The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-10
CALIFORNIA NEWS.
by THE sTEAME. PIILADELrHIA.
Later from California.

nine days, ana returned IN eight days and twenty
two hours, running time.
The Philadelphia brings nearly 8 100000 o
gold entered on her manifest, in addition TO which
IL is estimated that there five hundred thousanc
dollars IN the hands OF passengers Reports ot ths
latter description, however, must always DO tal,@i
with some grains OF allowance
Among the passengers, il will be seen, arc judgs
TurrIl, late United States Consul at the Sandwich
Islands, who returns with his family, alter htt
years residence there; John L.. Stephens, ace
President Of the Panama Railroad Company, anc
j. w. Audubon.
Mr. Stephens left Bogola on tic 9th of June, hay.
ing made considerable tarry there for the purpose
Of forwarding the interests of the company of which
he IS officer.
He has procured from The Congress Of New Gren.
ada important notifications Of the contract ioI
building a railroad across the isthmua, among
which Is the exclusive privilege OF constructing .
plank wagon road for temporary purposes, un-
Ill the completion Of the railroad.
On the receipt of intelligence that passports were
required Of persons crossing the istbmus, DIR,
Footc, our Charge d'Aiiaires at Bogota, innedi
ately demonstrated with the government, and the
Congress-, then in session, at once passed law
abolishing the necessity. These passports were
only required in compliance with old las
which, from general neglet had become dead
letter, bat which was revived by some unprlnciplco
persons for selfish and private purposes
The news is OF considerable interest. Tho law
imposing a tax upon foreigners working IN the
mines has had the natural effect Of provoking an
opposition by the parties whose interests 1t affects
and some hostile demonstrations have been the re.
suit 4 letter in the -Alte Californian, dated May
10, says:
AS / anticipated, the advent Of the tax collector
the signal for trouble and alarm Little, il
amy excitement was dispiayed III town until tai;
morning, when reports reached us that large bo.
dies OF MeMiculs, Chilians, and Frenchmen were
assembled outside the town, holding meetings anc
consulting on means to evade the payment Of The
imposition of s. 20 per month. No notice was aEcr
OF theEe demonstrations, for the citizens Of this
boy pnjf,rfrly cd bp
that we could hardly entertain any fears for the
peace OF the town.
About noon two populations came in from the
assemblies to the authorities, and ascertain il
any action OF the governor could arrest the con
summation of the contemplated taxation; or Of
leas, to have it explained to them, and the justice
of it shown to them. They asserted that il was
impossible that such amount could be paid; that
they would willingly pay four or five dollars per
month, but that it would be out OF the power OF
more than half OF the miners to pay the sum con-
templated, a great many diggers hardly getting
more gold than sufted for mere livelihood.
During the discussion an American, who wished
to get out Of the crowd, began Glowing his way
from the place where he stood, when Mexican OF
Gillian in front OF him drew pistol. In mo-
ment a dozen revovers were out and II preclptnte
retreat made by the foreigners. No shot was
fired, bat the Mexicans alarmed, and the
town was cleared in five minutes. Our peace now
seemed threatened by about five thousand men out
side, and no Uncomfortable alarm was created in
town. The citizens armed themselves, and ex-
presses were sent to Mormon creek and Sullivan .
diggngs, from which places about five hundred
weltarined Americans arrived, and marched
through the streets with guns and rifles on their
shoulders. The demonstration was sufficient; the
crowds in the vicinity dispersed, and quiet
was restored The only thing TO be feared is the
misguided zeal Of our own citizens, who, although
generally sympatzing with the discomfort coca
stoned By the unjust tax, ncensed that the iur-
eigners should presume TO take the lay into their
ow. hands, and may not be willing to allow the ai-
fair forest where II is.
postscript Of the same letter, dated May 20,
says;
4 guard was kept up all last night, but every
thing was quiet, and believe the danger, il amy
was to be apprchendod has passed away. But the
cxctablc feelings of the hundreds of Americans
now under arms had to be indulged; and hearing
that camp, mostly composed OF foreigners, stu
atcd about seven miles from Sonora, had mounted
Mexican, CHILEAN; and French fags, (what truth
there is in the report know not,) they have
started out this morning TO avcnge the insult and
chastisc the teIncrity oil the greasors" and out
sidcrs.
very respectable portion Of the foreign popula-
tion Of Sonora held a meeting on Saturday, IN or
der to ncmorialize the governor the subject OF
the tax. have translated a portion Of tls memo
rial to show the moderation Of these people. After
stating their conviction that it (the tax viii de-
e.roy ali their interests along with the coIamercal
interests Of the southern mines, causing % many
thousands to leave them, they go on; :,
"Without doubling for a moment the poweroi
tween American citizcns and those Of other coun-
tries, we humb.y draw your excellcncy's attention
20 the fact that it is altogether contrary TO the
institutions Of the free republic oil the United
States to make such difference as amounts IN
reality TO a prohibition of labor. Without assum-
ing any tone other than that of the deepest re-
spect Tor the government under which we live
and are protected, we beg humbly to suggest q
your excellency that larger State income could
be raised, and that, too, without causing the
slightest dissatisfaction, by the imposition Of four
five dollars per month, instead Of the large sum
OF twenty"
Our foreign working population in this country
is estimated ten thousand, and the estimate IS,
assure you, from what experience have, not ex-
aggerated. Surprising twenty dollars per month
TO be collected from each Of these, have an in
come from public lands placed at the private DIS
posal Of State or territory, of S2OO,OOO per
month, or nearly two millions and half per an
mum, from one country alone. IL 10 not 10 be WON
dcred If Uncle Sam should deem this little TOO
large bite for State to indulge in. Again, thC
collector understand, has a commission Of : on
each license.
This is a monthly income of 100000. or an an
nual income Of 8 300 900. Uncle Sam might object
10 the public money being disposed Of so very sum
Iuarily. This simple statement OF facts is conclu-
sivo proof Of the recessness Of our Legislators, and
is another of The many reasons why we should pres
an immediate union with TIC parent country.
The party Of Americans who went ont this morn
ing have returned. They met no opposition; every
thing was quiet, and hope will remain 20. Up
ward OF five hundred SonOrans have left, IL j. sup
poscd, for home. a Frcnchman, il is said, has beer
apprehonded for melting tho foreigners to rebel he
IS now in custody.
A letter from Stockton, dated May p, furnishes
some additional information:
On Sunday there was quite an excitement among
the foreigners. Guns and ammunition we're pur
chased by them at one Of the stores, and they pa.
radcd the streets armed and using threatening
language. The sale Of firearms was prohibited ~
the authorities, and couricrs despatched u
the surrounding settlements for achievements OF
Americans.
At last accounts there were two or three huudrCc
Americans at Sonora, under arms. and others were
hourly arriving. On Monday the excitement had
somewhat abeted Hundreds of the Mcxicaus and
Chilians were packing up and leaving Tor Stock.
ton. Many of them disclaimcd having bad any
intention OF rcsorting TO arms, and all were NOR,
or ess frightened at the aspect a affairs. it ap
pears that the Mcxicaus who took part in the dis
turbancc were led on by some hot-hcaded French
men, lately arrived from France, OF the red repub
hcan order. They found, however, that the ma
jority OF the Spaniards were not disposed to JON
them, and IL - supposed that the whole affair VII
blow over, without any very serious consequences
The affair will probably be severe blow to busi
ness, for the present, in Sonora.
r. Al. l1fa TO- Ia