The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-05-05
California Affairs.

ldDOrS.-DOStOR I1efUtQ.
California Affairs.
We copy the following from the Cali
fornia Daily Herald of February 8.
"We learn thata most important move
ment is at present contemplated by the
native Californians. This is no less than
a total abandonment of this State, with
the view of settling in the State of Sono
ra. A meeting of native Californians
was held on Wednesday night in this
city, at which Governor Alvarado is said
to have presided, and Senior Casanueya
to have acted as secretary. The object
was to devise means for wholesale emf
grafton of native Californians to Sonora.
Several speeches were made in which it
was shown that by reason of the laws's
delay-of the invasion of squatters-of
burdensome taxes-and of other multi
tudinous expressions, the native Califor-
mans, without any fault of theirs, are
rapidly being reduced to beggary on the
sod they once owned and enjoyed unin-
terruptedly:-that the lands their fathers
held and which they expected would de-
scend to their posterity forever, are now
wrested from them on some quibble rails
ed by a thievish attorney-that they are
kept in doubt for years whether their
claims will be confirmed or rejected
that they are required to pay onerous
taxes on lands while the same laws which
imposes those taxes permit squatters to
occupy and enjoy; that they are treated
asaliens on the soil ON which they were
born-and finally that there is no such
thing as justice to be expected in Califor-
MIA by the native Californian. 1t was re-
presented at the meeting that there would
be no difficulty in obtaining grants of
land in Sonora from the Mexican Gov
ernment; and that to remain longer here
involves absolute ruin, it is better to seek
an asylum where at least they would not
be regarded as aliens and as convenient
prey for any ruffian who might covet their
lands and houses. A committee was ap-
pointed to devise means for carrying in
to effect the purpose of the meeting, and
this committee is to report at a meeting
to be held one or two evenings hence
This movement is sad commentary on
the manner in which justice is dealt to
the natives of California
We have seen notices of this movement
for some time, andare notastonished at it.
The expressions committed upon these
Californians exceed anything that ever
was known in any country, civilized or
barbarian. 1t amounts to the conisca-
ton of almost the entire landed property
of the country, and delivering the whole
up to depredators, armed with rifles, who
seize and hold the lands which have been
occupied by the old inhabitants for one,
two and three generations. Every own
er ofland is required to go through three
law suits to establish his title, the last trial
to be in the Supreme Court of the United
States. Only the largest claims can
stand this expense; all the smaller ones
perish underit; and while going through
these three suits the large claims as well
as the small ones are seized, and parceled
out by armed depfedators. We have
seen it stated that there are 10000 de-
predators on Col. Fremont's Mariposa
estate, and that they have taken many
millions of gold from it. 1t is to be hop
ed that the decision in his case may stop
the other suits and stay the exodus fthe
people. All this oppression of the peo-
pie of California comes from the plumber
legislation of Congress, led on by Gwin,
and followed by politicians and attorneys
in Congress. Gwin, knowing the squat
ter interest to be the strongest in Califor-
MIA, put himself at its head to gain their
support, by giving them the property of
the old inhabitants. He promoted all
the laws to harass them out of their lands
with these three law suits, and was fol-
lowed by the demagogue candidate for
the Presidency upon the same calcula-
ton. They joined him (such chaps as
Douglas, and such old grannies as Cass,
in promoting plumber Legislation against
the old inhabitants, and protecting the
squatters. The sordid class of lawyers
in Congress, did the same in order to
make fees for themselves in the Supreme
court. These three parties-Gwin,
demagogue politicians, and mercenary
attorneys-bave done this yillainy in
California; and if the oppression now
ceases, and the exodus stops, it will be
owing to Col. Fremont, who put himself
in the forefront Of the battle-has borne
its brunt-and in triumphing for him
self, has triumphed for all. His case
was No. / before the Board of Commis-
sioners, where it was unanimously con-
firmed; then No. 2 in the q. S. district
court, where it was rejected by petit
Jogging Judge; and No. 2 inthe Supreme
court Of the United States, where it was
confirmed, seven judges being for it, two
against It. The decision covers nearly
every title In the State, and may give
peace and security to landed possessors,
and commence an era of solid prosperity
in she eountry.-& Loeis Demosrat.
We are assured that there is, to-day,
in the Bank of Missouri aad IN the pFi-
vate banking houses, of st. Louis, over
g, ,O00, 600 Of coin wholly unemployed