The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-23

mines of wealth are now opened These regions OF
vast extent and remote from the regular settlements
and from the operation of the laws In the solitary
cesses OF the Sierra Nevada little clusters OF men
with nothing but the trees Tor their covering, and no
protection but their own vigilance and strength Many
of these people known possess very large amounts
Of gold (sometmes much twenty thousand doars)
wrapped in their blankets, where there rs no eye 10 see
and agent pursue the guilty Is II strange when the
temptation so great that the robber and assassin should
be abroad among the mountains! Many robberles and
murders known already TO have occurred; but
little attention is excited by these events where all are
in the eager pursuit OF wealth. No conjecture
the extent OF these outrages, for living witnesses are not
at hand, and dead men tell tales" The strong and
firm hand of government must be promptly extended to
save the country from the most revolving acts OF ylo-
lence.
1t becomes matter of vital Importance therefore, that
the most efficient should be taken Tor the
Enlistment and preservation OF good government IN Cal
lforna. The governor of the Territory should be man
OF the highest possible character for talent hrmness, and
integrity and salary hitherto allowed for similar ser
vices in other United States Territories will be an ate
quate compensation here Any good aborer can realize
hty per cent from his services than the highest
government officer receives taking the time together
for year II will be impossible to organize good gov
eminent under suitable unless the salaries OF every
class of government agents proporoned 10 the una
voidable expenses to be incurred in the country
know of no section OF the United States Terri
tories which imperalvely requires strong gar.
rlsons for The preservation OF order Without them
| believe the whole country will sink into anarchy,
and the possible confusion. But 10 preserve Ell
be raised much above the present miserable pance al
lowed by law and very enacmens must be passed
Tor the punishment of deseers and all aders and abet
tiers in deserton American troops have never been eX-
posed to such incentives 10 deseron and II IS no derac
ton from their high character TO say that additional pay
and emoluments for faithful service and severe
punishmens for deserton, mperatvely necessary,
il troops TO be kept in this country Soldiers
meeting persons every day. OF characters and habits IN no
way superior 10 tAer own, who have realized more IRON
three -four weeks labor in the mines, than is paid 10
them for five Of the best years OF their lives devoted 10
the service OF their country The people OF California
sympahize with the soldiers, and deserlIon with a
majority of them is not looked upon stigma upon
the character OF the offender With dazzling pecuniary
prospects before theh and all the feelings of their
ciaes support them, the morals OF the troops will rap
idly detenolae, until the military establishment is
broken up by desertion But if the mines OF California
TO be made of revenue TO the government,
measures like those above indicated become and
more important, efficiency and fidelity among the
troops will then be Indispensable to the public interests
am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
J l.. FOLSOM,
Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.
Major Gen. THos. S. JEsUP,
Quartemaster Gen. U. S. Army.