Lower Sandusky freeman. (Lower Sandusky [i.e. Fremont, Ohio]) 1849-1849, 1849-03-31
For The Freeman.
The Cold Region i'm California

OF olood ana treasure, THE painful separation OF
friends occasioned by the late war) and the addi-
tional amount of fifteen millions dollars, exclusive
of the three millions Mexico owed to our citizens,
all sacrificed for the acquisition of new territory we
cannot but consider every citizen in the q States
should receive some compensation from the gold
found in California And how is this to be acquir-
ed? There is but one course to pursue and thata
plain one-that is for Government to exercise an
entire supervision and control of the gold mines by
establishing faithful and trusty officers in different
districts of the gold region to superntend the dig
ging collecting and purifying it. and then retaining
certain part to remunerate the Government. In
this way ifgold abundant as has been represent
ed, Government might receive very considerable
revenue to assist in defrayng national expenses by
which every citizen would be benefited What pro-
portion Of the gold should be retained as tribute
or compensation, cannot now be told-that would
depend upon all the circumstances of the case 1t
viii be arduous and expensive task to establish
and maintain an efficient government there. Aside
from civil jurisdiction, there must be strong mill
tary force, sufficient at least, in case of exgency to
keep order, quell the riotous and suppress insur-
rections. 1t cannot be doubted that as a of
mountains and vallies of gold have apparently on
the wings of the wind gone forth to every part of
the world, there will soon be adventures from eY-
cry nation who acquainted with the means of
navigation, and that among such heterogeneous
and mixed multitude, there will be thousands of
restless and almost ungovernable spirits, who will
require the strong of authority to restrain them
Without some good and well-regulated military
posts law and order could not be sustained; the IL
centious profligate and savage portion would soon
have communicating influence on the whole popu-
laton. The old adage would be called to view: the
first principles of our nature would be aroused into
action, self preservation be the order of the day,
rapine, contests and assassination would be but
common and unsurprisng occurrences. We cam
not but suppose that the mass of mankind are all
ways about the same when placed in similar cir
cumstances that when reduced to want or starga-
ton, or when wealth is presented to their view
which may be obtained by committing crime, they
will not long hesitate. Even the Crusaders did
piety, and instigated by Heavenly calling to rescue
the holy land from the Infdels, became successive
ly the prey of each other &c. An entire army Of
the 4th Crusade under Baldwin, assisted by the
Venecians, made a formidable attack upon their
christian brethren allured by wealth and spendor.
they seized Constantinople, put the inhabitants to
the sword, rioted for months on the spoils and re-
tanned their unlawful possessions rising of Fifty
years.
We trust such rapaeious and fendish creatures
will not be found on the gold bound regions of
California, but should there be any, it becomes the
duty of our Government to provide for them at the
least expense and protect her honest citizens who
would display the native wealth of the country by
the sweat of their brow.
4 Some rigid economists would contend that none
but native born, or naturalized citizens should be
allowed to hunt dig the precious metals-that of
right and justice the privilege belongs exclusively
to ourselves That is matter, however, orlegis-
lators to determine.
Spain would not allow foreigners SO procure the
precious metals in her American colonies, and no
nation supposed they had right to molest or in
trude upon them. Hence she realized a great in
come from her gold and silver mines, while the la
lborers were well rewarded Itis computed by the
best writers upon that subject that the kings tn
DuIe DcLLS OHS ulbn pdLb d4
amount of $5,ooe,00O, exclusive of smelling and
coming. Should our mines be as productive, and
this tribute be criterion, our Government would
soon have surplus of revenue which might justly
be divided among the States whose valiant sons
won the gold thereby tightening the burden Of
State taxation, and resulting in an equal and gem
eral benefit
1t is to be regretted that congress have adjourn
ed without effectualy legislat3ng for government
]for California By SO doing, they throw too great
responsibility upon the President by virtue of his
office. 1t may devolve on him to exert both land
d naval force to prevent most serious calamites in
that country, and however prudent and well-timed
his operations might be- itcan hardly be presumed
that all parties of the Union viii be satisfied with
his measures. He is left too much in the capacity
of Dictator, pro tena and should he act with
much sagacity and wisdom, some would exclaim,
expenses have been premature or unnecessary, or
in case of fatal results, others would accuse him of
sbeing remiss in the discharge of his duty. Taking
the subject under the most favorable consideration,
should his course meet with applause, his actions
appreciated by ALL in consequence of order and sub
ordination being maintained in that rude country,
1,ot +ba one man mower is dangerous to liberty.