The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 30, July 1926 - April, 1927 Page: 109
330 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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California and the Nation, 1846-1869
were always some advocates of such a movement, especially at those
times when California felt that it had a grievance against the
United States government. This state of mind, indeed, was the
prevailing one. For, due no doubt, to its isolated situation and
peculiar conditions, the belief was very general that the Pacific
coast was not getting a fair treatment from the central government.
On the eve of the Civil War this idea of a Pacific Republic was
discussed more seriously than at any previous time. Its advocates
at this time were not mere adventurers, but men high in the
counsels of the state; men who had dominated the politics of the
local government for the first decade of its history. These men
were largely Southerners, holding pronounced Southern views. It
was only natural, that, when the issue arose of choosing whether
or not they should support a war against their native states, rela-
tives, and friends, they should seek to avoid it by the organization
of an independent government for California.
During the year and a half preceding the war the question of a
Pacific Republic provoked considerable discussion. The outstand-
ing Democratic leaders were in favor of such a movement. The
proponents of this project claimed that California possessed all
the elements necessary to independent existence; as an independent
republic it would attract capital and a large population; there
was no reason why its commerce should be interrupted. The
strongest argument in favor of the project was that any attempt
to make California contribute to carrying on a war against the
South would result in civil war at home."5 The opponents of a
Pacific Republic pointed out that the commercial interests of
California were closely connected with those of the North; that
independent existence would entail a heavy expense to support an
army and a navy, an expense which the other Pacific coast terri-
tories, to be included within the new republic, would shift to
California; and that, as an independent government, California
would become the prey of European nations.58
And thus the question was discussed throughout the state until
April 25, 1861, when the news came of the taking of Fort Sumter
by South Carolina. The fact that the South had initiated the
war produced a profound sensation in California, and it helped
"Alta, December 8, 1860; Nevada Journal, November 30, 1860.
"Los Angeles Star, April 27, May 2, 11, 1861.109
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 30, July 1926 - April, 1927, periodical, 1927; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117142/m1/123/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.