Kearny, Stephen Watts, and William Branford Shubrick

Circular. To All Whom It May Concern. Be It Known. That the President of the United States, desirous to give and secure to the People of California a share of the good government and happy civil organization enjoyed by the People of the United States, and to protect them at the same time, from the attacks of the foreign foes, and from internal commotions,—has invested the undersigned with separate and distinct powers, civil and military; a cordial cooperation in the exercise of which, it is hoped and believed will have the happy results desired. ... W. Branford Shubrick, Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces. S. W. Kearny, Brig. Gen'l. U.S.A. and Governor of California. Monterey, 1 March 1847



Broadside (9 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.; 241 x 217 mm). Text in parallel columns of English and Spanish. Red cloth slipcase, chemise.

Fahey 77; Greenwood 87; Wagner, California Imprints 5; not in Streeter

A very rare broadside issued by the territorial government of California. The circular announces that President Polk has assigned General Kearny the direction of U.S. land forces as well as the "administrative functions of government over the People and Territory occupied by the forces of the United States." To Commodore Shubrick Polk granted "the regulation of the import trade,—the conditions on which vessels of all nations, our own as well as foreign, may be admitted into the ports of the Territory, and the establishment of all Port Regulations."