The Placer herald., 1857-05-30
The Southern Pacific Railroad.

The Southern Pacific Railroad.
We ADMIRE very much the public spirit
which appears to animate our brethren in
New Orleans and the South generally, on the
subject of their proposed communication by
railroad with our State. The project is kept
alive by their hearty action, and not & day
passes that does not witness some sensible
progress made in securing the consummation
desired. We notice by the late accounts
from the East, that over 100000 have been
subscribed ia New Orleans to the stock Of
the above named Company, and the official
announcement Of the fact, has, it would seem,
produced throughout the country, fall conf
dence in the ultimate, and no distant com
pletion OF this great enterprise. One half
of the whole stock has been subscribed, and
no doubt is entertained, that the remaining
portion will be soon, and even eagerly taken
up at the North as we'll as at the South.
The character of the subscriptions is said
by the Pjcayuae, to be of the most respec-
table and solid description. We see, there.
fore, ia these evidences Of public spirit,
guarantee that the energies Of both the North
amd the South are ensted to open a safe
and speedy tonmHnic&tion-tll that there is
slo selfish loutenton between them As to the
most feasible rcute-tIat the work has al
ready been commenced under the most pro
snsing ailSI,ires-and that the great under
taking Of the aga is about to be carried out
10 suc<essfi1I completion.
lt siew of these Interesting facts, we feel
very much Ike sympsthzng most heartily
with the euterplieing people Of New Orleans
in their jubilant expressions on The occasion;
and we say with the journal before alluded
to, that it is scarcely possible to contemplate
ahe near approach OF tic time when the iron
F,orse shall Ise karnessed on the banks OF the
Mississippi. fer a career across the continent,
without iudulging in language better fitted
20 themes o{ enthusiasm and romance. The
sotudes Of the plains are to be broken by
contrvances of peace, more powerful ti3aR
the engines of war, and the valleys Of the
Sierra will echo other sounds than the whoop
of tine savages CT the screams Of the vuIture.
Who skall witness the first locomotive riot
ing over the prairies of Texas, or rejoicing
along the valleys Of the ella! What
welcome, the first courier from the Atlantic
wili receive when Stacking his thirst in the
waters of California; Nor will the triumph
end with the mere construction Of an inter-
oceanic railroad The real and lasting bles-
sings OF the enterprise will but just then
begin. The tide of population will tlow along
the channel of commerce. The arts of peace
will accompany the exodus of civilized hordes,
the eonrivanees of industry will suppant
the barbarous implements Of savage life
The song of Joy, the voice Of prayer, the hum
of thrift, will be there; and the spre OF the
house of worship, will point to the throne
OF Heaven the hopes and applications of
tribes who know not God, nor have their
portion with his people."-Ledger.
CHINESE OArns.-A correspondent of the
Bulletin says: When they are sworn i'll their
own Courts, in trivial cases, they swear by
che heavens and the earth, which they write
on yellow paper and burn; whilst in ex
treme cases-indeed, in all, when it is con-
sidered uecessary-they swear them by the
sacred oath OF their much revered Confuci-
us. This here translate, for the editication
of the public as follows:
81, A. B., The person swearing now ap-
pearng in this judgment hall, to give evl-
dence in this case pending, do solemnly
FfGrm, that will faithfully state all that /
know concerning such, and keep nothing Sc
eret and not snisrepresent facts for the eva
sion ofjustiee while in your presence and
hereby burn this paper, thereby to be sub
mitted to the judgment and examination Of
the God of heaven"
The above oath is always written on a
piece of yellow paper, which they believe, af
Ter it has been burned, is instantly in the
presence of Almighty God, and there re-
mains recorded to the day Of judgment.
Then the Supreme Judge Of Heaven will
produce the document as evidence CT truth
or falsehood, as the case may be, and deal
Sith the swearer accordingly.
The CONTEMPT OF BUsINEss.-No oble souls
with difficulty reach comprehension ofevil and
angratitude; they require harsh lessons before
they recanni "a the extent Of human cor