The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-25

| teIQay morning, anu Drought 10 us illtb
| of English, French, German and other exchanges,
and batch of correspondence from all the Euro
pean capitals. The details of the news will be
found in today's paper, as well as a few of our
letters. We shall publish the remainder from day
to day, as readily as we can make room for them.
CALIroRNIA-TRoUBLE AHEAD.-We trust and
hope that late as it is in the session, Congress
will yet do something towards giving government
TO California, and preventing the terrible scenes
OF anarchy and bloodshed which are certain of
taking place IN that country, unless something OF
the kind be done. If it be done at all, 1t must be
done quickly, or the opportunity will be lost
until next December, and, In the meantime, hun
dreds of valuable lives may be sacrificed.
The wings In Congress are acting most
strangely In this matter. They are about coming
into power, for the first time great number of
years, and they are shaping their course so as to
make it almost imperative on General Taylor to
convene an extra session. California cannot re.
main as it is till December. Before that month
arrives, there will probably be hundred or hun.
dred and fifty thousand persons there, composed of
people from every nation in the world, with no law
to guide them, and safety for lie property but
the rifle and bowie knife. If the scenes which
place there, should occur, the new President
would, no doubt, consider it his duty to convene
Congress, and impress on it the necessity OF put
ting an end to them. Then will not be the time
to discuss the abstract question OF slavery. But
what shall be said ofmen who will, with the fear of
these things before their eyes, and with the likel-
hood OF their occurring at any time, fritter away
their time in useless debate, that can have
no effect but that OF exciting sectional pre-
JUDGES and making the dissolution of the Union
an ordinary topic of conversation! Extra sessions
of Congress never will be popular with the people
of the United States, aud are always hazardous
undertakings. The wings are about entering on
grand experiment. They are about to test
whether they have the ability to conduct the GO
vernment of this country successfully; and If they
commence the experiment with an extra session,
they will do so at great disadvantage.
We look for trouble In California at an early
day. General Smith, who has been ordered to the
Pacific station and 10 now on his way thlther, has
Issued proclamation warning foreigners from
trespasslng on the lands OF the United States in
that quarter, and cautoning those who are Aock-
ing from all parts to search for gold there, that
their conduct is in violation of law, and that he
will put the law in force Immediately on his arr-
val there. We do not see, very clearly, how he
can carry this threat into execution, In conse-
quence of the difficulty of maintaining discipline
IN his troops and preventing them from flocking
the mines. If, however, he should make the at
tempt, it Is easy to tell what will follow. A war
of races will be excited. The thousands of emf
grants now on their way to the gold region, will
try to drive the foreigners away; and in the conflict
that will ensue, great deal of blood will be shed
and great many lives lost. This state of things
however, Is likely to occur, whether Gen. Smith
should attempt to carry out what he threatens, or
not.
There is another important consideration con-
nected with this subject, and that is, the danger
which exists of the inhabitants OF California de-
caring themselves independent people. BY
the accounts which we have received from Europe
by the last steamship, we learn that the excite.
ment throughout that region, or the gold fever, as
1t is termed, Is as great as it is In the United
States. Books of California, and guides to Cali
fornia, are published from day to day, and gold
washing machines are abundant Companies and
expeditions are also being fitted up in great num-
beers. 1t is evident that great many of those peo-
pie would very willingly lend their aid in carrying
out a scheme of making California separate
and independent nation; for their prejudlces will
be against republicanlsm and in favor Of institu
lions similar to those under which they always
lived. There Is every induoement to attempt a
scheme like this. The soil and climate of Cali
fomla are excellent, and it embraces all the adj
vantages that could be desired IN commercial
point OF view, for II possesses Of the noblest
harbors In the world, which will, sooner later,
be filled with the ships of all CONNIE rcial nations. II
such state Of things as this occurred, what a
beautiful predieament would not the government
OF the United States be In! What an undertaking
would 1t not be to re-conquer the country, and re-
establish the power and authority of the United
States over 1t!
But this mav or may not take place. Of one thing
we may however, be certain. II there be no
government established there soon, fearful scenes
will be enacted. Americans who fought and bled |
for that territory-who were taxed to support the
war by which 1t was acqulred-who have left |
their homes and associations on the Atlantic, and |
travelled thousands of miles in search of the |
wealth with which 1t abounds, will not tolerate, If
they can prevent IT, foreigners and adventures,
from every country in Europe, stepping in and /
equally enjoying with them the wealth of that |
country. Collisions will take place between |
them, and blood will surely Cow.
News FROM ST. THonAs.-Our accounts from
ST. Thomas are Of the 3lst ult. They are of |
commercial character only, and our correspon-