August, Commodore Stockton, who had succeeded Sloat, and who styled himself " Commander-in-Chief and Governor of the Territory of Ccdifornia" announced in a proclamation, " The flag of the United States is now flying from every commanding position in the Territory, and California is entirely free from Mexican dominion. The territory of California now belongs to the United States." On the * For the documents here quoted, see Ex. Doc. 20 Cong, 2 Sess. House of Rep , No. 4.
28th of the same month, he wrote home, " this rich and beautiful country belongs to the United States, and is for EVER free from Mexican dominion." All this, it must be admitted, was quick work. On the 'Zth July, Monterey was taken, and in six weeks the object of the war was accomplished, '' the rich and beautiful country belonged to the United States." Not a life appears to have been lost in the conquest. The Mexican government had made no declaration of war, and its whole attention was en- grossed by the defence of its territory on the Rio Grande. The inhabitants of Cahfornia were utterly unprepared for war, and were as ignorant as Commodore Sloat himself of the action of Congress.