Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-05-16

CALIFORNIA LETTER

SACRAMENTO, April | 1851.
Dear J****-l promised to write you some
time ago about what was going on in California,
but have undertaken more of a lob than I can
ever 60 through with. There is no country out
OF doors that changes, and is so continually un-
certain as California. What is done to-day is as
likely as any way to be undone tomorrow.
We think the Legislature will pass the home
stead exemption bill this spring; but. if they do,
1t will probably be repealed next winter. Poll
tics are Just as uncertain as everything else, and
about the meanest business man can dabble in.
The fact is, everybody has come to this country
to make money, and for no other reason, except.
IN some cases, it may be- to get clear Of debts at
home The whole social system seems to be
wrong side up. know that wealth is made the
criterion to Judge of responsibility, in measure,
in the older States, but there is no exception to
the rule in this country, and, of course, then,
those who have the most gold are the best men,
+ 1t Is no matter whether he is blackeg, gam
f bier, whoremaster, profane, or drunkard, if he
has gold he is respectable all through this gold
besotted country. Ifyou will believe it, know
OF men who were ministers of the gospel in the
States, who are now the most notorious scoun-
drels about, and can't be beat for any vlany the
devil himself might invent.
The items of general news yon will get from
the papers which send with this letter. There
are a good many Of the Southport boys about this
city and in the mines. Some of them are doing
very well, and some just getting along, and 9TH
ers have hard work to keep their heads above
water. Prosser is making brick and building
some. Chase, and Lewis and Hutchinson are
here, doing pretty well, believe. There is no.
body in these parts liked any better than Hutch
inson he is one of those XII Of fellows that
take in the world, and he is bound to succeed
| sincerely hope he will. There is not dishon-
est hair in his head. l don't suppose that any,
body in your place tell the reason he left so
isuddcn-but when it comes out, there are some
men in your place that will not DO thought so
much of as they are now. hope he will pros
per and make money. There is no fellow more
deserving than he-and for another reason, too.
hope he will succeed-he won't stay here a
debts-he will go back and square uplovcrything,
principal and interest. Stranger things than
this have happened in the course of ten years of
mans life. ldon't justify him for running in
to debt so extravag antly as he did but he never
designed to let anybody suffer by him; he was
unfortunate, to say the least, about his career,
and he will never ask the forgiveness of debt
ii he can possibly raise the money to pay, and
have no doubt but that he will.
have some very distressing news to commu-
nicatc about one of your Southport fellows. The
fact is not a day passes but that somebody is
shot or hung or murdered in this vicinity sup
pose that there are more murders committed in
California in one month than there is in the rest
of the U. S. for u whole year; and our barba-
rous lynching method of metcing out justice is
sure TO take as many lives as have been taken.
5. Easterbrook, of your place, was hung by a
self-constituted court 4 day or two since lie
was charged with shooting partner of his from
Virginia, while il bed, on Friday night last
Steve was in the habit of drinking, and when in
that state he was generally demented and be-
came unreasonable and ungovernablc On the
night in question he was probably excited from
that cause, and his partner tired of being annoy
ed, who had already gone to bed, called to him to
come to bed and stop his noise-upon which it
seems, one version of the story is, that he drew
his pistol and shot him in the head. Steve said
he cid not mean to kill and only struck him with
the pistol which went off and killed him. | sup
pose it will be impossible ever to know the true
state OF the case. Steve, it seems, left the DIG
gng and his shanty Immediately, and was pursu-
ed as soon as soon as the murder was discovered
and caught abOnt 10 miles off. The Jury, Judge
and witnesses were Immediately empannelIed
and sworn and in "a hours from the time. he
was executed. This is an awful way of doing
business, but it is universally prevalent here
Petit Larceny is a state prison offence here
Almost every other crime meets death as the
penalty demonstrating is considerably in vogue
here, although not week passes but that some
are shot for it. lis sickening to dwell on such
state of things; but if it is true, what is the
use of Disgusting it?
The want of the usual rainy season will bring
dismay and sorrow to great many who would
otherwise have had bright prospects Millions
OF gold dust ready to wash, lies upon the banks
of the streams waiting for the rivers to rise
whose owners are running in debt every day for
the means of subsistence. Cattle and horses are
being sold every day for fear of the shortness of
the grass. Almost everything but provisions
are cheaper with US than with you These loss
ess on goods will fall severely on the New York
and Boston Merchants A great monetary chi |
sis must be at hand in the Atlantic cities, and
who comes out top will be the lucky fellows.
Yours, T.. H.
PRACTICAL FARMING
The following hints may be little late in the |