Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-29

Two Weeks Later from California, &C.
New YORK, Jan. 27.-The steamer Moses
TAYLOR arrived this afternoon, bringing the
California mails OF the 9Th inst, and l,5OO,-
900 in specie. She is connected with the
John L. Stephens.
The session of the California Legislature
commenced on the 4th. The Governors mes
sage had not been received. 1t was thought
| he would prob ibly recommend the taxation oil
mining claims; a question which would pre-
baby cause serious quarrel In the Demo
cratic party.
The greater part of Downieville, Sierra
county, had been destroyed by fire, causing
a loss of about $500 600.
An anti-Mormon meeting at Los Angeles
had memoriaized Gen. Clark for 500 soldiers,
for protection.
A Mr.. Sinner had been arrested ut Luna,
charged with having organized h!lbu>ter
exped,ion in the United States, III aid oil
Gen Echin4ue.
Capt Duane. of the American ship Lam
negur, complains Of an outrage to his boats
crew and an insult to himself, by the cheers
| IF Peruvian war steamer.
The mining news from California IS gene
! rally favorable Business was dull.
Fine specimens OF staple cotton have been
raised in Tulare county.
The u. S. steamer Fulton left AspDwail
on the 18th for San Juan, to convey there
Gen. Lamar.
The Spanish feet was passed off Havana
! by the Moses Taylor.
! The Supreme Court Of California met at
Sacramento on the 4th, aud decided that the
State debt is legal and coustitutonally valid.
The Legislature assembled On the same day.
| The Democrats nominated Hon. Samuel Mer-
rift, for president of the Senate, and \. T..
! Wbitside speaker Of the House.
| The Alta Californian says that the miners
were never more prosperous, aud all brat
ches were being pushed ahead with remark
! able vlgOr.
| A horrible murder and suicide had occur
red at Red House, opposite the Pioneer race
course. The proprietor named Sylvester
! Murphy, a native of Pittsburg Pa. murder
ed q servant woman in the house. named
Mary McGlynn by shooting her in the head
with pistol, aud then cutting her throat;
after which he took bis own life by niictlng
eight stabs upon his left breast, and cutting
his throat. lie died the same day. The
whole affair is wrapped in mystery.
COMMERCIAL STRENGTHENING the past
fortnight, various duties pertaining TO clos
ing up accounts have not permitted much
change 10 the course Of trade. The two clos
ing months of the year may be said To have
been the dullest periods ever experienced
! The demand fer goods to supply the country
has gone down to its lowest ebD, and as Tor
specuatiye demand, there has not been the
| slightest movement of the kind.
OREGON AND WAsulNGTuS TERRITORIES -
| Oregon dates are to the 18th Tue Ufhclal
vote of the late election shows 5000 majority
against slavery, 7 800 against the admission
of free negroes, and 5000 In favor OF the
new constitution. The Legislature met on
the 7th, and Ira Butler was chosen Speaker
of the House. Ex-Governor Gaines Is dead.
The dates from Washington Territory are
to the 9th. The Legislature assembled on
the 9th, when j. Nanclcave was elected Spea-
ker. Governor McAlullen sent 10 his mes
sage objectiDg to the impudence OF the Ore
gonians in trying to take part ID the move
ments in Washington Territory to organize
as State.
SANDWICH IsLANDS.-The Sandwich Is
lands adyices are to the 10th. An American
whaling captain lately tried u run on from
Honolulu without paying his debts, bot the
authorities sent after him, caught him within
a league of the coast. and made him pay up
The American commissioner declared the
seizure lawful.
CENTRAL AND South AAERICA-There IL
nothing important from Genital America,
except the fearful ravaSes of the cholera at
Honduras, five thousand having died IN one
department. 80,
Advices from Valparaiso are to the 10th:
The diplomatic question between the United
States and Chill, respecting the ship SPORT
man. remains unsettled. In the meantime,
the captain has resumed command under pro
test and sailed for Tingua, to ioadtor Bal
timore.
The ministerial crisis had taken place, and
the ministers of justice and finance resigned.
The steamer Naldivia had been wrecked on
the coast, but the passengers and crew were
saved.
The new ministry had organized in Boil
via. aud the army was being reduced.
The revolution in Peru makes slow pro-
gress. There had been several extensive
,oo,,,ar,;al foiluras ,t I ,cuo