The Evansville daily journal., 1849-11-24
CALIFORNIA CORRESPONDENCE.
SACRAMENTO CRY, Upper California, !
SeDtemher 18th 1S49

September 18th, 1S49
To many whose eyes may peruse this let
ter it may seem as doing not SO very bad, ma
king clear per day from $12 to $50 in the
mines or at various mechanical avocations in
the town $40 to $15. So will agree with
you, it is doing very we'll when you are here;
but take the testimony of men who have
care not by what route or mode
of conveyance, and rarely will you find one
who says it would to him have been q suffi-
cient consideration to undergo the hardships
incident to such journey, and especially
having families they have left behind, or
what is yet worse, have brought with them.
I have seen many men on their winding
way" as fast as wind, tide and steam will bear
them to their homes in the States, and more
yet viii follow as soon as the state of their
finances will admit of it.
The society here, if such it may be called,
is of very mixed aud striking character
much of evil and not little Of good perva-
ding the same community. With no laws
save those which exist in the pleasure of the
ALcalde, gentleman but recently from Mis-
souri,, and since his arrival elected TO his pres
ent office. He is the sole arbiter Of the lives
and property of the citizens in this district, no
appeal lying from his decision to any higher
court. While you will see upon every hand
gaming tables, around which countless num-
bers are gathered, engaged every hour Of the
day and night-Sundays inclusiye-in every
species of gaming which can be invented,
but more especially the Mexican game of
Monte, upon a single card of which | have
seen $1,000 change hands in a moment
say while these sights are witnessed, and it
is almost the universal custom to drink ardent
spirits, you will rarely hear of a theft or a
fight; indeed since have been here only two
or three of the former, and they Of trifing
moment, have occurred, and not one single
fight or row has come to my knowledge dur
ing the same time. 1t is truly astonishing to
witness such results under the particular Cir
cumstances we are situated-property OF ev-
cry kind is exposed day and night: and the
destitute condition of hundreds thrown
amongst US would seem to beget an urgent
excuse for pillering. yet to their credit be 1t
said. such instances are never heard of. Two
principal reasons occur to my mind to prevent
the occurrence of theft; the frstis the high
wages and abundant employment existing
for every species of labor; and the second and
at the same time most weighty and efficient
Il, Of
cies of crime, is the severity and promptness
with which they are punished. Judge Tho
mas (the AlcaIde) tells me he on'y recogni-
zes three modes of punishment in his court
that is pecuniary fine, whipping and hang
ing, and as the former is put on reckoned
California fashion, by ounces, and the lat
ter with an unsparing hand, rogues make
themselves rather scarce in these parts.
By reason of the prompt, simple and de
cisive system OF laws which are in operation
here, you will at once perceive that there is
but little need for the SER 5ices Of the legal
profession However q better time is COM
ing''-a convention is now in session at Mon
terey to form a State Constitution prepara-
tory to making application for admission as a
State into the Contederacy-which being
done, and some regular system of Judiciary
established, it cannot fail to become highly
lucrative source of business as the titles to
land are already being disputed and claimed
adversely by different persons.
AS vet have said nothing concerning the
agricultural features of the country and so far
as have been-about 20 miles to the snuth
of this-it does not merit distinct notice and
hence can be described in VERY few words
for mere agricultural purposes being almost
entirely worthless. In consequence of the
continued drought ofthe summer and autumn
months, vegetation withers and dries up, ex-
cept along the margin of the rivers and
creeks containing water through the whole
season, and but few OF them are of this char
acter; consequently the high prices of labor
did not prevent successful competition in the
raising of grain; the nature of the country
absolutely forbids it, and the few occupied
places, called ranches, rely so ely upon their
herds of CATTLE and which can be supplied
more cheaply by driving in immense droves
from Lower California than by raising, as
the prices down there are but nominal s. or
$6 per head, and here about so. Thus
course is generally adopted, and therefore
the beef we eat here-and that of a more
excellent and nutricious character never ate
fHa afpv-