The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-12-20
FROM WASHINGTON.
WAsnINGToN, Dec. 9.

w ASHlNGTCN, DcC. -.
The collection of Mr.. Mason, as
u. S. Senator from Virginia, is very
gratifying to the people of that State,
and will be SO to the South generally.
It is regarded as an evidence of the
fact that, though acquiescing in the
compromise. as a whole, Virginia will
insist upon the strict enforcement Of
that part of i. which so much concerns
Virginia, and Of which Mr. Mason
was the prominent promoter, if not
the fathef-the Fugitive Act.
1t is evident from the reports sub.
mitted to Congress. and from the con.
sidera,ion Of other facts. that the debt
of the United States would now be, if
the French and Mexican spoliations
were provided for, and some honest
claims paid. over hundred millions Of
dollars. 1t is evident, also, that the
expenses of the Government are fast
increasing, and are not likely TO be
diminished. 1t is also. certain that
for long time to come, the lands are
disposed of and will give little aid TO
the revenue. The estimates of def.
ciencies for 1851, and of tho appropri.
atoms for 1852, amount to $5S,00O..
900. The additional expenditures for
1853 and for "a, must be of consider.
able amount. Many persons are.
therefore, beginning to ask themselves
where all the revenue wanted is to
c,me iroml Must commerce be bur-
dencd with the whole amount of
yearly revenue wanted! Must loans
be asked for, or must direct taxes be
resorted to? Mr.. Corwn, suppose
for his report is not yet out--wiII
discuss all these matters. 1t is I'M
derstood, however. that he re jccts the
plan of new loans, which his predc-
cessor, Mr.. Meredith, had relied upon.
Mr.. Corwin no doubt, urges resor,
to specific and higher duties--which
project, both with the present and
next Congress. is out of the question:
Whatever deficiency may occur in
the receipts during 1852 and ., will
be left to be provided for under the
next Administration.
The Senator elect from New.
Mexico, MAJOR Weightman. and tie
Representative elect. Mr.. Messervy.
are here, and intend TO present an
application for Il recognition Of the
State Government, which was formed
last summer. OF course, Congress
will not heed it. The Territorial
government will be put in operation,
under tie act which will take effect
when the assent OF Texas to the pro.
position of Congress shall bc formal.
w communicated to Congress. New.
Mexico will then be entitled TO elect
a Delegate. There are not wanting
numbers of applicants for the federal
offices in the ne W territory.
The Collector of the port Of New
York, Mr.. Maxwell. sent to the Sc.
cretary of the Treasury. a week AFRO.
a list of fifty Custom House officers.
TO be dismissed as Seward men The
removals have not yet been decided
upon. .
Many persons who have visited
California officially, or on private en-.
terprises. are now here, and give no
very glowing picture of the prospects
and condition of the land of gold.-
They agree that men Of business ca
paciiy and ample capital may succeed,
and that individual aborers. possessed
of great industry and endurance of
hardship, may still thrive. but that as
to the vast majority of Immigrants
they cannot, and do not prosper. nor
even make subsistence.
All that California has returned, or
will return, in gold. will not be half
equal to the Amount Of capital which
the immigrants have Withdrawn from
the United States, to say nothing of
the value of their productive labor
withdrawn from products at home.
The auriferous quarts is a humbug.
There is little of it, and none that will
paw the expense of working. The
surface gold is. for the most part, ex'
hausted, and that which remains, soon
will be. This might have been un-
derstood before, when the surface gold
was thought inexhaustible. The
Jumps, scales, and dust of gold which
we're found on The surface. were dis.
integrated by natural processes. from
the rocks in the course of some five
and twenty centuries. perhaps, and it
will require that length of time to
reproduce the same results. The
country, says one intelligent observer.
will begin to prosper when emmlgra'
ton and gold hunting shall slacken
or cease.
The census has disclosed some Gu.
rious things. among which the follow.
inc fac: is related to US. A lady OF