The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-18
Our California Correspondence.
SAN Francisco. April lS. 1852


tcich Islands-Caiifornia Amusements, &c.
The steamship Northerner leaves here this morn
ing at seven o'clock; unreasonable hour for Tho
departure of vessel carrying the mall but, as there
is no remedy, it must be submitted to-
The intelligence which this steamer will convey
will be two weeks later, provided the Vanderbilt
line do not anticipate it, but within the two weeks
that have elapsed, since last wrote, nothing o.
striking Importance has occurred, although much
has transpred which affords room for thought and
consideration. In this connection may refer to the
final passage of the Slave bill in this State. This
is not, might be supposed, an endorsement Of the
Fugitive Slave bill, Of the compromise measures
generally, but act referring to slaves which were
brought into the country by their masters before the
adoption of the present constitution, and at time
when il was undetermined whether slavery would be
tolerated in California. This law provides that
within one year after its passage the owners Of
slaves shall have the privilege of removing them
from the State; if they do not do SO within that
time, the slaves to be free. This measure was vio-
lently opposed by the aboltionists, of whom there
great many in California, but it passed never
theless, and is now the law Of the State.
This leads to the necessity Of referring to the
slavery question in another form. Every steamer
that arrives here, brings to California more or less
slaves from the Southern States; and if the impora
ton of this species of property should continue in
the same way for few months to come, a large adj
diton will be made to the slaveholding interest Of
California, sufficient, perhaps, to counterbaance
the anti slavery interest If this should be the ease
the State Observation-Disclosures persons who are in IA
Of division Of the State into Northern and
Southern Caiorna-will succeed in their enterprise;
but not until then. There is an agitation on the
subject as intense. and marked by much acerbity
and bitterness as any agitation on the same SUBJ
ject that ever took place in the United States.
As it is, there are two parties on this ques-
ton of slavery here elsewhere; but contest has
yet taken place between them. The time, however
isnot far distant when this subject WILL of ITSELF be
the dividing line between political parties. The
suit will be division of the State, and the incor
poration of Southern California MS slave territory
Now is the time for philosopher Greeley to blow the
trumpet. The Philistines will soon be upon him,
and he is expected to, at all events, make effort
to avert the calamity with which California is
threatened: He might, perhaps, make some CAPT
tai for his friend Seward out Of the matter.
If intelligence has not been already received in
New York on the same subject, you will learn by
this mail Of the breaking out Of a revolution
in the Society Islands, and of 7ronuncian,snto
having been issued by the naked natives, setting
at defiance the authority Of old Queen Pomare.
One would suppose that the Society Islands were
the last place on the map of the world where DO
litical outbreak would occur 1t must be recolect-
ed, however, that example is contagious, and it is
not at all unlikely that Louis Napoeons success in
his coup eat in Paris, has extended to the Society
Islands, and that the fattering manner in which it
was received by the French people generally, has in
duccd some semi-naked subject Of Queen Pomare,
to raise the standard of revolt, with the view of Ill
innate sovereignty in his own person. Be this it
may, it is generally believed here that the movement
originated in Paris, and that the French authorities
in The Society Islands have to do with it than
il would be polite to acknowledge.
Some time since, party ot ad"anturers left here
for Queen Charlottes Islands, with the intention Of
awaiting themselves Of the almost fabulous deposits
ofgold that were represented to exist there. From
the fact that most Of those who composed the expo
dition on their way back it will be seen that
the party did not meet with the success they antic
Iated. The following extract of a letter from one
Of the party, gives some interesting information
concerning the island -
We found the right place and think there is plenty of
gold there but we had neither the proper tools nor suf
blast and from that we found We should have to
fight for what got and thought the better part Of
vaor was to get more strength.
We have seen more of Queen Charotte's Island than
white men ever had before We have been in many
harbors and on many Of the high mountains and have
several beautiful waterfalls from inland lakes The
island is solid rock with little earth composed Of
decayed vegetation The trees IN many places have lain
for ages and not decayed yet Many of the noun
tains entirely bare. We wrongly informed but
did not give it till we found the place We were seyc
raj times for weeks wndbound in different harbors and
dcno steanv Indians except in Gold llarbcr where
about leo Tneie eleven tribes on the island all speak
ing the tongue, and originally Of the family
been spoiled by the II. Is. Co. and want in barter more
than twice the value of their gold We considerable
Jumps in the hands Of the Indians which they stole from
the crew Of the Una when they blasted.
People who would leave California for the purpose
of looking out for gold mines still more productive,
deserve to be disappointed. Every day new ones
are discovered, and it would really seem as if but
1.-THE of our mineral resources was vet brought to
light. could fill this letter with the accounts that
have reached here within the past two weeks Of the
finding of big Jumps, and Of the discovery of new
placers but it would be useless. The truth is,
California may be set down vast bed Of aurifer-
wealth, whose productions will and must, as the
population increases, influence the value of gold in
a very material degree, before many years You
may expect hereafter the exports of that
precious metal to be commensurate with the
number of persons in the mines, averaging s.
per day to each man. The list of specie which
leaves here every steamer, will not give you any data
for calculation, unless you add to 1t one hundred
per cent for what the passengers take with them
IN their pockets. have tried hard to get at the
exact amount which leaves here by every steamer,
and find that it will be safe to double what appears
in the ships maniiests By doing you will get at
the aggregate /; one Of our sharpest purchasers Of
gold dust, told me later than yesterday, that he
would be willing, at venture, to give as much for
what is taken away by the passengers, as he would
for that which appears in the papers under the head
of Exports Of gold by the steamer which leaves
to-day"
California is now becoming civilized State.
Instead Of frequenting the gambling houses, which
am happy to say are not at all patroniscd by any
person who has the slightest respect for himself,
our people indulge in amusements which are, COM
paratiyey speaking, innocent, viz: horse racing
and yachting. As many of your readers would
doubtless read with pleasure this commendablc
change in our habits subjon the following account
from the Los dngetcS Star, of some races which
lately took place there
On Wednesday the 2lst ult the longest and most
citing race that has ever been run In California of
on the track two miles southeast Of this city between
the sydney mare Black Swan and the California horse
sarco This has furnished food for conversation
Elk weeks past and great deal Of interest felt in the
result not only in this county but throughout The South
part Of the state and the crowd collected 10 witness
the sport such as is seldom here The sarco
thought by the native population inyncible
and many hestated not 20 stake their whole his win
ming the The Black Swan IL well known as n race
horse having several in the Northern part of
the State Both animals were In good condition on ar
irving at the ground though easy TO perceive the
superior training Of the At the word Santiago"
they were of The horse, at the start was about