HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistory of San Luis Obispo 5History of San Luis Obispo 5
Joseph A. Carotenuti
City Historian/Archivist
Put yourself in their shoes. The mission settlement of San Luis
Obispo is now part of a new nation, laws, traditions, customs
and beliefs. Indeed, some among you have been citizens of
three sovereign nations. Your obligation is to establish some form a local
government in concert with the new nation’s Constitution (only vaguely known).
So it was on September 9, 1850 when California became the 31st state of the
Union. Set against an increasingly strident debate between “slave” and “free”
states, the Compromise of 1850 allowed California a star on the American flag.
Fortunately, the years between 1846 with the raising of the Stars and Stripes in
Monterey to Statehood had spared San Luis Obispo much of the chaos and
disorder of the north. While far from the formerly somnolent settlement along
San Francisco Bay with its dazzling array of humanity intent on accumulating
wealth, the central coast had few resources available for the governmental
seismic shift.
As if scripted for a theatrical production, an entirely unexpected overlay of
humanity poured into the eventual state fueled by the allure and fascination with
gold. Within a very short time, those who sought instant wealth – and even more
who never found it – inundated whatever semblance of order existed in the vast
territory. For a loosely organized area along the central coast, few had even a clue
as to what to do to “insure domestic tranquility.”
Even before an attempt was made to form a constitution for an eventual state,
governance was by the military. First as an occupied territory as a “belligerent” in
the Mexican-American War and then as a military protectorate of the United
States formalized by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), there was little
experience in forming civic protocols to replicate locally.
Recalling the 1849 State Constitution Convention (it was replaced 30 years later)
provides a fascinating report of men originally from many parts of the nation
meeting in Monterey debating just what kind of government and laws were to be
provided for the new state. There were few Californios involved in the discussion
and many required a translator. Locally, Henry Tefft from Nipomo was among the
delegates.
Against a backdrop of a few fortunes and many more frustrations, California was
finally admitted into the Union four years after the Union Jack was raised in the
capital. The debates in Congress over admission provide a preview of the fissure
in democracy that resulted in the brutality of the Civil War a decade later.
Having attained Statehood, simply finding enough lodging for the legislators to
determine state regulations had been a challenge. California’s capitol started in
San Jose moved first to Vallejo, then Benicia, followed by Sacramento (twice) and
San Francisco before settling in its current location. At least for our county, the
place… Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa…became the center of governance…but
only for the new County.
Even though there was a State Constitution, a designated county and county seat,
locally there were few to somehow assume the reins of leadership, develop, pass
and enforce laws, and – most importantly – pay for the machinery of government.
Next time: San Luis Obispo continues to contend with governance.
Questions? Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com