Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-05-23
MORE TEpR1roR1A. SroL1ArroH THREAT

ENED.--An dflcie .ppeitiS III tho .'o" o'1>
Herald, protesting to be ii Translation from
lie Traa de Ussoh, of tie city of Mexico winch
if authentic, threatens another difficulty with
the Rceshiic OF Mexico, perhaps war not in
the remote distance. 1t has been for some
,ia.e feared that the temptations presented to
the rowing band of adven,urers In Upper Cali
fornir, finding the field too narrow for ther.en-
terprise, would carry them into Lower Calitor-
mia, a country comparatively destitute Of agri
cultural resources, but abounding III mineral
wealth. This apprehension svery probably .by
this time realized. As the means lessen for ra-
pidly anlassing large fortunes at San Francis
co, Sacramento and Stockton, the hopes of the
adventures are excited and their uvarice slim
ulated by the riches which, In silver, cinnabar,
copper and mineral salt, abound in Lower Call
forla. 1t will become 4 new Texas. The
facility of emigrating t!cre from the Upper ter
ritory will scou fill it with motley population,
but in which the American rIcnfcn; will pre-
dominate. The Calfornians wilrbc overpow.
pred. A Declaration of Independence will
follow, Annexation will be claimed. The I'D.
mission of Lower California rs another State
of the chances Of calculation for an asPirant to
the Presideacy.H.sThis has been the course Of
American politics in past, and we know net
why it nlay.notiG AL future periods, while there
is foot OF territory ON this Hemisphere to
tempt ilss shmdity%of adventaress; orreward
the ambition fpoiiticians.
The following article appeared recently in
the Alta. Californian. 1t tells of countless min.
eral wealth, which will not escape the grasp OF
the men who are swarnling that country, and
who no more regard the treaty obligations of
the United States than DO the Cuban invaders.
Tile mineral source of Lower California have
been but particularly worked, and the mines OF
which the discovery had been made, were for a
long time neglected, for the want OF energy
which characterizes the Mexican race. Yet
mines of silver, gold, copper, iron and lead, ex-
list in different parts OF the country, and have
been more or less worked. The principal sll-
YER mines are at San Antonio, the capital OF
the territory, situated about midway from La
Paz, on the Gulf and from San Jose, to the
the Cape of San Lucas. These mines have
been worked for long time; in spite Of the I'M
perfectons Of the machinery used-whch con-
sisted Of Il mule turning two mill stones-.thc
yearly produce was from twenty to forty thou
sand dollars in silver, which was sent to foreign
countries. The silver sent is SO common, that
if it is asked ola native where it will be easy to
established mine, he points with his finger to
the top ofa mountain, and says, .por a1a. The
wells dug for the mines are not deep; at San
Antonio, for they need machinery to draw up
the water and the mineral stone is ordinarily
detached from the top and sides of the noun
tains. With proper machinery, the product OF
the mines of San Antonio would be increased
ten.fold, and the other silver depots, lying from
Cape San Lucas to the Gulf depots, which have
never been worked, would give silver in abun-
dance. In the neighborhood Of Loretto on the
gulf, there are immense mines of copper; they
have been but partially worked, and all the cx.
tracted mineral was lett at the well OF extrac'
ton, or exported to foreign countries, for they
had no means to operate its melting. have
seen, during my sojourn in Lower California,
some samples Of copper ore, which contained
at least 60 per cent. of pure metal. The finest
specimen of gold, washed, which have ever
seen,s was shown me in LoYer California. 1t
is of the same kind as that found in the placers
ofUpper California, and | understood, recently,
that great discovery of gold placers had been
made at place called Los Gallines; in the
neighborhood of San Autonia.
| have also seen, in that country, rich sam
pies of cinnebar; but, however, no mine Of this
metal has ever been worked Oh large scale.
In the Gulf of California are two large islands:
those of Carmen and San Jose-the one situa
ted opposite Lor.tto, and the othernear La Paz;
they contain immense depots of the puTest and
most beautiful mineral salt, and in sufficient
quantities for the provisions Of all the Mexican
coast and California. This branch of COM
merce has been already very productive in
Lower California; and there exists yet more salt
in the two islands than could be extracted in
one hundred years. The great difficulty which
till now, was opposed to the development Of the
mineral richness Of Lower California, has al
ways been the want of all cnterprising spirit
among the inhabitants, who, as the natives Of
Upper California, satisfied in mounting a good
horse, or in eating beef and 'frijoles, have never
pushed their desires any further. Ii a race like
the Americans is ever master of the country,
am certain that fortunes will be made, and
that riches, which the present inhabitants never
dreamed, will be discovered.
The Fight in Alabama.-We see it noticed
in the Spirit of the South that Mr.. Benjamin
Gardner, editor of the Eufanla Shield, and now
candidate for seat in the lower House of
our State Legislature, announcing his willing.
ness to respond to call of the General Gov
ernment to coerce and put down South Caro-
lima, should she attempt to secedc from the
Union. When the author Of this infamous de-