The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-23


the European reader, will appear like the repre-
Eentation Of drama, with the omission of very
material character; but the San Franciscans think
otherwise, and il is very clear, from the consider
atoms here published, that gold-hanting not the
nppermost thought even IN the capital city OF Ca
Nornia.
II will be remembered that the inhabitants of
this province have, defdcto neither law nor GO
vernment, but II Is evident enough that this anar-
chy is by no means Of their own choice. They
are, In point of fact, struggling as mantully for a
government as other States have struggled tor
freedom; but what will attend therellorts
Is a point on which 1t Is somewhat hard TO pro
nounce. The simple exposition, however, OF this
extraordinary case is as foows:-The laws regu-
lating the admission OF new State into the Norm
American Union clear and explicit, nor does
the process of itself involve any great difficulty,
but, practically, the Transaction cannot be settled
without including decision upon the ever present
topic Of domestic slavery. No formal organiza-
ton Of California, as one OF the States OF the
Union, will ever be permitted without positive
recognition or condemnation OF this institution,
and the balance of parties IN the States is now SO
even that either conclusion seems almost lmpos-
sible. In the Senate, fifteen free States are coun
terbaanced by fifteen slave States, and until, there
fore, this equality is exchanged tor the ascen-
dancy OF one or other party, no decision can
be arrived at. The consequence, as the CD
ifornians are well aware, Is, that many ses-
elons OF Congress may elapse before any agree
ment can be come to on the question OF their
own territorial organization and government,
and they accordingly claim the right of doing for
themselves that which Congress has neglected to
do for them. II happens, too, that although this
part of the question is left in suspense, another aud
less agreeable portion has been summary settled,
and the revenue laws Of the United States have
been extended by Congress over the whole OF the
newly acquired territory The Californians, there
fore, complain, and surely with some reason, that
they taxed not only without representation, but
without receiving in return for their discharge Of
this duty. the benefits OF any government at all.
SsWe are left" says their manifesto, 'O find, feed,
clothe, protect. and govern ourselves, and at one
and the same time to pay taxes IN common with
our fellow-ctiZens east OF the mountains, to sup
port government which gives them laws, and
courts TO enforce such laws. while we to
ceive nothing in return for the money we pay"
Such curious case OF civil disabilities never, we
think, occurred before:
On the other hand, the same considerations
which obstruct the supreme government In forming
Its own decisions, render it unwilling to see the
question decided by Others and the object, there
fore, OF the present authorities in California is to
give an air OF great legitimacy as is practicable
to the existing state OF anarchy and suspense. In
pursuance Of this policy, Brlgadier Riley has is
BILE as the subject admitted, the real form and
powers OF the government now actually subsistlng
IN the province. lie asserts, that in the absence
OF any new organization devised by Congress, the
ancient institutions OF the country survive in full
force, except where they are in opposition to the
spirit Of the American laws; that by such insttu-
iions he, as commanding officer Of the department.
is, cr-e6c,o civil Governor of the province, and
that 1t Is the duty OF every citizen to yield Obed-
ence to the lawful commands Of hlnlsslf and his
suborGinates. To this the Californians demur
They allege that they are de facto American cIti-
zens; that they are considered for the purposes
OF revenue, by Congress itself; and that if that
body chooses to abdicate ITS functions, they have
an undoubted night 10 act tor themselves. In
cordance with these conclusions, they elected an
assembly of representatives, with a speaker aud
other officers, and proceeded TO a provisional adj
mlnlstratlon OF their own affairs. 1t was the
fiict bstween the two authorities thus created
characteristic IN
which We alluded the other day. The speaker of the
Assembly nominated sheriff to execute JUSTICE
whereas Bngadier Riley continued to recognise
such powers as resident solely in the alcalde, the
surviving iunctonary OF the ancient regime. Under
these circumstances the possession of the judicial
archives became matter OF some importance to
the contending parties, and the Sheriff betook him
self 10 the Acaldes court for the purps Sc of forci-
bly, impoundng them. The Alcalde presented
pistol at the head OF the intruder, but the Sheriff,
anticipating the course Of the argument, had pro-
vldeG himself with sixbarrelled revolver, and his
antagonist prudently yielded.
These are the topics which now occupy Califor
nian politicians, but the information indirectly
communicated by the comments and paragraphs
OF the journal before us is highly edifyirg. The
most prominent advertisement is that OF a new
city, which Is TO rise under the creative hands OF
Spectators within one days Journey OF the dig
giDls. Martin Chuzzlewilz's Eden ia wholly out
done by this new location, which "has evidently
been intended by nature IS the grand e,nbarcadro
Tor operations IN the mines" IL has formidable
announced IN such numbers that the editor is
compelled 10 defer his notice of them 10 another
opportunity. Buildng lots 10 san Francisco tselfa
sti seiing at large prices, although from the adver
tisement OF beautiful valley within five minutes
walk OF the public square" may conclude
that the enciete Of the town is not extensive. The
.'din'ng room and kitchen of The City Hotel are
to be let tor one year the rent expected being
about ZOO Commission agents and merchants
publish their terms OF business, but there is no
single advertisement relating 10 personal labor or
service. Shipping arrivals had been numerous
the caIsoes being almost wholly composed of pre-
cioue liquors and provisions. The Oregon brought
200 pass, myers from Panama, with the intelligence
that the lthmus was still crowded with ex-
pectantF, and by the preceding steamer there had
arrived no fewer than 1900 letters. The passage
money to Panama by steamer was 60, and
curious exemphcatlon Of the value OF tonnage IL
gwen by the announcement that every species OF
luggage IS chargeable as freight, except wearing
apparel, and even this when II exceeds the weight
OF 800 lbs. The most interesting intelligence,
however, is reserved for postscript, In which II
as announced that 5000 tons Of women are expect
ed from Lowell" or, in other words, that ship
OF this burden would be wholly freighted with
lady emlgrants bound for the gold country. Such
are the prospects OF Callfornians as detailed by
themselves; whether they warrant n journey of
2,cOO miles is question for the reader TO decide.
Correspondence Of the London Timesl
SAY FRANCISCO, July 3l.
My las; letter was dated the 18th ct June. The
Etpei thai then gave Of the state of trade IN this
place siili holds good. very great over supply OF
merchandise still exists, and continues 10 increase
by fresh arrivals the consequence of winch is that
}ooe market Is puted. The oly articles iha, leave
good results are lumber, ready-Prepncd wooden
houses, dried fruits, and preserved meats, anu now
and again a sale Of champagne. Dry gS"""S ooh-
tinue abundant, and dull of sale.
Chill -four sells very slowly at sis per iaek OF
200lb. The greater portion OF Chill flour in the
market is held for 81, which will, no doubt. be
obtened so soon as the stock diminishes and by
- 81 thsf H.tr srfll t,afe
enormous prices from the fact that the bad rcsults
OF late adventures in this article have stopprd ship
mcnts from Chill. American flour is equally dilfi-
cult Of sale at present; sli per barrel was the
tities
The Price Of land for house and warehouse sites
continues enormously high, and rather increasing
than Otherwise Rents keep high IN proportion.
The town ~ increasing rapidly-houses sprlneing
M like mushrooms. A few years. at the present
rate Of Iropresrion and San FTancisco will be the