PBA Galleries

80 lines, in ink, on 3 pages of a 4-page lettersheet, with address on the 4th page. 25x20 cm. (9¾x7¾").

Historically important letter reporting on the first California Constitutional Convention, convened at the behest of  Bvt. Brig. Gen. Bennett C. Riley, ex officio Governor of California, which took place in September and October of 1849. Henry Tefft, author of the letter, represented the San Luis Obispo District. He was married to Eliza Josefa Dana, daughter of William (Guillermo) Goodwin Dana, Santa Barbara Alcalde, appraiser, sea captain, trader, rancher, store keeper, and a cousin of Richard Henry Dana, Jr., author of Two Years Before the Mast. Tefft writes to his father-in-law on the progress of the convention, a crucial event in the history of California, and of prime significance to the wealthy Americanos who had settled in Mexican California and married into the landed gentry. Tefft begins his letter on Sept. 15, writes a little over a page, and finished it off on October 3.  In part: "Having an opportunity, I avail myself of it to write you a few lines in relation to the proceedings of the Convention... General Vallejo is a member of the Convention from Sonoma, Capt. Sutter from Sacramento. There are 43 members having seats and I do not exaggerate when I say that the Delegates of this Convention will compare more than favorably with the Senate & Assembly of either New York or Massachusetts..." On Oct. 3 he continues, "We have not as yet completed our labor here... We are now on the second reading of he Articles - Slavery and Dueling are Prohibited - All Indians who may be made electors by a special Act of the Legislature are allowed to vote. The boundary of the State is declared to be North-South and West as heretofore and the Eastern boundary the old line as laid down on the maps between California and New Mexico...  The Legislature are to convene at the Capitol the 'Pueblo de San Jose' on the 15th of December. And within four days thereafter elect by joint ballot 2 Senators in Congress... It is said that the Navy Department for the Pacific Coast is to be established at Monterey..."