The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-30

= May 81, 1889.
Iar on forsigassA resist the tar BY he for
e,gners !. and s,ou,d Sonora Rsotsus conduct =
Prompt aes'o" u ne Aa<rieans. Description Of So
nora. &e.
To the Editor Of the U,rsn:
As the excitement has been some cooled down
by the events OF the last couple OF days. will ste2l
lew moments TO drop you some items Ar you doubt
less aware, pussan State Of California assumed the
authority OF taxing all foreigners who might come here
for the purpose OF digging gold in the mines. The policy
or power OF imposing such tax by State not yet
Missed such by the general government is doubtful
question, especially when thereby extends it's urisdic
lion over lands aad subjects solely within the exclusive
control of Congress, and under the judicial authority Of the
federal courts but under the relation
to the just rights Of American citizens il is most
mperatively demanded by the people here, and conse
qnently has become most popular law and one which
all Anne rcans JOIN heart and hand 10 enforce.
On Friday last Capt Besanson, collector for this
" OF the license tax arrived at this place for the purpose OF
course OF issuing The necessary certificates to foreigners
and receiving the This town. and It's neigh
borhood, was originally located and settled by Mexlcans
from the State OF Sonora aud OF the richest mining
districts in California The greater portion Of people here
are composed OF Sonoraians, whose numbers gene
raj body OF foreigners, sweed by other Mexicans,
Lower CaIorniaDs Chilans and other South Americans
to some nine or ten thousand But few Americans are
among them miners, and but few hundreds OF all
classes OF our citizens engaged in trade gambling. ETC.
When The provisions oil the license law became known
to the foreigners, you may imagine that naturally they
were disposed TO resist the payment OF tax
as $aO per month"; especially here, where their numerical
"
the American population, outnumberng them should
suppose in the whole county, and for miles each
tax and that il its collection enforced, they would
DIVE out the Americans by fOrce and, pursuance Of their
threats, proceeded to call meeting, and rally in their
forces from all the diggings around On Sunday they
sembled 10 the number OF about five thousand--thel
French appearing to be the principal leaders and nsga
tors-and, after several nn,mmaory speeches from some
OF their windy leaders, proceeded into the town body
armed. and conducted themselves in most arrogant.
solent and disordery In fact they actually
took possession OF the place. boastng Of their strength
torce nsnng Americans personality and apparently en-
deavorng to create disturbances to such degree that the
most prudent Americans could with difficulty prevent
general collision from taking place The Americans be-
justly alarmed for open threats made that
attack upon the town would ensue that night for the Rr
pose OF plundeng the stores, monte banks, ETC. and
burning the whole concern The town. ought to men-
ton is one OF no small Importance Its whole popula
ton is about three thousand whilst its business equal
to that of city of twenty five thousand in the States
The most OF the dwellings tents OF but there
are also several we'll built Streets OF good frames, and
few ''adobe" houses Many OF the establishments would
be credtable any in the States and several
camille concerns saloons, coffee houses eating houses
restaurants hotels drug stores ETC.. elegantly fitted
up
Such were the demonstrations made by this armed mob
OF foreigners that expresses sent to the various
diggings by Judge Tute, calling out the miners
posse for the defence OF Sonora and the pro-
tec,lon OF the Americans in it. 10 the time,
era little aays occurred, and the foreigners carried
everything before Them with high hand, making per-
garden for their own especial amusement The sheriff,
Geo. Work. esq, attempted The arres, OF Mexican.
who drew knife upon him = Before he could make
pass with II. an American sprang upon him with
Bowie. nd cut him down, like would shave off an
asparas top. The yellow gentleman handed into
custody, bat took notion to die next morning. This
little affair was done 40 promptly and and with
such businesslike air. that it made the geases and
"Messeurs" rather in doubt TO the future Of
their movement.
Later Sunday afternoon, an express through
camp, (Which is in Soldiers gulch, and a-half
mile from Mormon town. Calling to assemble
with arms and meet at rendezvous between Nor
mon town and Sonora As a could pre-.
pare, started and arriving at the rendezvous, found
that The main body from diggings $50 strong, had
organized into company and preceded about hour
We pressed on IN double quick time with all sorts of
rumors assaIng as 10 the movements OF the foreign
ers and entered the town after dark. having made
march Of IL miles in about two hours. We had come
with nothing but our rifles and ammunon-no blankets.
provisions and in shirt sleeves that you may
we'll imagine our condition none the most com orta
BILE for bivouac IN night wan the temperature falls
almost TO frost But all quiet peace and order,
soon our boys from Mormon such entered the town.
ORDER buger at their head sounding yankee Doodle
in lively strains They met by the American pop.
ulaoa IN an enthusiastic manner, and most Hospitality
welcomed Cheer upon cheer made the welkin ring
refreshments were served out to them at every public
house-a splendid supper al gotten up-tpeeches
made by the collector and others the assembled crowds
and the day decided: the foreigners were
quelled, and vanished from town like mist before the
sun, silently and almost impercephby Table after table
hardy miners poured in, and pleasanter scene of war
fare perhaps not lately experienced But sleeping
quarters another matter In this country prepare
lions for lodging people have become necessary at
hotels, because every has his bedding constant
~ with him, except upon emergency Of this kind and
here were about 300 without blanket or coat
even and scarcely to get under shelter But the
citizens did all that in their power, and we had
pretty comfortable Quarers-bat is, had two chairs in
the dining OF the restaurant and blanket To
make my bed out Of and that pretty good lodging
have found worse many time
On Monday morning 'ihe gathering OF the clans con-
hnued 10 swell the crowd OF armed Americans from
every gulch. creek ravne and fiat Dry digxings wet
dEgngs, and bar, all in their quota Woods
jamestown, Tnoumne river, Pine Crossing, and all the
region around Sonora there; Mormon gnlch Nor
mon creek, Jackass guch Soldiers gulch, aud STAINS
laus river-Angelo Murphy's Indian and Coyote from
every man, have doubt fully under The impression
that severe conflict about to with mighty
odds against him, but every fully determined that the
Law should be enforced ~ ali hazards That word lac
has weight, will venture to say in California than
in any other part OF the Union for here feel the
cesssty OF 1t IN a greater degree posse thus
at once placed at the command OF the collector and
armed and otRcered, and the collector proceeded to
assess the tax at Shaw's diggings, about mile from
town. few paid II others asked for time, pleading
poverty, whilst the greater part OF them had quit work
At the new dlggings or American camp" now called
the town Of Columbia, where there is a population of
between and 1000, mostly foreigners, the same result
followed Some OF the "grcasers here left their holes
and fled TO the mountains, expecting nothing else but
general extsrmination II had been rumocd that the
French, Chians. and Sonoraans had raised their ma
tonal flags at this place and the sheriff prepared TO
pull them down bn, IT proved not to be 80 However