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

280 PERIOD OF CIVIL WAR.
militia law had already been thoroughly revised, the
state militia being organized in six divisions and twelve
brigades, with a full staff of officers for each, and for
were afloat that the presidio and the forts on Alcatraz island wonld be captured,
with the custom-house, mint, post-office, and all U. S. property, after
which the rebels would proceed to invade Sonora, to add that territory to
the Pacific republic. Officers were named. The Mexican vote was counted
upon, and it was hoped to catch the Irish. The catholic vote was counted
upon, because both these men were of that faith, and so the French. It
appears from revelations made at a later period that Floyd Bent in all
75,000 muskets to Cal. without the knowledge of congress. About the time
a man named Street was postmaster at Shasta. His successor discovered
among a lot of waste papers a number of letters from a brother of this man,
Charles R. Street, editor of the Marysville Express, the same one who afterwards
conducted disloyal newspapers in Idaho and other territories. These
letters came into the possession of Judge Goodwin of Yuba. They revealed
much of the plan, with some of the names of the conspirators, but only a
portion of them were published, in the Stockton Independent of Aug. 31,
1863. One of these letters dated Dec. 27, 1860 at S. Y. declares that the
writer Charles R. Street, had a talk with several men here about what California
would do in the event of a separation between the northern and southern
states. "Mr Guthrie of the Herald declines to publish the letter of Mr
Burch for the present—wants to wait for further news from the east, at
least until the arrival of one pony. The fact is he is afraid of the issue,
and perhaps not without reason.... I saw Gen. Shields this morning and
had quite a talk with him about the matter and I will predict here that
if any great effort is made to separate from the east, he will be the leader of
the movement He intimates that it had been proposed to him to take the
initiative in this thing, but that he had replied as Benton had replied on
a certain occasion. ' No, I will not do it; it is useless to shoot at the moon.'
Yet I could not help perceiving that he thought circumstances might arise
before the trouble works itself out, that would turn the current of opinion
in favor of a separate republic. In this correspondence Street said that
congressman Burck declared all the representatives of Oregon, Washington,
and Arizona in favor of the movement, and that Latham approved it.
Latham afterward retracted. So did I. I. Stevens of W. T., but Lane
blindly ruined himself by it. Downey is mentioned as uncertain. Dosh, of
the Shasta Courier was named as favorable. 'I will keep you posted/ said
Street to his brother, ' as far as I am able, of events and purposes here, and
advise you to caution and secrecy.' ' We have not the least aoubt,' said the
editor of the Stockton Independent, * that Gwin was at the head of this conspiracy;
not the least doubt that Johnston was sent to the command of this
department at the request of the conspirators, and for the express purpose
of doing their executive work.' Whatever intention the conspirators may
have entertained, there is still an honorable doubt of Johnston s complicity.
Probably they hoped to use him for their purposes; but the arrival of Sumner
at too early a moment prevented the consummation of any project to
secure the public property in and about S. F. The conspirators haa confided
in Doane, the sheriff of S. F., whom they l>elieved to be a secessionist, but
who was a union man, and who consulted with the chief of the fire department,
who entered into his plans, several of the fire companies being also
military companies that would number 1,000 men, who could be called together
at a given signal of the fire-bell, armed and equipped. This matter
being arranged there was held an interview with Gen. Jonnston, who denied
all knowledge of the plot. The S. F Bulletin of Feb. 2, 1861, contains an
editorial, headed Needless Alarms, declaring 'there are 100,000 men in California
who would have to be put to the sword before any secession tricks or