hubert howe bancroft - Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History ...

THE PEOPLE MOVING. 279
On the 11th of May business was suspended in San
Francisco that a loyal demonstration might be made.
The city was swathed in national colors, and one lone
palmetto flag, raised by a daring Breckenridge man
named Nash, was lowered by the people in an emphatic
manner.* Several prominent citizens of dubious tendencies
took their stand openly for the federal government
against secession. Senators Latham and Mc-
Dougal, generals Shields and Sumner, and others
made speeches in favor of coercion. At this date
John G. Downey, 6 as lieutenant-governor, had succeeded
to the executive office vacated by Latham.
The rapid growth of union sentiment throughout
the state decided the legislature to pledge the support
of the government, which it did on the l7th. T The
John H. Brewer. In Fay'i Historical Facts, MS., which is an autobiography
chiefly, it is mentioned that in the elections of 1860 he received but 1500
votes, but that in 1861 he came within 500 of an election. Fay was born in
Soutliboro, Mass., and came to Cal. by sea in 1849, as one of a company of
22, calling itself the Northwestern Association of Boston, owning the vessel
in which they sailed. He went into business in the mines, and afterward in
S. F.
*S. F. Bulletin,, May 11, 1861. A Pacific republic flag was hoisted on
board a surveying schooner at Stockton Jan. 16th, creating much feeling.
In 8. F. the palmetto flag was raised in Feb., and hauled down again, in
May the Bear flag was raised at Los Angeles. This flag was raised at Sonoma
and at San Bernardino. It was simply a secession demonstration, and
was not allowed to float any length of time. 8. F. Alia, June 22 and July 9, •
1861; Sac. Union, June 24, 18W.
8 A native of county Roscomraon, Ireland, and of distinguished ancestry,
Oov. Downey came to California in 1849 with $10 in his pocket, and after a
varied experience opened at Los Angeles in 1850 what was then the only
drug-store between San Francisco and San Diego. Here he accumulated
$30,000 within three years, and then engaged in stock-raising and real estate
operations, whereby he accumulated a handsome fortune, purchasing about
75,000 acres near the present site of Downey, Wilmington, San Pedro, and
eUewhere. Among his possessions is the Santa Gertrudes rancho, noted for
its beauty and mineral springs. His administration as governor was universally
commended, and as a private citizen, and one to whose enterprise and
liberality is largely due the prosperity of southern California, he is no less
widely esteemed.
7 On the authority of Gen. Wool, Floyd, the secretary of war, placed,
for itafe-keeping, in southern arsenals 135,430 government arms from the
Springfield, Mass., U. S. armory alone, with ordnance and military stores.
Tnis was independent of the quota of these states. To Cal. 7,000 were sent
to which the state had no claim. The whole number of arms surreptitiously
sent to Cal. was 60,000, of which 30,000 wa* returned in 1861. About
the 1st of Feb. 1861, Crittemlen, assemblyman from El Dorado, said :i effect
that 30.000 men in Cal. would take up arms in defence of secession, if the
government attempted to enforce the federal laws in this state. Rumors