Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-07-09
The Army Of Gold Diggera

Recent accounts "from the Plains'' es-
innate the number Of gold diggers that had
afready passed a certain point on their wav
10 Ell Dorado, Notwithstanding the dimmi.
mutton Of their forces by disease, and by
faint.haartedEess,at K, ,000-and represent
the eagerness will which they press for
ward, under appalling and unforeseen diff.
ficulties, not only as superior to all obsta.
cles, but as overcoming in some instances
the ordinary dictates of prudence. Lite
rally, they are said 10 'throw aside every
weight'-not merely the superhuities
which in their inexperience they had bro't
along, but even articles of su bsstence be.
ing either sold or thrown away as incum.
brances to their progress. Animated by
such sPiris decimated though it may be,
this urmy Of gold diggers can scarcely
fail to reach their destination, in some
plight or other, and after the tolls and pri-
vations Of such a journey, if equal to the
scarcely less toilsome work Of digging
gold, will share in the rich rewards of la
Dor in that region.
Besides this overland army, probably
trsbse that number are either on their way
to tsths mines" by way Of the Fs.hmus and
the Cape, or have already landed at San
work, invigorated by bracing lair, and
the repose Of a sea life They are, gene
rally speaking, an able-bodied, intelligent,
enthusiastic, energetic legnn-wea pro-
yisioned, we'll clothed, well armed, and ac-
customed 10 the use of FIRE arms and other
weapons. They are organized in squads
or companies, and officered. They have
their written regulations and by-lawss and
all machinery for acting in concert among
themselves for mutual protection, OF for
combining with other associations if nee
essary, in asserting their rights or re-
dressing grievances. And more than all,
they are by education and at heart Ameri-
cons-and If not alienated by the neglect
fthe parent government towards its own
people, and towards the most. valuable of
its territories, will not only take care of
themselves, but OF the honor and interests
Of the Uuited States. But whether forced
to establish On Independent government,
or to live on under an amphibious sort OF
rule-half martial or naval, and half land
or cisil-tAey ,oiA be masters ofthe coun-
try, against all the nations and tongues
that may be attracted ihilher by the glitter
Of the dust.
This may be sci down os settled, what.
ever may be coniectnred as to the designs
or yearnfngs of the Mexicans, and their
alleged military preparation to contest with
us the possession OF parts of California
The mines are or soon will be virtually
and fully in the military occupation Of the
U. s.. regular or irregular. They are
pre-occupied already TO great extent,
without government agency, If not in spite
ofit-and the Mexican force is yetto be
born that is 10 disposess sLos Yankees Of
the fooshold they have honestly acquired
there. Such as entertain doubts on this
score, under representations that have re-
Gently come from the Pacific coast, Through
correspondents which have caught appre-
tensions in passing through Mexico to-
California, vii find better opening for
their solicitudes IN another direction. If
the United Slater are ever to be disposess-
cd, even temporarily, Of the gold diggings,
in whole or in part, il will not be by for
eigners, whether Meaicanss or Sandwich
Islanders, or Asiaiics, or South Americans.
or oil combined-but by North Am ericans,
the rightful heirs, in virtue OF their birth
wight or adoptionr Of domain, inexhaus,i-
BE in mineral wealth, and destined soon to
be the mother Of new states. This 'smani-
Test destiny" /" II is not in the power Of hu
man government or agency to arrest or
eoLtrol. Il is working itself out, and that
rapidly, and the present generation may
live to see Gordon of state sovereignties
occupying every inch Of California, New
Mexico and Oregon-an forming part Of
cur glorious non.-AB. Arg.