The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-28

N What wonderful effect gold has upon
the human mind IL sudden possession
maddens every man, more OF less. It dis
covers all the original sinfulness Of our na-
ture 1t operates upon the human mind in
a form, that seems concldsively to demon
strate the truth Of the Mosaic account Of the
fall Of man. II exhibits man in bis worst
aspect. The following excellent letter from
the Liberty, Mo-, Tribune, opens up this
subject in all its rich variety.
SurrR'e FoRr, UppEn CAlIronsIA.
February 2, l64g.
Col. A. w. Dos,pHAs. i am here at ibis point,
having been attracted hither by the Unlimited gold
regions OF California. NaI6 u
Men are here nearly crazy with the riches forced
suddenly Into n, their pockets have had some OPP
nature but the school here IL upon grander scale
than you or ever saw before. Perhaps a few anec.
dotes may Illustrate tho state of things and afford
you some amusement. An honest close listed shoe
maker, BY the name Of Spec, came from Oregon to
California about year ago After The gold was dis
covered he went into the mines and was soon max
Ing his hundred dollar, day; A quizzical shrewd
follow from Philadelphia, met him one day,
( swell Mr. Spec, how do you get aiong1"
/ "Flrstrate, sir. would not be member Of Con.
gress with his eight dolla day, nor the President
4 the United statea. can make more money than
they"
"Well, Mr. Spec, suppose You will make no more
Shoes Our shoemaker thought himself insulied
and Indignantly replied mo, not l; LIE, those make
merchant, and deals In goods wares, and merchan-
disc. trt
was here during The Christmas hoydays, and
saw great numbers Of young men who had never
worn cloth coat before, with at least one thousand
dollars worth of finery upon them. They were al
most loaded down with trinkets. saw one fellow
dressed in splendid suit of black, over which he
wore n superb black cloth cloak; and instead Of
drawing hie cloak around him TO sheltor him from
the cold wind thin blowing, he was careful to let 1t
be unfurled like flag In the passing breeze, that he
might catch the admirlng gaze Of the passers by.
Another gay fellow dressed equally as we'll save the
cloak was strntng up and down before the door Of
| large tavern. In his right hand he held large
bell and at short intervals he would stop and Jingle
bis bell as much as to say Look here his Is me-
Another dandy went into store ind took out fine
elk handkerchief, and commenced wiping the mud
off his boots.
The merchant said "you win spoil your handker-
chief sir "Oh that's no difference, have another
/ wipe my boots with one rnd my nose with the
Other Some time during the last autumn young
man was at work In the mines, who had his heart
set upon marriage; Whether he had colrted the
fair one and she had refused his offer or whether he
had always considered himself too poor to take upon
himself the support ofa family do not know. At
all events he Ind one day rolled aside, by means Of
levers and props largo stone, under which there
was deposit Of several hundred dollars Of pure gold
In small pieces the size Of flax seed. The moment
he cast his eye upon The shining treasure he threw
himself flat upon his back, In an ecstacy, among the
rocks, capped his hands, kicked up his heels, md
exclaimed "a married man by gosh Col. you
have been through Mexico, and elsewhere, but You
never saw anything like the state OF affairs here.
The accounts you have seen Of the gold region are
not orer coiored About S25 per day is the amount
Of the produce of one hand WINS in the mines forty
days, and was careful to make nm accurate steimae
The Gold Is positively inexhaustble. One hundred
millions will be nken ont annually In the course of
| two years Town lots at San Francisco are worth
$4,000, for the best and no title at that
Yours, &c,
- PETER H. Burnett.