The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-20
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, l849.
WHAT'S to be Done for California!


What is TO be done for California Ever ythng.
What will be done for California? Nothing
Such, at least, Is the prospect at present. A
heteroge. eous population of all nations will IN
few months be gathered into tina, territory, to the
number Of $4,000 men. There will not even be the
restraints of an unorganzed frontier society; there
will be social law for there will be no society
The saving regulations of family ties will be want
ing, tor there will be neither wives nor daughters
among those 900 men OF all nations, and OF the
worst prejudices and passions of a horde OF adven
turers released Ct all RESTRAINTS OF government and
OF society. The revolver and the bowie knite will
become the law OF the land, and Judge Lynch and
anarchy the supreme authorities OF the Gold Re.
gions. There will be fOrays tor provisiOIs, and
murders tor gold dust, with the prospect OF speedy
general insurrection and butcnery, terminating In
separate nationality, unless government shall In
terfere, with some permanent or temporary regu-
ations tor the territory.
Order may be preserved by very simple pro-
cess. A brigade OF 5000 volunteers. under the
amy pay OF the government well ocered, and
constituted OF respectable men, sent GU, to the ter
niOTy, would do the work. Scatter these voun-
teers at different stations among the gold dlggers,
with permission to make what they can by Dig
giDg, subjec to general regulations and subject to
be called out for the protection OF the peace at the
sound OF the buge, ana the work Is done.
We unde rstand that Col. Mason tavors the idea
OF a separate nationality Tor California. Such
peedily lnterpose its laws and protection The
dea Of separate republic in California Is
not without it's friends IN Congress There
are men who look upon the project as a nu-
cleus for the rapid absorption of the States of
Me xico, and their fiaal annexation, in one COM
pact body, INTO this Union. There are others.
who believe that necessity will enforce the people
to govern themselves, and that policy, even If de-
serted by Congress, will draw them into the Union
after their government shall have been fairly in
successful operation. But that is poor reliance.
An independent republic the Pacific coast, with
It's own revenue ~ stem, taxing the commerce OF
the United States that OF other nations may be
found most expedient to them. Their position Sc
cures their defence against all invasion, either by
land or by sea. No country IN the world, is better
defended by nature. Oregon ltself may be as east
ly invaded and reduced. If the people OF CalifOr
MA, then, will set up for independence, their sur
render OF 1t to any other power will be simply
question of policy.
On the other hand, the advantages of the posses
sion and occupation by the United States are para
mount and conclusive They need no exploitation.
A simple reference TO the map illustrates at once
the importance OF California to the control of the
worlds commerce by the United States
But what can be done? The proviso bars all
hopes OF permanent government this session;
and no temporary expedeRt 10 produced; not even
a mint for coming the dust at per centage which
might yield millions to the treasury, Is submit
ted. The gold is gathered and carried away, and
the only benefit to the government Is the tariff
upon such articles OF imports necessary on
the equipment Of ships and emigrants for Cali
lorna, which Is couDterbalanced by the loss of
their home services and home consumption. A
mine of wealth is opened to the government, and
the tear OF quarrel about the negroes ties up the
hands OF Congress, while the outsiders OF all
tons are running away with the profits of the
treaty of Guadalupe .Hidalgo, the expenses OF
which are yet 10 be paid.
Thus much for the neglect and the necessity of
action; thus much for the simple expedients re-
CURED for the preservation of peace, and the Sc
curing share to the government in the profits Of
the gold wathipgs
General Thomas J. Green, late OF Texas, pro-
poses leaving this city shortly tor the golden land,
with a parcel of gold washers of his own Inven-
tion on speculation. The machine is cheap,
and does the work handsomely, and the thing
will sell on the Sacramento. A soldier and le-
gislntor IN Texas-a prisoner in the Castle Of Pc
rots-a fugitive on foot through the mountains-
the successful sutton of rich widow near Boston,
and the inhertor Of large estate, the General
falls at last victim to the golden epidemic, and
abandons society for speculatlon In cargo of
washing machines end Yankee notions Tor Cali
iornia. Were he to head company overland,
we should volunteer for the expedition, were we
not otherwise engaged just now. At all events,
we wish him success in his enterprise. w.