The New York herald., 1850-04-06
On the nigh, Of the 2sd Of March, .very sestruc-

On the night Of the 2Sd Of March, very destruc-
dve FIRE occurred a, Chsgres, BY which more than
one-halfthe whole town was barned to the ground
posed TO have been the work Of an incend,sry.
There were no American vessels at Chagres
when the Cherokee left
The Oregon arrived at san Francisco on the
morning Of the 22d February, and remained IN port
but one week. English dates TO the 2Sth Decem-
ber were received by her In San Francisco, being
but ffty-6ve days ON the route
Many Of the passengers who left New York IN
the steamer Cherokee, on the nth January, were
but thirty-six days in reaching San Francisco
| On her passage down, the Oregon ran aground
on sand bar near San Bias, but was got of IN a
short time, without the least injury. Il was very
foggy at the time
| Our California C0rrespOndsnse.
| SAN Francisco, Feb. Is, 1850
Proesssirgs Of the ksistatwe-1 The La~d Tides
The Mission Ciams-Nen Buildings The
Rush TO the Mines, &C., &c.
! wish this was leap year, that might be able
10 postpone TIL tomorrow my attempt TO give you
and your hundreds of readers an idea of the way
the worlds wsgs out here tins I'll Dorado-thls
Eureka of the nineteenth century But time and
the steamboats, wait for man, and 20 must
fain make The atemp, al once.
Our new government Is getting into rather a
curious fix, the Governor being at loggerheads
with the Senate and Assembly; and-worse than
that--with the omnlpotent Town Council Of
San Francisco The Governor has taken the
responsibility of vetoing several bills passed by the
legislature, upon what they have considered un-
warrantable grounds, and they, In return, have
pushed them through, despite the veto, with an al
most unanimous vote. But the most curious diff
Guilty Is with the town council Of San Francisco,
who have usually been considered to be vest
ed with powers in temporal matters concern
Ing San Francisco, fully equal to those which
the former Popes exercised over the church.
Lattery, there have been some remarkable pro-
ceedings in this council, and great deal of money
has been raised by the sale of vacant town lots at
enormous prices. Not satisfied with the con-
tracted limits in which the former town Of 'Yerba
Buena' was confined the council have, from time
to time, extended them, until they now include the
mission OF Dolores, distant three miles from the
plaza of the town. The Governor, considering
that money enough had been raised by the sale OF
these lots, for all the necessary town expenses for
some time to come, issued a proclamation, few
days since prohibiting any further sale Of the town
lands OF San Francisco. The omnlpotent "who's
face, and advertise sale OF two hundred and fifty
lots, TO take place Oh Monday next.
What will be the result OF all this collision,
whether Governor Burnett has a right to forbid
any further sales, or the town couacil to make
them, If a clear Of qu,ew sabe, and will afford
rich picklngs tor lawyers III the future Many
members of the Leg stature have resigned, so that
II is almost impossible TO procure quorum for
business, and nothing OF importance has yet been
effected The fact IL, that In the present uncertain
state OF affairs, but few men can be found IN this
g fast county," who will sacrifice their time for
the public good. upon the "promlse TO pay" OF a
Stale without a treasury, or even dplema OF adj
mission into the Onion. IL Is sincerely to be
hoped, that Congress will admit Us d sovereign
State, or declare AS territory, and protect US as
we deserve 10 be protect Unless one or the
other course is pursued, nothing can ensue but
anarchy and confusion.
N.ver,in the history Of our country, was there
territory which more needed the shetenng hand
OF the general government, than does California.
Thousands are fiocklng here every week. Among
them are found inen of all classes, trades, and
professions, and the class the most useful Of
all, the agrculIuriss, tnd II almost impossible TO
pursue their avocation, nearly every acre OF land
IN The whole country being claimed by men under
titles IN many cases fraudulent. Unless a CON-
mission IL Immediately sent out here, 10 examine
the titles oi the county, Uncle Sam will hnd that
in the country, TO gam which fifteen millions Of
money and the blood ot thousands OF hs nobiest
children sspe ndsa. hs does not own oae toot
Of son. With the examination OF titles, q survey
aud tue extension OF the pre-emption laws should
speedily follow, and then, and not till theo, VIII
California become settled with permanent popu-
latlon.
The most singular movement, IN relation TO laws
in California, has been made within few days
past, by Col Adams Johnston, the Indian agent
for the valleys ot tie Sacramento and san Joaquin.
In consideration Of the present disputed CLAIMS IN
the property ct the missions. he has published
document, forbddiDg any farther sale OF any
portion OF the lands formerly belonging to them,
asu claims them as government property, under
l.. ssfFr rlr.1l sFIsh INN. hoy m he
wise disposed Ct BY the action of the government.
The history Of the missIo0s OF California Is a Gu
one, and is iull investigation will tend more
10 clear up disputed land titles than any other
course which can be pursued. In the year lokI,
the Mexican government secularlzed the misslol
domains, ana sent ADMINISTRATORS to take tul
charge oi them, thus conhscaunR them from the
church, anu inycetng these agents with the same
powers which had been previously exercised oy
the Padres; and the Irofits oi them, instead ot
formerly, gong into the chprch iubds entered the
government treasury. They were thus, TO all IN.
tents snd purpOfes, made government lands, and
IN this foim came INTO the hands OF our govern
ment.
r Colonel Johnson assumes the ground that these
adm nstradores were nothing more nor less than
Indian egenis, ana ~ they, under the Mex-
csn rule, controlled the missions, he, under the
American, has the same power. ] consider his
movement az Judicious one. as twill prevent the
Wholesale pluhder OF these government lands by
priests, scaldes, and town councils.
Thousands are tocking to the mines, now that
The spnng opening, and the news from all por-
mons Of them are very favorable, promising a
greater yield during the coming year than In any
pTeyious one. Fr stories ot blg Jumps are com
Ipg down daily, and the excite ment vislbly IN
cf,asiIg.
In our good town everything Is wag1inr as usual
Buildings " spnugrg up by the dozens, daily
the "little loker continuity whrllng; and san
troncisco Ffcmisss, IN course oi lmr, To be "a
rrht smart chance oi Town" Our charter ~
about passing the Legislature, and our municipal
elccucns viii occur shortly. lion. john W
Gtaiy, ouf present popular sRd efficient Alcalde,
viii probably be the choice tor Mayor For
Sheriff, there are come dozen candidates. among
whom i Col lSck Hays. VINO stands good
Chence tor election
Among the good movements OF the country, a
COLI re has been sndowto. I. VI Leavenworth.
Esq., formerly Alcsde, having gwen five thousand
dollars towards a.
start IN few days tor the mountains, IN com
psuy with Col Adam Johnston. the Indan Agent,
and shall give you rough notes shortly. from
the base Of the Sietra Nevada. GVULD.