The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-10
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON D. G., SEPTEMBER 1857

ful, ard effective. The u. 8. Government, on
the otaer hand, is greatly increasing It's mill
tary force in the Territory, with the view of en-
lorcihg such regulations as may be made for
excluding the real citizens from the polls, and
securing another aud partial vote in favor Of
Slavery. There is, under present circum
stances, danger of a serious-nay terrible
collision in the Territory, at the period of the
elections. The people seem determined to
vote themselves, and to prevent Missourians
from ,toting, at any cost.
Senator Wilson on the Maine Law.
Thu following letter was addressed to Mr.
Goue I, the eloquent temperance lecturer, by
Mr.. 'ison, of Massachusetts,
NArIcK, MASS, June 20, 1857.
DE,R SIR: In response to your inquiries, !
have, to say that the Maine law in Massachu
sets las not met the expectations of its friends
l adv acated and voted for the law in the Legis
laturt, and have supported it before the peo
pie, t'nd l intend to continue to do go. But
the law has accomplished far less than its
frieDt reasonably expected when they passed
it. la the first place, the law has not been
fairly tested, owing to the embarrassments
Thrown in its w.y by courts ard juries- This
may pc, ocrre cted in process of time. At any
rate, | nope so. Another cause of failure is,
that pts friends have depended too much upon
the lfw, and too little upon moral action. Work
that ought to have been done has been neglect
ed, because the friends of the cause have pla.
ced 100 much reliance upon the force of law.
l thiab they begin to see this, ard am conf
dent they will hereafter not only sustain and
enforce the law, but uphold it by appeals to the
mora sentiments of the people. My idea is,
that ''e want laws, such laws as can be enforc-
ed, aid hat appeals should continually be made
to the beart, conscience, and reason of the peo-
pie, 10 abandon the use of what the law pro.
scribda, Yours, truly, HENRY WILSON.
From California.
The alta California, in its summary pre-
pared for the steamer, furnishes the following
items of intelligence:
The events of the last fortnight are interest.
ing, # not important. The affairs of our State
treasury have never been in 80 healthy con-
dition. The issuance of scrip has been abol-
ished, and business is now transacted on q cash
basis. The action of the political conventions
in regard to the payment of our State indebted
ness will 60 far to a renewal of confidence
abrosd.
Fronpall sections of the mining country we
receive favorable accounts, and quite as great
quantities of gold are being taken out as ever.
The crops are mostly harvested, and have
been g,sthered in coed condition. The weld is
far better and more abundant than was antici.
pated few weeks since. The fruit crops have
neves cen 80 plentiful as this year.
An Stensive vein of alum rock, of remarka-
bic puI ty, has recently been discovered in Cal.
averas county.
The various wagon.rosd enterprises on the
eastern borders of the State still attract much
attention. A regular line of coaches now plies
betweel Placervile and Carson Valley.
DISASTROUS fires have swept over the State du-
ring the two weeks last past, and a large amount
of properly has been destroyed. On the goth
ult., in Sacramento, a number of frame build
ings on she corner of and Fifth streets were
burned. Loss, $4,000. On the 22d. the -four
ishipg mining village of Michigan Bluffs, PIa-
Ger couaty, was totally annihilated by fire.
Loss, $4,000. st. Louis, an active mining
town in Sierra county, was on the 18th ult. also
obliterate ed by the devastating eement-not
house left standing. Loss, 100000. In Shasta,
on fae 28th, brewery, stable, and several
othe@ buildings, were destroyed by fire. Loss,
$1,000.
IL Grass Valley, the Winchester Saw Mills
"CiO uui LII On tuC LOIus hOss, SLO,UUU. On CQ6
10th ult, the brewery of Goodwin & Co., Mon.
kelunne Hill, was burnt to the ground loss,
$4,000. The tubes along the Sacramento and
San Joaquin rivers have also been in flames
for several days past, and considerable fear is
felt for the safety of crops, fences, and other
valuable property. We have, however, heard
of no material damage thus far
Matters political are the sll-absorbing SUBJ
jects of conversation. On the 18th ult, the
American State Convention met at Sacramento,
and after nominating full State ticket, and
their national platform, adjourned.
They unanimously approved of the propriety
of paying the State debt, 80 that resolutions to
to this effect are now incorporated into the
proceedings of all the political conventions
which have been held. The settlers through
out the State are extraordinarily Jealous, and
in many counties have nominated full tickets.
They can poll an immense vote, and if they
concentrate their strength on any one of the
candidates of the other political parties, he is
almost sure to be elected.
la San Francisco, the reform party has nom
mated an excellent ticket, composed of men of
all political parties, and citizens not only hon.
est and upright, but men thoroughly identified
with the interests of the city and State.
The Chinese Sugar Cane.
Among the hopeful promises of an abun-
dance of that prime article of domestic comfort
sugar, which come to Us from all the regions
where the cane is grown, are encouraging re-
ports of the Chinese sugar cane, which has
been extensively cultivated as an experiment.
Whether it can ever be proftably cultivated in
competition with the cane of the tropics, re-
mains to be proved. But it is quite certain
that it will yield, the present season, consid-
cradle quantity of strip which may be used as
a substitute for the more costly juice of the
West India cane.
We have letter from gentleman who Wis
TIED Governor Hammond's plantation in South
Carolina, where considerable quantity of the
Chinese cane had been planted. He says
'',Tte inauspicious rains and cloudy weather
have so retarded the imphee, that Governor
Hsmmond has not got ready to crush, hav-
ing cut up and fed to his stock the Chinese
cane. think will do as he suggests: return
this way when his crop will be in full blast of
crushing and boiling. l cut stalk of imphee
to-day, measuring l6 feet in height and i ] inch.
es in diameter. The Governors crop of one
hundred and ten acres is splendid sight, and
will yield some 5000 bushels of seed. | think
it promises well for yield of sugar. Gov. 81.
gave NE to-day some strip from the Chinese
cahe, made few days since, which had a con-
siderable deposit of sugar on the bottom and
sides of the vessel containing it; and an expe-
rienced Florida sugar-maker, imported by him
to work up his crop, tells me he has no doubt
of being able to make sugar."
The Fire at Brattleboro'.
/ ROsfo,a .Serfember 5-The fire at Rratflebo-