The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-02
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

San Francisco, Norember Is, 1850.
To the Editor of The National Era:
DEAR SIR Since last wrote you, the destroy
ing angel has been busy in our midst and around
us and has swept from the face of the earth some
of the brightest and the best. The dreadful and
dreaded cholera, which many fondly supposed
would never visit our healthful shores, has made
its appearance, and spread in some portions Of our
State with degree of malignity almost unparsl-
leled. Ia San Francisco, where it first made lis
appearance, it has not been SO severe as in other
portions. The greatest number of cases yet re-
ported here were on Sun1ay last, when, out Of
twenty-nine cases, twenty resulted in death
Yesterday but eighteen cases and eight deaths
were reported, and it is hoped that the disease is
gradually disappearing. As yet it is principally
confined to the portion of the community, which
among US is a large one, who are nearly homeless
and houseless, and who often lack the common
necessares of life. These, when taken sick, have
been hurried off to a building appropriated for a
cholera hospital, where they have died, generally,
without attention, or friend to stand over their
bedside, to whom they might breathe dying re-
membrance to the loved ones far away.
In Sacramento city the disease has spread to
an alarming extent, causing some days, in pop
uation of eight thousand, hundred deaths A
general panic peryad,d the whole community.
Gaming houses and hotels were closed, and two
weeks after the first appearance Of the cholera
there, the population had diminished to about two
thousand the remainder having scattered in all
directions. Upon the Sacramento river great
mortality has prevailed among the Indians, whole
tribes of them having been swept of. In various
portions Of the mining region few cases have
occurred, but not in sufficient number to create
any manifest alarm, and the mines are now con-
sidered as the safest and hsalthisst part Of Cali
fornia.
Hon John McDougall, Lieutenant Governor of
our State, has been FRUSTRATED for several days
with the cholera, but 10 now ont of danger, and
fast recovering May God in his mercy grant
that the terrible scourge may be abated ere the
rainy season commences, for, should 1t continue to
spread through that time, no one can give an idea
of the awful ravsges ID will make
The people Of California, since the arrival Of
the last steamer, have been very busily employed
in discussing the character and merits Of the va
rious bills that have been introduced into Con
gress for our benefit, And, first and foremost,
the bill creating ports of entry has received the
most attention amongst us. When il was first
understood that Benicia had been made port of
entry, and Sacramento and Stockton only ports
of delivery, the indignation was great and gene
raj But the next news, which did justice to the
two last.named ports, subdued the tone, and we
now regard the erection of Benicia to such an
honor as very good joke. 1t Is amusing to read
in the home papers the funny articles and anus.
ing reports in relation to little place that we
have always regarded as a mere villsge-a place
where the steamboats,, in their course between the
great cities of San Francisco and Sacramento,
stop TO take in or discharge some struggling pas
senger. It would seem that it has lately been
discovered that the great commercial emporium of
the Pacific had been located in the wrong place,
that its entrance and its magnificent harbor, for
merly considered the finest In the world, is filed
with supken rocks and dangerous shoals" which
render almost certain the destruction of any ves-
sci whose commander had the temerity to enter IT,
Something, IL seems, was to be done. The com.
mercal interests of the world were not to be jeop
arded Ships were not TO be wrecked on "sunken
rocks.u or run on dangerous shoals" any longer
A remedy was finally discovered: San Francisco
must be moved TO BeDicia and the ships which
swarm our harbor and line our docks were all to
be safely removed out Of harms way, and an
i l.. -. .,9K
the fact OF the matter is simply this Benicia
with its magnificent location" its 6 safe and
splendid harborn It's great commercial facilties,n
is nothing more or less than little town, Of a
few hundred Inhabitants, very prettily located on
some barren hills thirty-fve miles above San
Francisco Its harbor is good and 80 are q thou
sand others in the world but where it's CONNER
cial facilities, 30 superior TO those Of San Fran
cisco are it Is hard to discover. There IL no back
country to support IT. no passing through u to 20
to the great mining gon no coming 70 II from
the mines to purohage supplies. Why, there are
single houees in Sacramento or San Francisco
who do more business in one day than all Benica
does 10 a week. ln spite Of the representations
of Government officers, and otherN largely ia.
terested ia the success Of the scheme, am forced
to sag that the port Of entry Benieia 10 mag.
nifcent humbug We are not seriously alarmed
here, however and do not think that We shall al
remove up to the sport" till the rainy season Is
over.
The bill Of next Importance IL the gold bill y
of Senator Fremont. ! am sorry that MIR FIRE.
mont, whose first movements In Congress prom
ised 10 raise him TO the highest state Of popular-
ty in California, should have concocted bill 80
utterly imprscticable and productive Of evil as
this bill The gold mines OF California must be
handled with great delicacy. In the three years
which they have been wrought they have cometo
be regarded rs the common property Of those who
choose TO labor n them and the laborers still de-
sire 10 be untaxed. There Is one provision Of the
bill that renders II entirely impracticsble; and
that u.s. the space allotted TO each claimant Men
will never invest large amounts OF capital in work
Ing the placers Of California, unless they have
ample room upon which TO expend their capital
and labor. Let the mines OF California be free
as the air we breathe, and the expenditure enter
prise, and capital, will exhibit results here which
II fettered by law they never can.
The land bill Of Col. Fremont meets with pref
ty general appreciation, although there are fonnd
amongst US croakers who are opposed TO the dona-
ton OF land to the early settlers Of California
This project Is, however, but just. II will be rec
objected that ut the time Of the treaty Of peace
large portion OF the inhabitants Of California were
the regiment Of volunteers who came from New
York with Col Stevenson. These men were 10.
duced 10 come to Calisornia by promises consider
ed 10 have been authorized, made 10 them OF
grants Of land Many Of those men are here now.
They deserve q donation OF land, and will be the
principal recipients Of the benefits Of this bill,
49, hnu ID