Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-10-24
California.

On his return TO the Atlantic States several
months since Rev. DR.. Bushnell, of Hartford.
Con. preached several sermons in his own church
and in the churches of other congregations, in
which he took occasion TO animadvert somewhat
severely upon the people Of California, and upon
the condition of the State generally We were
reminded of these discourscs day or two since,
says the Sacramento Union, on reading para
graph from a late Atlantic paper TO the effect
that Dr.. Bushnell delivered an address before the
General Association of congregated ministers of
Connecticut, in which he gave the following de-
scription Of California
The three leading pursuits of the people are
agriculture, trade and mining. The agriculture
is carried on by the Border Ruffians and the
Squatters. And their moral condition is as bad
as it can be. They squat on cverything-on ones
land or in his house. No titles to land are pro-
lection against them. For, having once squattcd
they cannot be elected till after twelve years
,A2Eocess at law. And by that time their use CT
5Fe land will pay them for all their squatting
EFiouble. A friend of his bought large and val
uable field, and these men afterwards came and
/ squatted all over it: one Of them squattcd even
between his house and his well. They used his
! land, and left him to pay the taxes and he final
1 ly became bankrupt. Another owned large
/ tract Of marsh land by the Shore partly covered
with water. One of these men asked liberty to
place the hulk OF ship on this land. and live in
it, He gave him permission-which led to such
an occupation that be was glad to give the squat
ter S25, 600 to get him off. These squatters arr
a cross grained and base set OF men. And thcv
| render all use Of lands in the State so uncertain
| as to discourage the work Of permanent building
since no title can secure to any one the use of the
land which he purchases. The squattcrs are
very inaccessible to the Gospel, for they know
little about worship of any kind Rev Mr.. Ra
ker once made an attempt to preach to them and
the first time succeeded well. But be had no
singing. so the next time he took his wife with
him, and determined to sing. He carried with
him tuning fork, and with that be led off the
singing. But this raised the squatters wonder
and Indignation. They inquired what pagucy
| thing that was that be put in bis mouth They
were so offended that they would not hear him
again.
The country where the mining is carried on is
beautiful country, but its beauty is DESTROYED
by the miners. A sluice is dug and the water is
carried along on the mountains. aud brought
down IN hose. with which powerful stream is
poured IN upon the ground, and the land is rid
died, leaving the stonos and when left it looks
as if a company of devils had been at work npon
it. And this work is a fair type of what is done
upon the morals of the people. 1t dissolyes ma
ture and everything else.
Yet the condition Of California is not dcspcr-
ate. There are in it some good men. These are
found chiefly in the cities, while the country set
Elements are especially corrupt, reversing the
order which elsewhere prevails. There is more
sin on Sundays than on all other days. In the
cities. some morality and spirituality prevail
The Church Of which Mr. Hunt had the charge is
a living and godly Church-rcady to every good
work-marked by GCd for exerting great in
lluence hereafter and there are goody number
Of interesting men sprinlilcd over the State. But
what is said Of the Congregational Churches can
not be said Of all. There is in California grea,
Presbyterian Church which is especially fashion,
able. For the purchase of an organ for this
Church fair was held and band Of music was
stationed at the door, and grand dance and rai-
fling were connected with il. and by this means
they raised the money and purchased the organ.
They have also got up dances TO raise money for
their minister, by the sale Of tickets for the ball
at great price.
In one instance. Dr., Bushnell said. n minister
who was friend Of bis, was put under some en-
barrassment, by similar process. The Church
to which he was minstriing, had a ball aud by
it raised money and bought the vessels for his
Communion Service. When he was informed
what had been done, he was distressed. and h.
begged the people to take that thing away, whch
they did.