doc241 - Schoenherr Home Page in Sunny Chula Vista

seized. He wanted to know what he should do. I told him perhaps he could find somebody
to buy them. 'Well, why don't you buy them?' 'Well, I don't want them, but to keep
them from being seized, I will take them at $65, and pay you $50 cash, if you will allow
me the $15 I was to have out of the case.' So he agreed and the barkeeper made out a
bill of sale and the Mexican made his mark, and I had just paid him $50 and put the bill
of sale in my pocket when in steps Agostin Haraszthy with an attachment. He asked me
if Morales had a horse, saddle, and bridle in my yard? I said 'No.' 'Well, he did have.'
'Yes, but he has none now; he has just sold them,' and I showed him the bill of sale. He
threw it down and swore that it was 'one of our damned Yankee tricks!' He always hated
me, after that."
E. W. Morse is authority for the following story
"Philip Crosthwaite was county treasurer in 1850, and as the law then required
each county treasurer to appear in person in Sacramento and pay over the money due
the State and settle with the State treasurer, he proceeded to Sacramento at the required
time, and paid over the funds due the State--somewhat less than $200. As his
traveling fees amounted to $300, he returned with more money than he took up, having
made his annual, and, to him, very satisfactory settlement. But it is said the State treasurer
suggested to him that under similar conditions it would be more satisfactory to the
State if he should play the role of the embezzler and run away with the State funds before
settlement day."
Page 236
The political life of the early days was thoroughly characteristic of pioneer conditions,
yet many able and high-minded men were engaged in the public service, though
there were doubtless others who were illiterate and incompetent. Social customs have
improved since judges adjourned court in order to take a drink or to witness a bull-andbear
fight. It was the customs rather than the courts that were to blame for such things.
In 1851 a strong agitation began in favor of dividing the state and organizing
Southern California as a separate territory. Public sentiment in San Diego supported the
movement, and a committee was appointed to co-operate with Los Angeles, Santa Barbara,
and Monterey in bringing it to fruition. In 1859 the legislature submitted the question
to a referendum vote in the six southern counties. It was carried by a two-thirds majority,
but the legality of the vote was questioned, much opposition arose, and the effort
was abandoned.
Under date of Feb. 13, 1849, James Buchanan, Secretary of State, issued instructions
for running the international boundary line between the United States and
Mexico. The head of the Commission, who came to San Diego in connection with the
work, was Colonel John B. Weller, of Ohio, afterward governor of California and one of
its representatives in the United States Senate. He was accompanied by Andrew B.
Gray, surveyor, Wm. H. Emory, astronomer, and Oliver S. Witherby, quartermaster and
commissary. The instructions of the Commission were to "run and mark that part of the
boundary consisting of a straight line from a point on the coast of the Pacific Ocean distant
one marine league due south of the southernmost point of the port of San Diego, to
the middle of the Rio Gila, where it unites with the Colorado." The initial point of the