Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-10-17

=
the Gospel of Rousseau. - Edinburgh
Reuiew.
LAW IN CALIFoRNIA.-A letter from
California, in the N. Y. Journal of CON-
erce gives the following specimen of s.the
infinite variety Of law which he sees and
hears in California -
The question in dispute was. as usual
Jumped claim" Scene ~ ashne,on
a village high up on the South Yuta.-
Conr, "a round tent" or gam
bling shop, owned by the Alcade. whom
behold at a monte. table, behind which he
sits in all the dignity Of Office, wearing
the only coat TO be found in die place. -
In pleading, the defendant, pu, hims elf
upon the miners, instead Of ON the country
according to the usual form, and then re-
marked tina, the "papers in his hand had
been drawn up with view tstest the abl-
i.y and honesty Of the court,' striking his
fist on the table 3 ifd!ivinga a nail. which
he clenched uy quietly adding, "who is
well known 20 be in the round tent inter-
est He then required the plaintiff to
enter security for cost of sui, and when
the other had done this, demanded the
same Of him, he refused, cooly remarking
that he never intended to pay costs, or TO
abide the Courts judgement, but should
appeal to the miners in mass MEETING
The plaintiff at once Withdrew the suit :,
avowing his purpose to settle upon the
claim and defend It with bis rife. The
defendant therenpon joined issue-"ke
would do the like and they were about,
leaving the round tent. when the Alcate
rose from his montetah'e, ami Indignantly
burst forth. His speech was filled y it'll
expletives and left handed blessings, to
which dare not attempt to do Justice
1t was only of all hours length but con-
sisted ofa few topics upon which the chan
ees were tercely rung. He pretaced all
oy pulling off his coat. As near as can
recollect the body Of his speech was thi. !:
"Gen:lemen! hold on i bit till | get
through, and then we'll,as se to, together.
can't help speaking TO you now, cause
that dirty old COYOTE of defendant has
STACKED my honor. | meant TO keep still
III! the trial was over; but now, since
they've quit that, and are going to work
at the game, that the lonses, pole knocks
off The per>im'non,' I'm bound TO tell that
defendant that | don't know him, don't
want TO know him don't, keer for him
don't tenr him. and swear III fog him.
Gentlemen, this is the first time nv hon.
or was ever st'acked since you elected me
A!calae. If ever try another case, I'll
try 1t with revolver on the table. and if
any man insults me, he shah receive the
conienfs Of il. Gentlemen, ! stand in CAL
's@1Fr7 ~rT 's's "MI' f'rasi@= =S u man, ann,
on the responsibility of the miner. as an
Alca!de. / come from old Varginny. a
poor boy, and went to Mazoura where |
should have been poor all my life, if |
hadn't marrieda girl with powerful smart
>prinklin of money. Then used TO Law
in the shade with my babies, and it was
her hearts delight TO sit and see me do it,.
! come out to Ca!itorny to replace them
dimes, and when man assails my repu,a
tion, he asSail> the reputation of "a man of
family, who hev family duties TO mind.
left wife and two innocent babies in
Mazourd, and i, would he mean in me TO
come ou, here and do anything dishonora-
BILE.
Gentlemen, the defendant hev huv out
some insinnations against my characlrr.-
II he'd done any thing else. wouldn't
keer, but when my honor is a,tacted I'd
rather die oh-h-h! (Here the Alcalde
had choking spa>m Of some length, and
ha, 4 u.
Gentlemen, I'm the li,tlest man on the
river, but I've go, a heart as big as
round tent! That's why they elected me
Alcalde because | was little man and had
heart big enough to do justice to roud
tent men and miners both. Since I've
been Alcalde, I've always given 'pm the
right sort of justice and as long a. am
Alcalde, WAN to give 'em just what
sort of Justice suits me best. I'm no
lawyer and don't know any kind Of law
but common law, and everybody knows
that is nothing but common sense and
justice, as we praciyse il in Califnrny
Now, gentlemen, | want you to see il l
don't give that defendant Justice according
to the common law Of these diegins.-
Here the monte table shook under an
emphatic whack of his fist. and the ink
was scattered over the records of the
court Now, the ink and the pen and
the paper and the defendant all 60 to hell
together -
He ,hereupon leaped upon the defend
dant, and proceeded to administer "the
common law of Caliiorny," in most superb
style. When this operation was finished
and the defendant kicked ont Of the seat
of Justice the round tent-the
Alcalde turned to the crowd and politely
remarked:
"Gentlemen, allow me to express my
obligations to you for your presence, and
the attention you have shown me during
this trying ceremony. Toddle up. all OF
you, and take a tot. Then can beat any
man in the crowd at seven up, with an
ounce for the first Jack !"
In few days our title to the claim we
now hold. will probably be tried by tn $
man. The whole property may be worth
thirty thousand dollars, and may not be
| worth an ounce.
Bv the recent death of Col William
Crogha of Pittsburgh, his daughter, who
s.,,o a. saith