered, moreover, that a con- 

 siderable portion of our fellow-citizens are natives of 

 Old Spain, Californians, and those who have volun- 

 tarily relinquished tlie rights ef Mexican.3 to enjoy 

 those of American citizens. Long accustomed ta a 

 different form of government, regarding the rights of 

 person and of property as interwoven with ancient 

 usages and time-honored customs, they may not at 

 once see the advantages of the proposed new govern- 

 ment, or yield an immediate approval of new laws, 

 however salutary their provisions, ar condueive to the 

 general welfare. But it is confidently believed, whea 

 the government as now proposed shall have gone into 

 successful operation, when each department thereof 

 shall move on harmoniously in its appropriate and 

 respective sphere, when laws, based on the eternal 

 principles of equity and justice^ shall be established, 

 when every citizen of California, shall find himself 

 secure in life, liberty, and property — all v<^ill unite in 

 the cordial support of institutions, which are not only 

 the pride and boast of every true-hearted citizen of the 



