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"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
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Governor Leland Stanford Inaugural Address January 10, 1862
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| Parent | Parent Candidate |
| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Post Date | , 12:am |
| Description | Gentlemen of the Legislature and Fellow Citizens:
With a radical change in the political character of the new Administration, from that of its predecessors, there seems to be, in assuming the responsibilities of the Chief Executive of the State, a special fitness that I should observe the custom which has heretofore obtained, and give a brief exposition of the general policy that will govern my Administration.
The Constitution enjoins upon the Legislature to encourage, by all suitable means, the promotion of intellectual, scientific, moral and agricultural improvement. In aid of all these, I shall regard it as my imperative duty to co-operate.
It is the policy of the General Government, as it is of the State, to encourage settlements upon lands belonging to the public, and in furtherance of such policy, liberal inducements are offered. Yet, under the ruling of our Courts, the Settler, who has gone in good faith upon private lands, not segregated, supposing them to be public, and in fact even when upon the public domain, may yet be dispossessed by one whose only claim is that he owns lands within boundaries that include the property in question. That a person who owns or claims but one league of land, should be able to hold, control, and dispossess others from a hundred leagues, is not only manifestly unjust to individuals, but is also to the great detriment of Agriculture and the settlement and development of the resources of the State. I cannot but think that some legislation should be had whereby the Settler, who in good faith has gone upon private lands, not segregated from thc public domain, under the supposition that he was locating upon lands belonging to the Government, should receive such equitable protection as the State is able to give.
While the settlement of our State is of the first importance, the character of those who shall become settlers is worthy of scarcely less consideration. To my mind it is clear, that the settlement among us of an inferior race is to be discouraged, by every legitimate means. Asia, with her numberless millions, sends to our shores the dregs of her population. Large numbers of this class are already here; and, unless we do something early to check their immigration, the question, which of the two tides of immigration, meeting upon the shores of the Pacific, shall be turned back, will be forced upon our consideration, when far more difficult than now of disposal. There can be no doubt but that the presence of numbers among us of a degraded and distinct people must exercise a deleterious influence upon the superior race, and, to a certain extent, repel desirable immigration. It will afford me great pleasure to concur with the Legislature in any constitutional action, having for its object the repression of the immigration of the Asiatic races. |
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