The hydraulic press. (North San Juan, Nev. Co., Cal.) 1858-18??, 1859-01-08
CHE alydraalie 2ress.
B. P. AVERY, EDITOR.
INCORRECTLY REPRESENTED.

the position of first class State, has
been largely retarded by two very oppo
site causes; extravagant boasting on the
one hand, and unjust depreciation OF
the other. She has been yaunted as in.
comparably superior to all other States
on the score ofphysical resources, while
inferior to them in moral excellence
The former proposition is less of an ex-
aggeration than the latter, and has a
less hurtful influence The superior adj
vantages which the State does really
possess, can now be proven by a contin-
ually swelling aggregate of convincing
facts. Having fortunately recovered
frem the insane belief that fortunes can
be realized here without industry, our
people are gradually developing, by
means Of that potent talisman, all the
resources which confer material great
ness upon a commonwealth. It remains
for them to convince the world that
wealth and virtue are not incom-
patible, that morality has not fallen a
victim to avarice, leaving US no pre-
eminence but the sad one of crime
This done there will be no occasion for
emigrant aid societies, for exaggeration
of mining successes, for newspaporial
ignoring Of unfayorable truths.
There is something more than the
mere wish that it aoere so which makes
us believe the moral character of this
State is unjustly aspersed or not correc-
thy represented California is better
than men think. Like an individual
who commences the work of personal
reformation, she is suffering from the
rcproach excited by early sins.
1t is to be expected that every new
country, the population of which lacks
the controlling elements of female in
fuence and the amenities which are
born only in the circle of permanent
homes, will exhibit, for time, more
laxity and be the scene of more crime,
than an old and we'll settled country
Nearly every new State in succession
has had it's period of depravity, which
lasted until fixed population could
grow up and introduce the restraints,
conventional and legal, of older COM
munities. If California has surpassed
the experience Of other new States in
this respect, the fact is due to peculiar
causes of transient character. The
first emigration was but the tumultuous
rush Of adventures, the majority of
them youthful, whose wild instincts
were their only law. Men did not come
here in search Of farms, with view to
being soon followed by tLeir wives and
children, and setting up their family
affairs in the land forever. They came
to dig gold, intending to leave as soon
as that sordid object should be accom-
Pushed. The facility with which it was
believed wealth could be acquired, at
tracted hither every class of people
from every part of the world. Outlaws
and desperadoes, men who had been
waits and wanderers all their lives, dis
appointed schemers, bankrupt specula-
tors, transported rogues, vagabond Grim
inals, young men just revelling in the
freedom of their majority, old ones re-
iuvenated by sudden revival Of hope,
lovers, husbands, fathers and brothers
animated by the most noble motives
all were attracted by common magnet.
OF such heterogeneous materials was
composed the inchoate community of
California years ago. The best persons,
those who did not sacrifice their princi-
pies, or their habits of virtue for I'M
bridled indulgence of the lowest pro
pensities, quietly pursued their delving,
criminally indifferent to the evil doings
around them, and excusing themselves
with the plea that they were otcitizens
and were soon going home. Hen e
there were absolutely no checks to crime
during the first days of the gold mania,
except those periodical spasms of pop
ular indignation yclept lynchings. Had
the population, shifting as it was, beer