The Empire County argus., 1854-01-14
NUMBER 9.

0"lc D'''o lllSon heretofore, almost entirely de-
pendent upon individuals and counties for the safe
keeping Of criminals, there has been comparatiyey
an immunity from punishment. This fact and the
no less important one, that escape was possible
emboldcned the vicious and daring, and served
greatly to increase crime for it is not SO much the
",%refHy OF punishment as the cntaiuty of its in
illctlon," which holds vilIainy in check But now
that we have secure prison, that escape is hone.
less, and punishment certain crime it is honcd and
believed. will rapidly diminish,
Justly proud of onr adopted State, it nav not be
unprohtablo for US on this OCCASION to recur once
more to the scenes the trials, the difficulties and
the eventual triumphs Which marked an era in
the history of Tie world-the birth of a new State
INTO the American Contcdcracy. Springne into
n(T HE after letlargic sleep of centuries Cali
iornia opened 20 an astonshed world the hidden
wealth Oh her mountains, and her lower-c!ad val
leys gave prosage of future productiveness
For ages had her golden sands been washed from
their mountain heights, and the riyuets and streams
winch ttrtlIlz2d her plains, bore golden flakes on
their reasiieos floods But it was reserved for the
research and energy of people, first to discover
and then to dcycope the hidden wealth which ad-
ded new field to the labor, enterprise and COM
mcrcc Of the world, and which, for centuries had
remained unknown to thc inhabitants of the paci-
tic coast. Excited by the intelligence wattel to
their ears from the Pacific shore, the American
people who, by their intelligence energy, and all
those virtues which cXat nation, have acquired
the right to disseminate freedom and civilization
the right to inoculatc upon the decaying frame of
deSpotsm the living principles Of civil and rcligi-
ois liberty led the van OF that mighty concourse
which set towards our golden shores and overcom-
ing every mte posing obstacle soon laid broad and
a"'n. the foundation of Il great and prosperous
Sovereignty.
The discovery of in"Xhaustble mines of gold up-
on the borders ot the Pacific was an extraordinary
episode In human affairs. 1t was a circumstances
winch involved the most important consequences
to the monetary affairs Of the world. 1t gave IL
new impulse to labor everywhere. and infused new
yIGor into all the departments of human industry
'}y increasing the rewards Of labor and the demand
tor Its products it gave TO it practical dignity and
Importance that it never before possessed. But and
immediate and remote results of such discovthc
alc too important and varied to be enumerated
here. 1t was. however, apparent that a country
possessing such advantages and destined TO exert
Such an influence, would speedily become an object
OF peculiar interest. 1t was apparent. also. that
the wants of such country would be uncommon
and that' without the exercise Of slcepcss vigilance
rs interest would often be icopardized. The dis
coyery OF the precious metals was succeeded bv 81
crisis III California. during which it was sometimes
a subject OF doubt whether order or anarchy would
be paramount. The want Of the protecting care Of
the General Government which the country, on ac-
count OF it, geographical POSITION and its conse-
1uent isolation, 50 kcenly tet--thc rapid influx Of
immigration from all quarters of the globe contrib
utcd to rct"ri the permanent establishment of law
ami order. and rendered necessary Il well regulated
government, and rigid code Of laws For the
control OF people heterogeneous the provisional
government established in California was soon ioun,
to be totally inefficient. Police and municipal req
ulauons-the great safeguards of society and IL
general system OF government more comprehensive
and mcre detailed i'll its operations were wants
Whlcll the pubic interests cmncntly dcmanded.--
Accordingly. the representatives. of the people. in
September l>49. assembled in convention and
adopted : State Constitution: and, in q remarka-
by short period OF time after the ratification of the
treaty OF Guada!. lidalgo by which this terrific
ry was acquired California was admitted into the
American Consedcracy, and invested with all the
prcro@atNes OF Il sovereign State | need not here
recur 70 the accamations with which the ntcli.
gcnce of this event was received or to the impress
i've scenes which marked It's solemniZation. n to
the period Of the organization of the State Govern
mcnt we were 4 community. or might rather say
collection Oi persons, to some extent without law
and without any Of those securities only to be found
in stern and impartial administration of Justice
The lnaXms and obligations Of self-government
too often set ut nOught, and society was SEEM
mgly suspended over the abyss Of annihlation.
Bat the perils which attended TIE infancy and
early organization Of our government have, happily
passed away and under those restraining Influences
OF habit, education and natural aft ion, which are
50 insensiby, but so powerfully cXertcd, and with
which we are inspired by our liberal form of govern
mcnt, stability and order have risen out OF chaos
and confusion.
In all eases OF grievance, the law has prescribed
the mode of redress and il is alike our duty and our
custom. torcSpcct its requirements While from our
earliest bovhood there has been instiled in our
breasts love aid reverence for the free institutions of
our country, have also been taught to respect and
obey that countryS laws. Obedience to the laws as
a principle, forms the main pillar in the edhce
which the people have consecrated to liberty.
But California is not alone dependent upon the
glittcring ore, which primarily attracted to her
shores thousands Of men and fleets of deeply la
den ships Her soil prolific in mineral riches, is
no less productive Of al! those commodities which
form the staples and luxures of the world. En-
phacally the land Of the olive and the vine, her
fields Of waving end clustering vineyards on
her southern slope, bid fuir rival her mines
Of gold and render her as renowned for abundant
harycss, as she has been and is for stores Of min
eral wealth. Each year gives renewed proofs of
the fertility Of her soil and increased Importance
to agricultural pursuits Her geographical position
is emincnty conducive TO health, and favorable to
the production Of every article necdfu for consump
ton at home and in time for expectation abroad
In latitudcs analogous with southern France and
the finest wine countries of Europe, California al
ready possesses hourishing vineyards, which will
one day no doubt, render her celebrated for every
variety Of wines Her bounteous soil nourishes the
olive and the fg, and fruits ofcyery kind are to be
found throughout the State.
Hitherto, the unparalleled productiveness Of the
mines deferred the people, generally, from under
L. Il