The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-14


THE GoLp Rsep# OF NEw GRApApA.--Ws
have several times published extracts from tbs
Panaua papers relative 10 the existence Of gold
in largo quantities in New Granada. The edi-
tor Of the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, who
hes lately returned from an official residence ia
the country, copies one Of those accounts, and
appends the following commentary:
When In South America, we endesyored to
obtain reliable information respecting the aurif
erous region of New Granada, which may be
said to embrace the whole tract lying between
the Pacific and the Magdalena rivers. In por-
tons of this district especially in the province Of
Antioquia, which is settled chiefly BY descend
ants Of Jews converted to the Catholic faith,
gold mining is prosecuted with much zeal and
success We never heard Of masses of gold
being found there riyaling in value some that
have been picked up in California, but the pre-
cious metal seems to be- more universally diff
fused. and the search for it, we think, would be
a more certain business than in California. To
illustrate this general diffusion Of gold, we will
mention few facts
In the city Of Medellin, some time last year,
the owner Of an old house wishing to replace it
by better structure, undertook the demolition
Of his old tenement. 1t was built Of adobe, or
brick dried iD the sun. Before the work was
done heavy rain FELL washing away the clay
and disclosing glittering particles of gold. The
hint was taken. The old adobe was broken up
and washed, and enough gold was obtained in
that way to defray the cost of tearing down the
old house and building new one. In many Of
the towns Of Antioquia and adjoining provinces,
gold can be found in the streets after heavy
rain. We have seen it mixed with the sand in
the streets Of Honda We stopped one night
at a village on the Magdalena, called Buena
Vista, eight or ten leagues below Honda
The appearance of thrift and comfort the vii
layers exhibited, excited our surprise, and we in
quired of them what they did for living. They
sud they did nothing, but when further pressed
to tell how. they obtained means to purchase the
many articles of comfort they had, they said
when they wanted money they went to little
river that came into the Maglena, half league
below, and washed the sands for an hour or 80,
until they had gathered as much gold as was
necessary to supply their wants at the neighbor-
ing towns of Mare or Honda. The rest of the
time they spent in idleness. Why should we
do more?' they asked. "Why should we make
slaves Of ourselves? The gold is there. and
when we want it, we go and get it," There
was 80 much of n practical philosophy in this
that we had no reply to make The region
about Buena Vista is by no means considered
remarkably rich in gold.
The province of Choco is very much richer
than Antioquia, but it u.s. in many parts exceed
ingly unhealthy, and the inhabitants are more
INDECENT then those of Antioquia. Consequently
the placers are but little worked. The gold is
of the purest quality, rivalling the best African,
and exceling that Of California. Some intelli-
gent New Granadians, who wished to verify by
their own observations the stories they had
heard of California, went there and visited the
most famous mining regions. On their return
they said New Granada would prove equally
productive if its mines were worked with like
energy and judgment.
The government of New Granada is enght-
ened and liberal, and foreigners, especially North
Americans, who may 60 there, will be treated
kindly, if they behave properly. If any wish to
try their fortune in Choco, the best route they
can take is from Panama, by steamer two days,
to Buenaventura, and thence up the San Juan
de Charambira, six or eight days journey TO No
vita, town of few thousand inhabitants,
where supplies of most kinds can be obtained.
BosTON, SEvENTY-FIvE YEARS AGo.-In view
of the aggressive character of the Massachusetts,
law of lS43, as directed against the Southern
portion Of the Union, to say nothing of the re-
cent assault upon the Fugitive law in Boston,
we may refer here to some of the evidences of
kindness and the community of interest and feel
ing which characterized the conduct of the South
towards Massachusetts,on memorable occasion
when the Boston port bill was enacted by the
British parliament. We are glad to find these
records of the olden time colated by the Rich
mond Wing :-Pennsylpanian.
We cannot forget the historical description
oc H. Oh H..
stood up for the rights of Boston, when her port
was closed by act Of parament-when the
agtations" of TIA occasioned county meet
ings throughout Maryland and virginia-State
conventions in both of those States, and in
those of North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Georgia, united in expressions of sympathy
We cite a few of the resolutions then adopted !:
Resolped, That they look upon the cause of
Boston, in its consequences, to be the common
cause of America" Resolution of Queen Anne
county, Maryland
"Resolued, That it is the duty Of every colony
in America to unite in the most effectual means
to obtain repeal of the late act of parliament
for blocking up the harbor of Boston" Reso-
luton of Baltimore county.
Norfolk writes to Charleston, The late hos
tile parliamentary invasion of the town of Bos-
ton, we deem attack upon the liberties Ct
us all"
Charleston says, "let us enter into solemn
resolutions not to import any British goods, "a
very few necessary articles excepted and deter
mine firmly and strictly to adhere to them till
the privileges of Boston are restored"
Resoiped, That the late act for shutting up
the port of Boston, which, by the last accounts
from Great Britain, had been brought into par
lament, there read and committed, is of the
most alarming nature to all his majesty's sub
ects in America"
There are many evidences Of Southern inter
est of more substantial character. Sums of
money were subscribed for the support of " the
suffering poor of Boston; )" provisions were for
warded from counties of Virginia and Maryland
South Carolina sent money--Georgia rice; all
gave who had the means to contribute whilst
the sympathy wa universal. The first day OF
June, the day of the commencement of the port
bill, was marked in Virginia with a procession
of the Legislature and with public prayer, whilst
in Boston bells tolled and flags fonted at half
mast, for the oppressive injustice inflicted upon
the city.
M. Niepce de Victor of Paris, has discovered
the following new process of photography. The