31st CONGRESS, | 1st Session. [HO. OF REPS.] EX. DOC. | No. 17. [rule] CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO. [rule] MESSAGE | FROM | THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, | TRANSMITTING | Information in answer to a resolution of the House of the 31st of De- | cember, 1849, on the subject of California and New Mexico. [rule] JANUARY 24, 1850. | | FEBRUARY 6, 1850. | Ordered, That 10,000 copies extra be printed.

Taylor, Zackery (President)

Published by Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1850

About this Item

House issue of first edition. 976 pp. 6 maps (1 Missing/Calif./Ore. Coast Line), 5 folding,Original leather spine with marbled boards. Boards are scuffed and cracked at the outside spine hinges although holding fast/tight.Early owner's name (Elkins) written on front free end-paper. Very nice map of San Francisco and the California Mining District. Besides the conduct of the Mexican War in California, it covers such significant events as the formation of the provisional military government and the transition from territory to statehood. So great was its popularity that Congress ordered 10,000 extra copies to be printed. Among the maps are Derby's chart of the route of General Riley through the mining districts in 1849, Fremont's surveys, military maps of Fort Hall, Monterey, and the Presidio of San Francisco, and Beale's expedition against the Indians. There are also two maps of lower California". Zamorano says: "This thick government compendium contains a wealth of information on the annexation of Alta California by the United States, the changeover from Mexican to American rule, the transition from military to civilian government and the earliest days of the Gold Rush. It systematically documents the work of the federal government in the newly won territory from 1847 to 1849. These were the most important years in California history and no single publication provides as much raw data as does House Executive Document No. 17. It opens with a brief statement by Mexican-American War hero President Zachary Taylor, which touches on California's desire to be admitted to the Union as a state. The federal publication then proceeds with numerous official proclamations, reports, circulars and letters from virtually every important American official in California including Washington Bartlett, Walter Colton, R. B. Mason, Bennet Riley, Jonathan Drake Stevenson, Joseph Folsom, Stephen Watts Kearny, William Tecumseh Sherman, John C. Fremont, and others. Also includes reports from Governor Charles Bent and Indian agent James S. Calhoun, being the earliest accounts by American officials of the Indian tribes of New Mexico, discussing their territories, population statistics, names of leaders, etc.; "Journal of the Convention of the Territory of New Mexico,' September 1849 - the first convention to establish U. S. forms of government in New Mexico; over 20 proclamations and laws of the Mexican government of California prior to the conquest, plus much on California Indians, gold discoveries, etc. The six maps are: Fort Hill in Monterey; the mouth of San Francisco Bay; Lower California; Port Escondido; "Map of Oregon and Upper California from Fremont's surveys (Mostly missing);" "Sketch of Gen. Riley's route through the mining districts. Outside is a bit rough but contents are readable and for the most part clean, complete, and tight.

Seller Inventory # 002749

Bibliographic Details

• Title: 31st CONGRESS, | 1st Session. [HO. OF REPS.] EX. DOC. | No. 17. [rule] CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO. [rule] MESSAGE | FROM | THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, | TRANSMITTING | Information in answer to a resolution of the House of the 31st of De- | cember, 1849, on the subject of California and New Mexico. [rule] JANUARY 24, 1850. | | FEBRUARY 6, 1850. | Ordered, That 10,000 copies extra be printed.
• Publisher: Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.
• Publication Date: 1850
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket