The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-08-23
EMIGRATION TO CALIFORNIA

EMIGRATION TO CALIFORNI
TO day, three steamers leave this
port on their way towards California.
Such an event presents a favorable
opportunity for a few reflections
suggested by the fact itself. and bv the
apparent diminulion in the numbers
emigrating to the California gold
mines. Never before. in the history
Of human enterprise and of colonial
ton. has any country received. in so
short a period, within ito wild and
uncultivated fields, so MANY adventur.
ers; and when we consider that these
men have left republic bounteouslv
blessed with prosperity. and always
generous to industry, the phenomenon
becomes still more interesting and
important. Though, as we have Of.
ten urged the same amount and spir.
Il of industry exerted in agriculture,
Upon a rich soil. would contribute
quite as much to the general happi.
ness of those engaged upon it as the
products of gold mines. yet the com.
mon mind does not readily perceive
this great axiom Of public economy,
and is not stimulated by the truth
dwelling in the thought. Gold itself
is tangible substance. when perceiv-
ed. Thought, or great principle CT
action. lies much deeper. Equally
able. if equally respected and sought.
and treasured. to enrich mankind, it
must give way to a great practical
result, such as the labor in the mines
so substantially furnishes. Even the
successful Of individual laborers. in
trade, in commercial designs, in ag,i.
culture within the territory of Cali.
fornia, fail to draw off, by their exam.
pie. and by their prosperity, any large
number o. those whose imaginali ms
have been inflamed by the prize Jumps
Of gold found by some fortunate deliver
of the soil. In lotteries, all purchasers
expect to be winners. In the Cali.
fornia gold lottery, we perceive the
same credulous hope-the same spirit
Of adventure, rs in any other scheme
Of chance. The world has proved
that labor on the SOL, even of the
sterile countries, always enriches the
husbandman; but the failure Of thon-
sands in California to obtain "pi|e"
of dust, does not check the growth
and perseverance in the desire of sud |
den fortune. Men. exrep, in individ
ual instances, seek to become rich by
the swiftest means, unmindful that
without labor, man is a misery to
himself, and dead to a national wealth
AS useless as gambler or dealer
in stocks.
1t has been supposed. recently. that
this feverish desire. based on extrava.
giant hopes of sudden wealth. has
abated in the United States, and many
persons have too willingly asserted
that the emigration to California is
nearly at an end. This, we believe.
to be decision, not in accordance
with truth. In the spring of the
present year, thousands upon thou
sands turned their steps towards Cali
fo!nia, seeking it by various routes.
and filling ship after ship with crowd.
ing hundreds. The tide Of enterprise
tending in that direction was largely
swollen. Around the Cape. by Pa.
mama, and across the plains, thousands
departed; all inspired by one inteli.
gerce. by one will. to reach the mines
in the most favorable season for reap.
ing the anticipated harvest. Most of
these persons we're poor men. who
had not the means TO sustain them.
selves during the wet season. when |
labor in California ceases, and life !
itself becomes. at best. but a dream of
patience and deprivation. This is
the reason why few are now on their
way to the mines. Those who now
gothither must be prepared to sojourn
there. withou, any income from labor.
for months after their arrival. and
those who have not prepared for such
patient inaction. will find themselves
like the foolish virgins in the parable.
On the whole, therefore. we are no,
surprised that the emigration has
diminished within few weeks. while.
at the same time, we are equally well
satisfied that, at more propitiolis
season. the annual tide will again he
noticed sweeping onward whole sea
Of heads towards the Pacific. and ex'
hibiting the same spectacle that was
beheld with such establishment last
year. We have thousands, in this
metropolis alone, ready to start at a
proper and convenient season.-N Y.
Herald, 18th INST.
A friend of ours. whose chief, il not
only failing. was penchant for good
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