The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-17
6eueral Neus.
FROM CALIFORNIA.

The steamship Empire City has arrived from
1 avana.
The news from California is of no great i'm
portance. The rains continued, and the mines
were producing well.
The steamship Golden Age, which left San
Francisco on the 18th of April, with seven hun
dred and fifty passengers and 1900, 900 in
treasure on board, struck sunken rock on the
night the 18th ultimo, off the Island of Quibo,
about five miles from Panama The Golden
Age was going at full speed when she struck,
and the water gained rapidly upon her. Per-
feet discipline, however, was maintained among
the passengers and crew, until communication
was had with Panama, when the steamship j.
l.. Stephens went to their rescue and landed
them all in safety at Panama on the Sd instant.
The steamship Panama was dispatched on
the Sd to the assistance of the unfortunate YES
sell and with strong hopes of saving her, although
the tide ebbed and flowed in her.
The Golden Gate would take up to San Fran
cisco the passengers who left New York on the
9Th instant.
The steamer Illinois arrived at New York on
Sunday morning, from Aspinwall, via Kingston.
She brings about 700 passengers, and 81, $4,000
in treasure.
Business in California was very dull Money
was tight, and several mercantile houses had
failed.
Seventeen vessels from Atlantic ports had
arrived at San Francisco in two days.
The miners were doing WELL but, owing to a
scarcity of coin, very little dust had reached
market The mint had not resumed operations.
Rain had fallen steadily in the valleys for a
week, and in the mountains snow had fallen to
a great depth.
The Know Nothings had been successful in
the municipal elections all over the State, ex-
cept at San Jose, where they were defeated by
fusion of the two old parties.
Branches of freedoms Phalanx," secret
society, have been organized in different Sec
tons of the State.
Both branches of the California Legislature
had fixed the Both ultimo for final adjournment,
and the revival of the Senatorial question was
considered very doubtful.
Dates from Portland, Oregon, to April 9Th,
mention that the Know Nothings had triumph
ed in the municipal election there.
Sandwich Island dates to April I'd had been
received. The United States sloop of war De-
catur arrived there on the 9Th of March, and
the British sloop of war Dido, on the 9th.
Among the failures at San Francisco, are
Messrs. Beck & Elan, and Tilden & Little.
A party of gentlemen sailing in a small boat
at Panama were drowned lately. Among the
number was Purser Carter, of the mail steam
ship line.
San Francisco, april livery article Of
merchandise is dull of sale, and many things
have considerably declined. The closing rates
are: Gallego and Haxall flour Sl4; crushed
sugar 81 cents Lackawana coal Sl2; Cumber-
land coal $40; clear pork $l8 G9 Sl9; mess SIS;
hams S2O3; spirits of turpentine So Gag IS cents.
FaoM HAvANA-The late Havana papers are
filed with official documents in reference to the
ecently-detected conspiracy and the anticipated
expedition from the United States.
A communication to Gen. Concha from the
Minister of War, informs him that during the
months of April and May large reinforcements
would arrive FOR the army in Cuba. 1t congrat-
ulates him at the same time on the complete
illustration of the plans of the rebels.
A communication from the State Department
Of Spain is published in the Prensa. Its con-
tents are to the effect that the Spanish Cortes
have, by unanimous vote, concurred in the
wish of the Government, and are determined to
maintain at every hazard the institution of Sla-
very.
REPORTED Dissolution OF THE CUBAN JUN
rA.-The New Orleans correspondent of the
New York Tribune, May 9th, says:
"In my letter of Monday announced the
resignation of Gen. j. A. Quitman and other
officers of the Cuban Expedition. l have now
to announce the dissolution of the Cuban Junta.
Goicouiria, the Treasurer of the Junta, and
Elias Hernandez, have resigned; and Frias,
the only true patriot in the Junta, has sent his
resignation to the Club at Havana. Goicouiria
and Hernandez have taken their departure for
New York. Betancourt and Valiente are now
the only representatives of the celebrated blum
dering Junta. Two Of the steamships owned
by the Expedition are to be sold, to pay the out
standing debts of the Junta. The trsnsporta-
ton of the arms, &c, for the barque Magnolia,
cost over $4,000"
All this may be true, but are we to believe
that conspiracy Of so long standing, so rooted