The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1853-03-24
From California.

The news from the interior has been of
unusual interest. The Indians OH Dry
Creek have kept the neighborhood in a
high state of excitement and alarm on ac-
count Of their bold robberies and evide Mt
hostility. Some brisk fighting has occur
red between them and parties of the Whites
sent out to chastise them. In these encoun-
ters the Indians behaved with great cour-
age; several of the whites were killed, and
on one occasion were compelled to retreat,
leaving the enemy masters of the field.-
Reports from the San Joaquin Valley arc
to the effect that Fort Miller has been at
tackled, and that several persons are miss
ing in that vicinity. The Indians think
that the Government of the United
States has not acted in good faith with them
IN taIllng to carry out the stipulations of
the treaty, and they complain that the
Americans have cut off their supplies. and
reduced them to state bordering on actual
starvation. ~
Many murders have been committed
Throughout the mining regions, and daily ac-
counts are received of outrage and robbery.
There has been great excitement in Calavcr-
as county, and agencral expulsion of the
McXlcans. A band of Mexican marauders
have infested the ighborhood, committing
all manner Of enormities. The robber Joa-
quln Is at the head of these dcsperadocs,
and has become the terror of the country
far around. The miners have assembled in
force and commenced systematic search.
Joaquin has eludcd all attempts to capture
him; several Of his gang have been taken
and hung. The entire Mexican population
has been driven from San Andreas and the
Forks of the Calaveras. Mass meetings
have been held and resolutions passed ap
proving of the work of determination
The utmost CONSERVATION prevails among
all foreigners.
The weather Throughout the mines had
been generally delightful, and the miners
are mostly doing we'll. The smallpox has
been prevalent in some parts of the State
very extensive canaling operations arc
going on, for the purpose Of supplying the
gold regions with water. There is every
reason to suppose that the approaching
season will enable the miners to make
amends for their late inactivity.
Measures are being taken to construct Il
plank road from Marysvillc to the Nevada,
and Improvements of every description are
being effected.
Some beautiful specimens of rubies and
cmcraIds have been found in the interior
and also magnificent diamond of the first
wantcr.
The murderers of the late larncntcd Lieut..
Col. Craig were executed at San Diego OH
the 31st january. The celebrated Yuba
warrior Pasuual was nrosent
The Governors recommendation Of an
extension of the city front has met with the
entire condemnation Of the municipal gov
crnment and of the citizens at large. A
committee has been appointed by the Leg
'Slatnrc to investigate the matter, and cvi-
dehce Is now Leihg gathered upon the sub
ject.
"A frenchman named Lemantout has a,,-
piled to the Land Commissioners to be CON
ilrmcd in his claim of an immense tract Of
lane, comprising within its limits goodlv
portion of the city of San Francisco.
p, -s+.
DURISG our Court Of Sessions last week
an individual was tried for the crime of
Blgamy, and acquitted. In the charge of
his honor, Judge Frost, to the Jury, lie re-
marked that there was no law in the State
OF South Carolina prescribing marriage
ceremonial. That if a citizen Wished to buv
or sell piece of land, the law prescribed
the form Of the deed or title; that ifhe wish
cd to buy or sell negro, there was a legal
form for the bill of sale; that if he wished to
secure the payment of money to himself or
to another at a future time, there was a legal
form or the bond or note; but for the bonds
OF the most solemn and binding obligations
into which man or woman could enter, there
was no legally prescribed form.
at one period marriage was held to he a
religious sacrament and could only be SOL
emnized by the clergy: consequently magis-
trates were prohibited from performing the
ceremony. At latter period the law pro-
lnbIt'ng magistratesifom officiating at mar
rage contracts was repealed: sThisw believe
is the extent of legislating by this State
upon the subject. Hence the mode Of the
ceremony and the character Of the officiating
are left-to the choice of the par
ties entering into the contract. If the cou-
ple'who desire to enter into the holy state
of wedlock choose to calEin q clergyman or.
a magistrate before whom TO u I2inake:theiT
vows of love and fidelity, 1t ffiss well; buts3if
they prefer 10 make iiheif VOWS to each @ .otRe:
er and assume the relations Of bus band and
wife, acknowledge each other as such before
the world, it is also well BY the latter mode
they enter into as indissoluble a bond as by
the former. If Mr.. A. and miss B. jump
over broom, the former saying take this
woman to be my welded wife and tie lat
ter, take this man to be my welded hus-
band and 60 to housekeeping they are le-
gally married, have entered into g. Bond of