The Placer herald., 1858-05-08
San Francisco Correspondence.
SAN FRANCISCO. Nav 5th. 1855

eastward, shows no signs OF tagging. The
Golden Gate carried off over 800 passengers
this morning, and $l,9l2,s77 in treasure
Still, large as is the number of departures
the arrivals exceed them by handsome mar
gin. We are, however, more likely to loose
considerable portion Of our floating popu-
lation from this northern movement. Up
to the present time should estimate the
number who have left this State for Frazer's
River, at about 1000 all told. The first
rush seems to be over now, and people are
waiting with considerable anxiety for relia-
bic news; something that can be relied upon
So far, it has been like the rest of the ami
mails to the sick lion-the tracks are all one
way. This, I suppose, is either because the
diggings are very good, or that the whole
party are broke and can't get away. The
news by the Columbia is merely repetition
of what we bad before, and renders it beyond
a doubt, that the difficulties Of reaching the
mines are very great. Numbers of persons
have got as far as the Sound, and have nei-
ther means to 60 on or come back. They
are trying to keep soul and body together
by digging clans on the beach. Their
chance to get to the mines is not very good
one, so they are only at the commencement
of their journey; the nearest point is on
Belingham Bay, which is $50 miles over
one of the toughest countries that can be
imagined and for the greater part of the
distance there is no grass or forage for ami
mails, the road being either through dense
forest or over rocky mountain ridges. My
object is not to discourage people from going
ultimately, but to prevent them from being
in a hurry, to 90 until they can be con-
fdent they are not on "wild goose chase;"
and also that they may have money to pay
their way and arms for their protection from
the Indians.
Jack Powers has won his famous wager.
He had bet $4,000 that he could ride $50
miles in eight hours. The affair came off on
Sunday last; he rode nothing but Cali
fornia mustangs and half breed Ame-
rican horses, which were taken up off of
grass without any training, grooming or pre-
paration. They were driven in on the track
in herd, and caught and saddled by his at
tendants as fast as required. He rode each
horse from one to four miles according to
the capacity of the animal. The day was
very windy and the dust perfectly binding.
He used the ordinary Spanish saddle with
all the extra trimmings, which when going
against the wind, mace sail enough to pro-
pei good sized schooner, but in spite of all
these disadvantages, he has made the great
est performance on record. lie was not
limited as to the number Of his horses, and
consequently it was more of test of his
ability to stand the fatigue. than of the speed
cf his horses. The number of horses used
| . bo q u
3 seconds-an average of 2 minutes and Al
seconds per mile. An immense crowd was
present, $4,000 having been paid for admis-
sion to the course. Powers now offers 10 bet
$4,000 that he can perform the same dis
tance in six hours, but don't believe he
can get a bet Cne noted betting man who
lost, said he would not bet against him again
if he was dead.
Your readers have doubtless noticed that
the Senate Kansas bill was stopped in the
House by the votes of eight members from
the Southern States, just the number of the
majority against the bill and in favor of
Crittenden's substitute. If the passage of
the Lccompton Constitution was such a vital
measure for the South, these men seemed
oblivious of the fact. The Administration
have urged her admission under that Con-
sttuton as the speediest method of settling
the question, and | feel confident that if any
reasonable man will compare the Senate biil
and the Crittenden substitute, he cannot fail
to decide in favor of the former. It's action
would be immediate, and the people of the
Territory having become sovereign State,
would make a new Constitution in two
months if they did not like The present one.
BY the other the Territorial government,
heretofore so much complained of. will be
continued in full force until they have either
voted to accept the present, or Tin the event
of its rejection) have made new Constitu-
ton, to be voted on as heretofore, by one
party on one day and the other on another.
Crittenden's scheme is designed to keep the
question open, to the manifest injury of
party, he has fought against during the whole
length of his political life. The most objec-
tionable feature of his bill, however, was
that part which authorises the President to
admit Kansas by his own act, and without
Congressional Intervention, in case he deem
ed the new Constitution which they were to
make republican in its character. Now
whilst l have the utmost confidence in the
honesty and judgment of our veteran Presi-
dent, it would be bad precedent to entrust
so much power in the hands of one man.
With Mr.. Buchanan there would be no dan
ger, but we cannot expect always to have
"hs sort" in that important position. We
have already had more than one zone horse"
affairs, and the last election showed that it
was not impossible to very nearly elect
donkey" suppose Crittenden thinks he
has found out way to fix Kansas by plan
Of his own, and that if successful, all the op-
position will unite on him for the next Presi-
dency. The Black Republicans in voting
for his substitute have completely stultifed
themselves by voting for pro-savery Con-
stitutOn in case of the accentance of Te.