The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-01-25
COL. BENTON ON CALIFORNIA GOLD.

COL. BENTON ON CALIFORNIA GOLD.
There are few men in the country whose opin-
ions in regard TO the character Of the Western re-
gion of this country, and especially Of New Mex.
leo aud California, are entitled to more weight
than that OF Col. Benton. We, therefore, make
from his speech in the Senate, on Monday, on
the bill for ascertaining land titles, &C. in Cali
fornia, the following extracts concerning the gold
washings recently discovered in that country.
These washings called in Spanish placer.
from the Latin pldcere, to please; because it is
pleasing thing to find the shining gold under ones
feet. But 1T transient pleasure. There is
no fee simple in it; not even lease for wear.
month, week, or day. The pleasure is soou
gone. Exhausted placers now exist in New
Mexico, formerly yielding much, now some 25
or % cents day, and only pursued by the poor
est Mexicans. Regular mining has followed
there, and is now yielding considerable quantities.
These washing OF California are marvelously rich:
for we have 10 believe what is certified to us by
so many witnesses but they are not the richest
that ever were seen. Far from it, Those OF
Brazil, in the mountains back of Rio Janeiro. in
the time OF Lord Anson's voyage, say 100 years
ago were lar richer; and yet they have been ex.
hausted so long that all memory OF them is lost.
and their history only lives in old books. Two
million sterling-ten millions of dollars--were
annually sent to Europe, for years, from these
washings. They were worked by slaves, who.
to secure their fidelity and industry, were usual
ly allowed by their masters all the proceeds Of
the day above given amount; and in that way
many slaves became rich, purchased their free
dom, and then bought slaves oftheir own, lived in
sPlendor and opulence, and laid the foundation of
families. Yet these washings are exhausted.
n m mil H.
mia, and the sooner the better
am friend to gold currency, but not to
gold mining. That is pursuit which the expe.
rlence OF nations shows to be both impoyerishno
and demoraIizing to nation. regret that we
have these mines in California; but thew are there
and am for getting rid of them as soon as posi-
bic. Instead Of boarding, and holding them IN.
and selling IN driblets, lay them open to industry
and enterprise. Lay them open to natural CANT
tal-to labor-to the man that has stout arms and
willing heart. Give him fair chance. Its
no matter who digs up the gold, or where it goes
Inc digger Will not eat it, and it will go where
commerce will carry 1t. The nations which
have industry-which have agriculture. com.
merce, and manufactures-they will get the
gold, provided always that they keep out small
paper money. Not sales, but permits, is the
proper mode to follow, and the only practicable
moue. People are going to California to dig, and
late, not Illustrate their enterprise. Permits
would put them on the side of the law: for 4
would give them protection and security: sales
ana noardIng would put them in opposition to the
law, and they would disregard it. Sir. this is a
case in which the lawgiyer must go with the
current; and then he may regulate il: if he goes
against the current, his law will be nugatory. and
his authority will be despsed. The current is
Tor hunting, and digging permits follow this
current, and by granting them the legislator may
control and regulate the current.
Ii you want revenue, raise ii from the nerm;ts
"a small sum for each-and upon the coinage. -
In mat way 1t would be practicable to raise as
much as ought to be raised. But revenue Is no
ooJect co impaired to the great object of clearing
the ground OF this attraction, which puts an end
to all regular industry, and compared to the OBJ.
Ject OF putting the gold into circulation. care
NOT VINO diSs up. l want it dug up. want the
: :, :" &c over. want the mining to be fin.
isned. Let all work that will. Let them ravage
the earth-extrpate and extermnate the mines
inen the sober industry will begin which en-.
riches aRd ennobles nation. Work as hard a.
we may we cannot Snish soon. These gold pdi
cations cover more than two thousand miles
They are in New Mexico--on the waters az the
Middle Colorado--on the mountains both be youd
and ON this side of the Sierra Neveda. Profess
or Dana, who was geoiogist TO Capt Wllkes's
country between the coast range and the cascade
range of mountains, found the gold bearing rocks
as biologists call them, on the Umpoua. the
Shasti, and the Klamath rivers, and at the he ad O
the Sacramento valley. 1t has been discoyerd
and no one can tell where it is to end. The
Sierra Neyeda is six hundred miles long, ten or
twelve thousand feet high, and has slope Of
from forty to seventy miles; and all this seems
to be an auriierous region. South of the Sierra
Nevada are prolongations OF the same chain and
otthe same character, and known to possess gold
In New Mexico the gold and mineral re ion
is described as large and various by the learn I'd
and enterprisng DR.. Wislezenus. who was max.
ing an exploration when the war with Mexico
broke out, and whose work has been printed bv
order OF the Senate. read an extract from
''The mountainous parts of New Mexico are
very rich in gold, copper, iron, and some silver.
Gold seems to be found to large extent in all the
mountains near Santa Fe, south OF 1t In distance
Of about 100 miles, as far as San Quiyira. and
north for about l20 miles up TO the river Saogre
de Cristo. Throughout this whole region gold
dust has been abundantly found by the poorer
classes of Mexicans, who occupy themselves
with the washing OF this metal out OF the noun.
tain streams. At present the old and the new
placer, near Santa Re, have attracted most atten.
ton, and not only gold washers, but some gold
mines too, are worked there. They are, so far as
my knowledge extends, The only golden mines
worked now ia New Mexico Several r;ch I'll,