The Nevada journal., 1854-02-24
San Francisco Correspondence.
SAN Francisco, Feb. 20, 1854.

tight at any previous time, within the recollec-
ton of the oldest inhabitant y The sailing
of the steamers and the shipment of two mil
lions of gold dust by them, put stop to all
kinds of business, and the complaint of hard
times was general throughout the city on
Friday and Saturday, and there is no earthly
prospect of change for the better. Even the
fair receipts of gold from the interior the past
two weeks, has not as yet produced any sensible
effect, except in the way of making eastern re-
mittances, "a much less amount of coin having
gone forward the last steamer day, than at the
two previous ones
The Senatorial contest is being waged with
increased vigor by the aspirants and their
friends, as the time approaches for further ac-
tion upon the subject in the legislative halls
Many persons supposed that the postponement
of it until the 9th of March was settler for
the Session, but such is by no means the case.
1t will be renewed with increased energy on
both sides, and no means will be left untried
to effect an election this winter. The newspa-
pers having expended whatever of argument
they had to advance on the subject, are now
indulging in the low and vulgar political slang
common to contests, narrowed down, as this is
to a mere matter of individual preference
The Broderick party have found an accession
to its ranks in the advertiser of this city which
boldly proclaims itself the only true organ Of
the democracy in this city, and the head of the
democratic press of the State! Some six
months ago these same editors proclaimed
themselves the only exponents of whig doctrine
and their paper the organ of that party in this
city.
The number Of passengers which arrived in
our port from Atlantic and foreign ports, for
the week ending Saturday was 3l00. The
number of departures for the same period were
about 1900, making an increase of 1900 in our
population. The tide of emigration is decided
ly in our favor at the present time. 4ac7 ,1
BY an arrival from San Diego on Saturday
we have dates from Walkers camp to 18th
inst The U. S. sloop of war Portsmouth and
the steamship Columbus were engaged in keep
ing up a blockade ofthe port of Encenada, with
a view of cutting off any vessel which may at
tempt to furnish supplies or recruits for Wal
ker's command. Notwithstanding all this his
force had received considerable accession in
point of numbers several parties having made
their way through by land from San Diego
The entire force of the new republic numbering
some 400 men were to be put under march in
a few days for Sonora, which State they were
to enter at the town of Alta, which is situated
near the Colorado and the northern frontier of
the State Walker aud his men appear to be
firm and determined in their undertaking and
utterly Indifferent to the action of the q. S.
Government
Capt. George Davidson came up by this ar
rival, on business connected with the expedition,
and returns this week. He is gentleman of
much intelligence, and speaks in the most
sanguine manner of the ultimate success of their
attempt upon Sonora.
A duel was fought at Fort McKibben on the
5th of Feb, between Major Croker and 1t.
J. E. Ruddack, in which both parties were
severely wounded. ..t al s
Our city has been thrown into quite fer
ment in consequence of an extraordinary pro-
ceeding of Judge Wells, of the Supreme Court
last Friday night. A gang of rowdies while
engaged in breaking the furniture and ,dispoil-
ing the property in the Mercantile Hotel, on
Pacific Wharf were arrested by the city police
after a desperate fght-the presence of the
Mayor, City Marshal and some thirty police
officers being required before the arrest could
be affected Five of the party being secured
and put in the lookup, an application was made
to Judge Wells for a writ of habeas corpus,
which he granted, accompanied by positive
order for their discharge from close confinement
This order was issued about midnight and the
police were obliged to discharge them, and
when the writ of habeas corpus was served upon
the Marshal next day, he returned the fact and
the reason of their discharge. The Mayor,
Recorder, and City Marshall feel highly indig-
nant at this assumption of power by Judge
Wells, while on the other hand, the rowdes
are elated at this new mode of practice, and
they now openly defy and threaten the police,
should they attempt to arrest them. C-
This event has very naturally caused much
excitement throughout the city, and, the press
has, l believe, unanimously condemned the
proceeding of Judge w. l notice that some
of them-use the most violent and incorporate
language, which can do no possible goo d, and
may result in injury. q ~. s. '-i'.'''
Our city is infested with set Of rowdies,
known as shoulder7strikers, y" FOUNDERS, I" &c.
who have no pretended occupation, yet dress
well, and apparently live off the fat ofthe land ]
Their great amusement is to get into a" nuss, y
and many an innocent, inoHending and unpro-
teeted person while walking quietly along our