The Express.
London, England, 1851-11-19 00:00:00

ITNI'rED STATES.

•
Our correspOndent writes as follows :
NEW YORK, Nov. 5.
Since my last, we have the arrival of the Flank-
lin, after a shortglsage of 10 days 15 hours, and
a special envoy Spain with a budget of cum-
plaints.
Siuce my last, the steamer Cherokee has arrived
from Chagres, with the Isthmus news, intelligence
from California, South America, Central America,
and a freight of two millions and a half of gold dust.
It is now established beyond a doubt, that the yield
of gold is becoming larger than ever, that new locali-
ties of immense value have recently been discovered,
and that as yet we have known but little of the
mineral wealth of the country. The democratic
ticket has prevailed by a large. majority, and the
vigilance committee has relinquished its operations.
Most of the foreign robbers and convicts have de-
parted for Australia, where I imagine Lynch law
will not be without authority.
The following extracts will give you some idea of
the state of things in California. The Courier of
San Francisco says :
Our city is quite healthy, and, we are happy to say, almost
free from crime. Nut au outrage of an aggravated charac-
ter has been committed for a long time past. Peace and
security arc enjoyed to the fullest extent. The band of
criminals that once infested us has been terror-stricken and
has fled to the four quarters of the globe. They no longer
exhibit their hideous front in our midst. Encouraged by
this, the Vigilance Committee have suspended their sessions
of the entire body, and have appointed an executive com-
mittee of forty-five to exercise watchfulness and see that
such an organisation of crime as once existed does not
again come to a head. It has still the power to convene the
whole body in cases of emergency. Its functions arc only
suspended, not extinct.
The inhabitants of the southern part of our state still
continue to agitate the question of a division of the state,
desiring to procure for themselves a territorial government.
All the recently elected delegates to the Assembly from
that section are pled .d to urge such a division. Meetings
have been held, resolutions passed, and strong addresses
issued to the inhabitants of South California, to organise for
the prosecution of what seems to have become "a one idea."
A convention of delegates will be held either in Santa Bar-
bara or Los Angelis., during the month of October, to take
steps towards the consummation of this object.
A number of our adventurous citizens, excited by the
accounts of the revolution now in progress in Cuba, have
determined to go forth to the assistance of the struggling
patriots. Colonel George White heads them. They leave
to-day (Oct. 1).
In consequence, as is asserted, of the non-fulfilment of
the conditions of the bonds given by General Vallejo
for the erection of suitable buildings for the accommodation
of the state officers and legislature, the Governor has
removed the capital from Vallejo to San Jose, the for-
mer capital.
Mining operations of all kinds have proved remarkably
profitable. All accounts concur in saying that the yield of
the placers has never been greater than at present, while
the daily discoveries of rich auriferous quartz veins, and
the developments of those already worked indicate that
even if the placers fail, art undiminished supply of gold
may be obtained from the hills and mountains.
In Oregon the immigrants are rapidly arriving. The
Indians on the road had been very troublesome, frequently
attacking trains, and connuittiug the most barbarous
atrocitie, . . .

S.eps had been taken by a convention of delegates from
the country north of the Columbia River to obtain a sepa-
rate territorial government, or, on failure of that, to orga-
nise a state govtrnmeut, and ask for admission into tho
Union.

Throughout the mines the same diminution of crime has
been perceptible that has been witnessed in San Francisco.
Not a singl. execution, either by law or vigilance associa-
tions, has taken place in the state for the last month. This
is a most gratifying state of things.
In the political world the great point of interest just now
is as to who will be the United States senator in place of
Colonel Fremont. The democrat have many candidates,
among whom may be numbered Colonel Winn, T. J.
Henley, Colonel Weller, lion. David C. Broderick, lion.
Nathaniel Bennett; Colonel Fremont having retired from
political life, as we hear. These are all the democratic can-
didates we hear of.
The city is rapidly spreading, and now presents that mas-
sive appearance which always distinguishes a city from a
village. Many large and elegant brick and stone buildings
have been erected since the fires of May and June. The
burnt districts may be said to have been built up again.
Trade is reviving, and the prospects are encouraging. It is
to be hoped that we may escape the ravages of fire hereafter.
Society, also, is undergoing great and gratifying changes.
Every steamer brings an accession to the number of Ame-
rican ladies, and school houses and romping children have
already ceased t., be novelties in our midst.
We must not forget to notice the gratifying fact that hor•
ticulture and agriculture aru engaging the attention of our
people throughout the state. We think the products of our
soil (with exception of grain) the present year will nearly
equal the wants of our people. The choicest vegetables, in
every variety, are produced in almost every section of the
state, and our tables, in this respect, as well as others, pre-
sent a variety not surpassed by any other state iu the
Union.

-...-...
Several important discoveries of silver had been made in
the Saa Joaquin district. In the region of the Four Creeks
deposits are found in large quantities The ore is a kind of
black sulphuret of silver, is blackish, brittle, cellular—affurl-
ing globules of silver at the blow-pipe. The Spaniards call
it negrillo. The specimens brought down to San Francisco
by Mr. Wallis were analysed by Moffatt and Co., with the
following result: Solver in a ton weight of the ore,
206 dots. ; gold in ditto, 27 dots. 00e. ; Load in ditto,
1,500 lbs. Mr. llolden has discovered u very extensive
silver mine at Sonora, which prospects fifty cents. per pound
silver, and fifteen cents per Fuund gold, with other asso-
ciated nieta:s. If the mine proves as rich as the prospect,
it will be worth all the gold mines in the southern district.
By this arrival we have very interesting intelli-
gence from the Isthmus. The railway has beta com-
pleted to Gatun' and a train drawn by a locomotive
engine has passed over the road. In about eight
months more, the road will be completed to Panama.
It is about time that the transit in this way was
effected. The next steamers from this port will run
to Navy Bay.
On the 18th of October last, a series of bloody ren-
contres took place at Chagres, between the native
and foreign boatmen. No doubt the fault is with
the latter, who have determined to do all the busi-
ness.
The following is a statement of the difficulties, re-
lated by a person entitled to credit:
CHI/GRES, Oct. 23.—0 n our arrival at Panama, in the
Oregon, on the 18th of October, we learned that a few
days before a difficulty had occurred at Chagres between
the native and foreign boatmen (most of whom were Ame-
ricans), in which several were wounded on both sides.
This had arisen out of an attempt on the part of the foreign
boatmen to prevent the natives from carrying passengers to
and from the steamers in the harbour, because they some•
times transported them at a less price than the tanff fixed
by the foreign boat club. All appeared to he quiet again,
however, on our arrival at Chagres, on the evening of the
21st; and as the American side of' the river was greatly
crowded with passengers, our party, consisting of some
fourteen or fifteen gentlemen and four ladies, took lodgings
on the other side, at a hotel kept by a native of the coun-
try, while waiting for the mails and treasure to arrive for
the Cherokee.
The next day, a little after twelve o'clock, a native boat-
man was attacked and severely beaten by some of the
others, on the American side, and immediately on learn-
ing it the greatest excitement prevailed on our side the
river. The whole population of natives, Carthagenians
and Jamaica negroes, turned out, armed with guns, sa-
bres, and almost every seription of weapons, and crossed
the rive) an a body. Moat of the foreign boatmen fled to
the woods ; but several shots were fired by the assailants,
and, as nearly as we could learn, three of the foreigners
were wounded. Ni, violence was offered to passeiren, the
natives and negrors constantly declaring that their quarrel
was only with the boatmen, and that they would do no harm
to the Californian., through whom they earned
their livelihood. Shots were fired, however, at the
office of the American Consul, Mr. Gleason, against
whom they were greatly exasperated. No resistance
being offered them, they recrossed the river, and after seve-
ral speeches were made in Spanish and English, the gene-
ral tenor of which was to recommend good order and care
not to confound the passengers with the boatmen, all again
became quiet on that side.
During the night, however, it seems that a meeting was
held by the boatmen on the American side, at which a
L number of passengers were present, 'and it was resolved
that if any native boats crossed the river iu the morning to
take off passengers to the Cherokee (the mails and treasure
having arrived) they should be fired into. This uncalled-
for and imprudent interference by passengers in a quarrel
which they had no business to intermeddle with, against
' the party which thus far undoubtedly had the right on
their side, and in opposition really to their own interests,
was the subsequent cause of the lose of many lives, and of
converting the good feeling entertained by the natives
1 towards the Californians into a deadly animosity against
all Americans, no =Mr whom.

The next morning all was perfectly quiet on the Spanish
side, and at about eight o'clock a largo number of native
boats had cross:d the river, unsuspicious of any danger, to
take off passengers to the &termer. Several of these were
filled with travellers and their baggage, when suddenly, re.
gardltri of the safety of these last, a murderous fire wan
opened upon them, with guns and revolvers, by the Ameri-
can boatmen, assisted by many of the Californians before-
mentioned, and, in a few minutes, several boats, emptied of
their occupants, were seen drifting out to sea. How many
were killed or drowned here it is impassible to say. Those
of the natives who sec sped the fire, which was continued
so long as a boat belonging to them was within reach,
paddled back to their own side of the river, where the
me.t fearful excitement now prevailed. It was known
that others than the boatmen had participated in the
attack just made, and a violent feeling of hostility against
all their countrymen was very naturally aroused. The
streets were again thronged with armed men, in re-
doubled numbers, and death to all the Aluericanos was
shouted from every quarter. A scattered firing upon the
other side was commenced along the beach, and the most
furious cries of vengeance filled the air. The deep and

shutters of our hotel were closed and fastened ; our imme.
diate party being all fortunately within at this time, :ind
all retired to n large room on the second floor. Throte.th
the Venetian blinds which covered our windows we could
see the boats loaded with passmgers hastening off to the
steamer from the other side, and hear the consultation. of
the crowds who filled the streets on each side of us. Pre-
sently there was a cry of Al rostilio ! ' and hundreds of
them hurried up the hill to the old tee. Powder was pro.
cured, and some one of the smaller of the old guns there
was mounted on the wall in a manner to hear upon the
American town, and firing was commenced, apparently
with round shot. An hour or so later another gun opened
also from the fort; and not long after another still was
dragged down to the cathare.tde.ru, and commenced lie big
across the river."
The writer then mentions two or three murderous attacks
which he witnessed in the street, on several persons whom
he recognised as his fellow-passengers on the Oregon. It
does not appear, however, that any of theta were killed,
though one of hem was very dangerously wounded. No
names are given. Ile next narrates the escape of himselfand
party in a boat belonging to an English steamer, which also
took part of the treasure (about 2,500,000 deb.) intended for
the Cherokee. This, he states, the agents had got " out of the
launches in which it came down the river, into the English
specie vault, in which they,win the boat's crew under their
' charge, were compelled to lock themselves up for safety
• during the heat of the excitement. They state that from the
loop-holes in the vault they saw six or seven of the natives
shot at the cannon, by Mica from the American side. How
' many were killed in all it is difficult to say • probably about
12 or 15 natives, exclusive of those drowned, if any were,
and two Americans, that we know of, and live or six others
that we heard of, on the Spanish -ide. Of the number
killed or hurt on the Anterican side by the cannon the
writer has no means of judging. Probably not much
damage was done, as the town appeared to be deserted
when the fire opened from the fort."

The effect of this will be to help the Nicaragua
route very materially.
The Empire City has just arrived from Chagres,
with four days' later news front the Isthmus. The
bloody conflicts between the native and foreign boat-
men have ceased, and the communication with the
Pacific in that direction is as safe us ever.
We have some further news from the Sierra
Madre. Advices from Galveston to the 24th, an-
nounce that General Smith had received orders to
employ all the disposable force in his power, to pre-
vent any American expedition from crossing the Rio
Grande. It is the intentiong General Smith to mako
a complete change in the present system of frontier
operations against the Indians.
Our domestic news has much interest. A Wash-
ington letter writer says : " It is ascertained beyond
doubt that Mr. Crampton, the British Charge (rid in-
terim) here, presented to this government a despatch
in which it is stated that the French and English
governments had issued orders, in case of the sailing
of any further parties to invade Cuba, to search all
vessels of a suspicious character, whether sailing
under the United States or any other flag. It is sup-
posed that Mr. Webster has already answered this
communication, will there is no reason to suppose he
has not indignantly denied the right of any nation to
search a vessel sailing under our flag. It ui a tbrtu-
nate matter for the peace of the world that the
threatened course was not put in practice, as hut one
result could have followed. Congress will, of course,
call for this correspondence at an early day, and, it
being contrary to usage to make it public till asked
for by Congress, we must only wait patiently."
In relation to the communications handed in by
Mr. Crampton, we hear front very good authority
that Mr. Webster has said, if the English or French
claim to exercise the right of search, it will be good
cause of war. I have repeatedly said in my letters
of late that a foreign war for many reasons, particu-
larly those connected with excessive immigration,
and our declining manufactures,would not be eery un-
acceptable at this moment to the great musses of tho
American people.
The Chevalier lltilseman, the Austrian Charge, if
we may believe common rumour, has informed our
government that if Kossuth has a public reception,
he will demand his passports. The government of
this country cannot prevent that reception. Let mo
add, however, that this story about the Austrian
Chargé is contradicted.
As I close this letter we have learned the result
of the election in this city. The democrats have
swept everything before them. Thousands of Whigs
voted their ticket, disgusted with the corrupt con-
duct of tho Common Council for the lust two years.