Daily national Democrat., 1858-12-22

! gSg- We understand that very considerable
excitement exists in the mines generally, on
the subject of the late order Of the United
States District Court, putting stop to the
! operations ofthe New Almaden Mine in Santa
| Clara county. Some denounce the Admins
tration for instituting the suit, while others
do not, hut all agree that the injunction up.
on the working of the mine is doing great in
jury to the mining classes generally. The
price of quicksilver has gone up to an exorbi-
tant rate, and the prospect is that it will go
up still higher Few claims are rich enough
to afford the payment of so high sum as is
now charged. Quicksilver is used in i'm
mense quantities in all the mining districts,
and is, in the great majority of cases as essen
tial as water in the separation Of gold from
the soil or rock and saving it from waste. 1t
is feared by many that the supply win in
few months utterly cease, and that mining
operations will thus be in great measure
suspended. The result is almost fearful to
contemplate, and the mutterings that are
heard are both loud and deep.
1t is thought by many, who do not hesitate
to say so, that, whatever may be the ulterior
views of the Administration in this matter
the immediate effects of the order in question
were necessarily of so disastrous a character
to the mining interests that the Government
should have hesitated long before interfering
in the case, especially where it has never been
its policy heretofore to do so. They say, al
so, that they do not see how if the Govern
ment does assert its title, the miners of the
country, who are principally interested, are
to be benefited If the Government pro-
posed to take possession of the New Almaden
mine and deal out quicksilver to the miners
at certain moderate price, they might af-
ford, perhaps, to wait an indefinite length of
time and suffer all the inconvtniences and
losses of SO long delay, in the hope of some
thing better hereafter. But, if the mines un
der consideration are to be thrown open to |
the first owners, like the mining districts
generally, they cannot see but that the same
state of things rs that which existed previous
to the interposition of the Government in
this suit, would still prevail that is, the
mines would be nonopolized by few indi-
viduals, and the quicksilver sold at prices a.
greed on by the owners Unless the Govern
ment intends to depart from the policy of all
former Administrations, and actually take
possession of and work the mines, itself, in
stead of leaving them open to the first pos
SCISSORS, these miners, of whom we speak, can
lot perceive the benefit that is to result to
hem, though the suit should turn out accor-
ling to the very best expectations of the Ad-
If the quicksilver is to be sold
1t the same prices as before, and in the mean t
line mining operations to be very greatly re- ! !
,arded and in many cases wholly suspended =
md miners fieeced in the purchase of what G
title quicksilver may be in the market, no
dvantage whatever seems to be gained and ;
precedent has been set which, if followed :
p in subsequent cases, must gradually v
hange the entire policy of the Federal Gov g
rnment with regard to the mines of Caliior-
ia-a result very greatly to be deplored. !;
Such is brief glance at the state of feel t
ng existing and the views entertained by G
he mining population in more than one sec
ion of the country. To what extent, if any, !
he Administration of JAS Buchanan is to be
,lamed in this matter will shortly appear in '
ull and to the entire comprehension of all
When the proper time comes, we shall have !
ur say, and pronounce what we shall hon t
stly believe to be a just and fair opinion.