ganized bands of highwaymen to rob those | relied on an early action of Congress upon returning from the mines. Murders were the Territorial Bill, the assembling of the frequent, and magistrates dared not arrest Convention was postponed until the result the culprits. The first official act of Judge should be known. Dimmick was the issue of a warrant to arrest three ringleaders of a gang for the murder of two men returning from the mines through the district of San José. The prisoners were apprehended and committed. A bill of indictment was found against them for highway robbery and murder. Judge Dimmick them gave summary trial, and on their conviction sentenced them to immediate execution. Before suffering the penalty of their crime they confessed to the murder of five individuals. This energetic enforcement of the law was like an earthquake shock to California, and contributed more than aught else to preserve order and throw a shield over human life throughout her wide borders. Governor Mason addressed him a highly complimentary letter in acknowledgment of his excellent and successful administration of criminal justice. On the 3d of June, 1849, news having arrived of the defeat of the Territorial Government Bill, General Riley, then acting Governor, issued his proclamation recommending the election of delegates in all the districts to a Convention for forming a State Constitution, or territorial organizationwhich Convention was to meet at Monterey on the 1st of September then next. Four days after the largest meeting ever held in San José, composed of both natives and Americans, assembled at the Court House. Again Judge Dimmick presided and presented the resolutions, affirming in strong terms the policy and necessity of assuming State sovereignty. He caused the proclamation to be read in Spanish to the Californians from the Court House steps, and in their own language (which he had acquired during his military service) he explained It had now become apparent to clear- and enforced its purpose and objects. The minded men, from the disordered state of other districts followed this example, and affairs and the large influx of heterogeneous new elections were held in all the districts. population, that the Mexican system was San José manifested her undiminished conwholly inadequate to the protection of prop-fidence in Judge Dimmick, by unanimously erty and personal rights in California. So strongly impressed was Judge Dimmick with the necessity of some remedy for the evils existing, he called a public meeting at San We cannot dwell at length upon the acJosé on the 11th of December, 1848, over tion of Judge Dimmick as a member of this which he presided, and at which he was the body, which comprised the first minds and principal speaker. He showed them the best talent of the territory. He was one of pressing need of taking speedy measures to the Select Committee appointed to report a establish an efficient government, and the plan of a Constitution; and a reference to improbability of Congress doing any thing the published proceedings of the Convention for the protection of the country. He drew will show that from the commencement of up and presented resolutions which were the session to its close, he was diligent in unanimously adopted, recommending to the his attendance, and unremitting in his zeal people of California to choose delegates to to exclude the wrong and save the right in meet in Convention and form a plan for a the organic law of this young State, so fast Territorial or State Government. This was growing to greatness. In organizing a juthe first meeting held, and the first open diciary system, always a task of great diffimovement made in California on this sub-culty, the plan which ultimately prevailed ject. The publication of the proceedings was his; and to the provision securing esand resolutions was followed by similar meet-sential privileges to married women, he gave ings in all the northern districts of California, at which the doings of the San José meeting were read and approved. Elections of delegates were had, and Judge Dimmick was unanimously chosen by his district. Owing to the non-concurrence of a few of the southern districts, which still blindly returning him as one of the delegates from that district, and he presided at the organization of the Convention. effectual support. The debates of this distinguished assemblage exhibit the Judge as a not infrequent participator. His characteristics were strong common sense, directness, and force. He had but little of the graces in manner or matter. His aim was sure and clear, and he marched straightforward to the accomplishment of his object, regard- | platform broad as the Union itself. He is less of intervening obstacles, and heedless of withal a disciplinarian, and knowing that attempts to divert. The qualities which upon the admission of the State into the marked him as a Captain and a Judge, Union her politics must become nationalized gave him power and influence as a states- and assimilated to those of her Atlantic man. If, on a comparison of the Constitu- sisters, he labored, and labored successfully, tion of California with those of her sister to organize a purely Whig party, and build States, it shall be found to guard every right it up on a broad and sure foundation. of the citizen in as full degree, and at the same time be more liberal, catholic and democratic than theirs; it is safe to pronounce that the praise of accomplishing a work of such merit is, in a large measure, due to Judge Dimmick. The establishment of the capital of the State at San José by the Convention, was mainly produced by his personal efforts and popularity. Near the close of the Convention, Judge Dimmick was appointed by Governor Kiley, Chief Judge of the Supreme Court, in which capacity he served until after the organization of the State Government. His last official act was the administration of the oath of office to the first Governor, Burnett, at his inauguration. It is needless to say that Judge Dimmick is and ever has been an ardent Whig-of a The Judge continued to reside as a private citizen at San José until the 1st of June, 1850. During his long absence the beloved youngest of his two children had died. The strong desire to revisit his family after a four years' separation, with a necessity of giving attention to his personal affairs of business, induced him to return to "old Chenango." He arrived home in July, bearing with him the regrets of the many who appreciated his worth in California, and was cordially welcomed by his numerous expectant friends. Whether he will again become a resident of the Golden State is, we learn, problematical. It was his fixed, declared intention to do so, but the home feeling that prompted his return to wife, child, and the scenes of his youth, is like to hush the call of ambition. JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT: CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE ADMINISTRATION. BEFORE these sheets shall have reached | ing the session now almost over. Any hope the hands of our subscribers at a distance from New-York, the present session of Congress will be at an end. Until next December no Senate can further question the Administration, nor can any authoritative body further intervene between it and the heavy responsibility it has assumed. And when the next session shall have opened, political parties and partisans will be more concerned as to the chances of their several favorites in the Presidential contest of '52, than in questions not cardinal to the platform of either party, but of the highest moment to the interest of the whole United States, and to the honor of the Republic. The only possible chance of settling, in a manner truly national, the questions involved in the prerelative positions of the United States, eat Britain and Nicaragua, occurred dur + of taking advantage of that opportunity has |