The Placer herald., 1870-07-30
orr SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.


San Francisco, JrIr 27, 1870.
If the primary election on Monday had any
political significance beyond the ordinary fght
for local position, careful review Of the result
fails to discover it. In some instances the quar-
rel between what is called the McCoppin and
Chivalry wings certainly did crop out, but not
sufficient to give any importance to the occasion.
! OF course at every election there ore wheels
within wheels, and it is claimed by some that the
political leanings of the County Committee will
| have much to do with the chances Of the Guber-
material aspirants, though how the Hon. Philip
A. Roach or Mr. Robert Watts candidature can
be affected because Reynolds slate was knocked
to pieces in the Third Ward or Dave Scannell's
was triumphant in the Sixth, more than passeth
my understanding.
Is 1T A FILIBUsTERINo PROJECT.
About the end of this month formidable ex-
psdition leaves here for Maydalena Bay, Lower
California, to take possession Of certain lands
said to have been granted to Americans to en-
courage colonization. Prominent Eastern publ
cations father the scheme and claim that then
intentions are free from trace of guile. But the
prospectus hints at more stirring projects than
tn cultivation of the soil, and it is rather evident
tn It the expedition is not altogether on pastoral
pu pose bent. Says the manifesto: &c Lower Cal
.iornia has merely pretended to belong to Mexi-
co. in order to protect itself from seizure by some
vigorous power, while Mexico, on the other hand
nas gladly contented herself with a mere nomi-
nal allegiance" "Cnly an illusory authority is
exacted by Mexico" There is no piece of land
Of such geographical importance to the United
States as Lower California - "They (the Mex
icans) are wisely prepared to pass it into tht
more powerful and conservative hands of The
United States, in manner which would not b,
the least humiliating to themselves" These ex-
tracts sufficiently determine the character of the
enterprise, but if anything further was wanted,
the declaration that the company is armed with
powers "equal to those OF the great East India
Company, removes the last lingering doubt re-
specting the designs entertained.
DEATH OF JOHNNY MACK
Johnny Mack, the well known negro minstrel
lied on Saturday at San Rafael of consumption
Although he had been i'll for many months with
the deceptiveness of his disease the end did not
appear so near as it proved to be. In his line Of:
business he could command the largest salary o.
any one on the coast and had he not fallen a
victim to the temptations of his profession might
nave made for himself name and fame to BE-
long remembered. 1t is only a short time since
rom Lafont, another well known minstrel went
under the sod from the complaint induced
! by the same good mans fault, and unless tn
warning is needed other of our burnt cork cele-
critics will shortly be added to the list. By the
way. what wonderful vitality of constitution
Harry Court,ine must have. | met him yester-
lay and his Ccunten2nce did not show the least
sign of his faiings. He always had a haggard,
;are-worn look when off the stage, but clos'
examination failed to detect sins le additiona.
inc on his face, and indeed he seemed no Older
Chan when | met him nine years ago. He was
It Dashaway Hall on Sunday night recitinl
.sl A
temperance association, it wodld seem that Mas
Ter Harry has again clad himself in armor OF to-
tai abstinence.
A CHINESE CONVENTION
Meets tomorrow, consisting of delegates from
III parts of the State, to take into consideration
| the position of their countrymen on the coast
md determine what line Of action shall be pur.
sued in reference to them and Moneys mani
fssto 1t is said that the six companies have ad-
lressed the United States Government on tn,
subject, and claimed protection under the terms
Of existing treaties from the threatened violence
of anti-coole roughs 1t is pity that persecu-
ion should be any part of the anti-coolie pro.
Tamme, as by such proceedings many temperat,
citizens are aEeniated, and no corresponding
| benefit accrues.
THE CENSUS.
1t appears that San Francisco has been mort
,agng the future for its statistics. In about two
weeks the census will be complete, and instead
of showing population of 175, 900, as we fondy
'upposed, the total, including Chinese, will no
much exceed 125,000. Considering for a mo
nent that our death rate is only about 80 pc!
week, 1t Is at once obvious that the larger estima
ion Is wrong, and that the cnumerators are no,
lar out in their calculation.
JUSTICE.
Judge Lake, Of the new Municipal Court, i,
lealing out justice to criminals in splendid style
Three Knights of the Jenny got twelve year.
ZACH on Saturday for .nall burglary, and tive
others were secluded from society for eighteen
months for not thoroughly appreciating the rightl
Of property. severe Judge has great infiuenc.
N reforming crime When provinces, for in
stance, on the Police Bench, he rarely in
licted more than nominal penalty on thos
convicted of assaulting Cinnamon, and the con
sequence was that every Barbary Coast Ranger
N the city made anti-cooie demonstrations
| lgainst individual Ceestials whenever the humo
-ook him. Judge Sawyer, on the contrary, pu
/ heavy fine on the first offenders brought betor,
im, and of late outrages on Chinese have beel
few and far between.
LITERARY.
California has been prolific OF poets, historian.
md novelists, ranging in talent from bad to bril-
dant; but all her attempts to produce a dramati,
author have hitherto been undisguised failures
But Mr.. Bret Harte has now entered the field
and as everything he attempts is well done, tn,
state can now claim credit for having produce,
successful playwright. His play is founded OF
1is charming story, The Luck of Roaring
Camp, that appeared year or two ago in tn,
Ouerond, and will be put on the stage sometim
n September at Niblo's theater New York. W
II. Rhodes, alias Caxton, alias the Earthquak,
Prophet has gone to Manhattan to superintenc
Ihe mounting of his tragedy, "Maximlian." S.
between the two, New York will get good idea
Of our dramatic authors abilities
YERBA BUENA
The ATTENTION OF OUR READERS is called tC