The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-20


ing so ounces are not unfrequently in Fran
CISCO while specimens weighing from two to four
ounces are common The abundance of gold, and the
facility with which it accumulated have very nau
rally produced the effect of raising the price Of labor
mines, that there are At San Francisco upwards Of M
ty vessels Of different nations BY their crews
Ahougn Sloo per month is freely offered for seamen
none can be engaged, at that high rate Tho IT,
scop- of-war Warren arrived the Both Of April
and within twenty four hours fifteen deserted
took their way to the mines, 1t is almost impossible
| TO retain men on board the government ships
San Francisco is crowded with immigrants, such
vast numbers Of whom continually pouring into the
place. Accommodations of any kind scarcely to DO
| obtained The meanest hut or shed, such as here
would be considered uninhabitable comman ds enor-
nous rent Good provisions almost equally scarce
The coarsest kind Of food must be used other
be procured person stays any longer in San Fran
cisco than he can help; but all who lucky enough
to procure transportation, immediately take their de-
there, they find no difficulty in accumuiatng almost
| any amount of the precious metal. Three to four
ounces of gold is considered a common davis work
Less than that induces the digger to richer
spot Much more is occasionally gained in few hours
as the possessors of the large Jumps may attest
There was great deal Of cOnver alton in California,
respecting the establishment of Provisional Govern
ment; but as yet, nothing had been done The people
upon the subject not having heard OF the failure of
that body to act upon the matter. In the event of
nothing being done by Congress, it was generally
aerstood that when the miners should return in the
fall, a State government would be established.
EXCITEMENT IN SAN FRANCIsCo-'rHE LEG IsLATIvE
AssEMBI.Y-THE ALCADE--IIIE MILITARY AND THE
DE FAcTo GOVERNMENT.
Since writing the above have received the Alta
California of March 29h BY this paper that
there had been great excitement in San Francisco
ed by a disagreement between the civil and military
authorities The following explanation of the affair
| We take from the Alta California =
Our has been convulsed within the last week
with the intelligence that the military had srrayed it
sell against the people and that the commanding off,
OF the Pacific Division had in effect pronounced the
action of the Legislative Assembly for this district null
and VOID
On the hosting of the American nag in this place in
July ls46 the American forces found here Alcade
who had power corresponding to that (as we
have ascertaned of police magistrate in the United
States who authorized to sell one town lot of fty
square to any individual who would bind himself
to fence it and erect building upon 1t within ono
who had the control Of public funds who col
ieotea and the revenue This state of affairs
| gust OF 1s47 when Governor Mason authorized the
eeeoh OF SIX citze s 10 constitute Town Council
and had casting vote This body continued in exist
by limitation. They passed law authorizing q uew
| election on the 9th Of December for seven mem
bers Of new council to succeed them. This
election was duly held but . majority of the
old council not satisfied with the result, and
declared the election nugatory, because fraudulent
Four fths of the sitizeus thought that this was an
assumption Of power the part of the
| old town council and they would not attend new
election An election was held however, by the fac
tioniss and then had the spectacle Of three
| councils in existence and the same time The
old council finally voted itself of existence on the
18th Of January 1S49 and the other two KEEP.
minority town council finally thought it NECESSARY to
correct the abuses of the AIcades ONCE but no sooner
did they venture on this forbidden ground, than
chairman Of one Of their committees arrested by
the Alcalde and would have been imprisoned had not
the citizens and rescued him the sheriff
During all this time the ONCE of Acade had been
serious evil to the people Of this town district
by of its assumptions, aud tyranny, and fraud
and within the last few months the Alcade had been
twice invited to resign by the citizens Despairng of
being able to establish public justice proper
officer convention the people of this district was
then called, at which 1t resolved to elect egs-
latve assembly Of fifteen members, who should have
power to make such laws might be deemed neces-
sary provided they did not conflict with the consttu
This legislative body exist year. unless
sooner superseded by competent authority.
1t was fondly hoped by the well disposed citizens Of
ture and the election Of three justices Of the peace
would give new impetus to the prosperity Of the
| place. and elevate its character abroad.
1t was we'll known that the Alcalde, in defiance Of
Law and justice had been in the habit Of selling town
lots and other property of the town, and that the pro-
ceeds of such sales had been for a long time unas-
counted for. The Legislature DESTROYS to such
property to the benefit of the public passed law for
bidding such sale any other disposition of public
property, snd making the offence punishable by fine
doubted that the public records we're mutated that
the public funds squandered and not accounted
for and that the administration Of justice
mockery Tor rather outrageous wrong practised
by the Alcalde1 and the legislative body correct
these abuses and inssmuch the people had elected
three justices Of the peace fixed day upon which the
office Of Alcalde should cease and ordered him hand
over his books and paper. to Myron Norton, newly
Alcalde the following note:-
- SAN FRAEcrsco, March &c, lsl9.
Lee q @ d:ss fTss Of as %Ss4s
ann Seo ss,GsS ss
tn % sS n ss
,son therefore respectfully request that You viii
s%i sas viii hsi y
ese them would ssspectfuy suggest that
Very respectfully, your o Oh, ,sFys, vonno,,
Justice Of the Peace and Police Magistrate District Of San
To T. NJ Leavenwo rth late AIcade Dist San Francisco
No reply returned thereto, and, after waiting
four days, Mr.. Norton again addressed the Acade as
follows
SAN FRArsIsco, March 80, 1919.
had the honor Of addressing dated March
iy sISs vii
d0s0 Very respectfully, your S oh, ,sry,s;
Justice of the Peace and Police Masistrst..
To I. II. Leavenv ORTIZ ESQ
Norepy has yet been received to either Of these
notes. but 1t has transpired that the Alcaldc sent
Norton's first letter to Gen Smith, asked his adj
vice in the matter; whereupon Gen Smith assure him
that he Is still the Acalde, notwithstanding the action
OF the Legislative Assemblyand he this
Acade TO hold to his Office the books and pa
son. who Is more Immediately charged with the matters
ogovernmcnt appertaining to this territory the whole
subject will be laid before him. 1t does transpire
exactly on what grounds Gen. Smith has seen proper
to base this Of action he does not give the
remote or near with the Presidents
message and the letter OF Secretary Buchanan These
Statesmen as well as General Smith, well know that
the existence OF military government in time OF
peace within the limits Of the United States has no
sanction in law or justice They well know that such
agovernment Is totally Mt variance with the letter and
spirit OF he consttutonthat 1t is repugnant to eye
ry principle Of that great bill Of rghtsthc Declaration
OF ndependence-and that 1t is in direct opposition
to every political feeling which American citizen
has been educated TO support and revere
The California then proceeds to argue against the
light 81 Gen Smith to assume governmental powers
over the territory
80 far as the operation this territory
previous TO the arrival Of Gen Smith, II not even de
JGcfo True had the tag
US, by le.yhg duty imports but has gwen nor
attempted to give Of the blessings which have
right to expect from the that for
support from 1t has not only taxed without law
without representation but 1t has without
molt.
ACCOUNTS FROM THE MINES
Correspondence Of the Alta California
SACRAMENTO CRY, March IS, 1910.
Winter with its "heavy l. about over nd sprinp