THE SACRAMENTO RIOT. [From the "Alta California," August 17.]

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 478, 13 November 1850, Page 3

THE SACRAMENTO RIOT. [From the "Alta California," August 1 7.]

The recent lamentable events in Sacramento city, and perhaps others far more melancholy, it may be even now transphing there, must force upon all claim and considerate minds the questions or right, justice, and neeess'ty. With the utmost knowledge, possible as yet to be obta'ned lcspecting the conflicting claims o( the citizens and squatters, it seems not an easy matter to decide fully whether the latter have any right to the lots they claim, ami if any, in what it consists. The question of necessity is inoic easily decided. Law must be sustained, and om citizens have promptly shown their attachment to law and order by at once laying all personal aU'airs and \olunteeiing to support the only protection we have (or life, property and the pursuit of happiness. Neiuly a year since it was publicly avowed by men in Sacramento that they intend to hold their squatter claims against nil others. They said, "we have been induced to leave our homes, and frequently at great sacrilice, and endtiieall the hardships and dangers of a long and toilsome journey, by representations made by interested parties here, holding out not only the inducement of abundance of gold easily obtained, but also of an immensity of good land where every eitiy.cn washing it might fieely lake possession and build himself a home in this western land in exchange for the old la* miliar scenes and homestead left behind. We came here and find out selves deceived. We find a few men in possession of immediate tracts, all the good l.md claimed by persons who have never paid a dollar lor them and who can show no good and sullieicnt title. Thus aic we fenced out, not ti snot to pitch a tent, unless at an extravagant and oxtiuoidin.iry price ior soil, to which we have as good aright as they, and to which they can give us no satisfactory title- We arc homeless', and like M'Gregor, • lawless.' &c. Now giving ■ 11 due weight to this nrguement, will it, or indeed «ny othor, justify resistance to the executions of the laws, and that, too, under sanction of judicial decisions ? Would it be so decided in the old States ? Has it ever been ? And are justice and right of so \aryinga shade that they can change color with change ol climate and longitude, one thing heic j and another in California ? It would seem that certain citizens puichased land from dipt. Suiter, locating a preemption right, as they tcuii it the comideration paid to dipt. Suiter being ton sideration an addition to ils strength- On this land the squatteis h.ive located. They claim that Sultei\s titles weie not perfect, and consequently g"od foi nothing. Some alleged also that his grant cove rid o ly "land not subject to ovoi How," and consequently could not embiace the lnictviile of the Sacramento liver, which last spiiiig too clesuly pioved liable to be buried beiiealh the wateis. '1 be tiuth is, there is no such thing as a right of pre-emption in California, nor any where else in the U S. territory, unless a specific law to the cuect be emu ted by Congress, covering the soil claimed. No Mich law appeitains to Cahioinia, yet there is a law here which perhaps is quite as -stiong, and m.iy bo termed the law of suilerence. Such claims have been recognized, and aie so geneially through the State by common consent and practiceThe state law upon the subject may have at the present time some bearing upon the question, although it can eventually have but little, because the public domain belongs lo the home government, and cannot be alienated by any act of subordinate It gislation. Thus, in whatever light the -subject is viewed, it piesents diihculties for solution and furnishes a theme for giavc ami senotis consideration- There are many men

of intelligence thnt stiongly sympathize willt the squat - ters, although not of them, even here. They, ol comsc, »U) not approve ol their lesistuncc to ilie l.iw ; lull they think they have some justice on their side, and do no! believe them altogether such ruflians us some others have de cribed them- All this may he true, but one thing is much more certainly tine, which is, thnt the couisc they are now pursuing is.»ubvnsive of all order, peace, and prosperity, and cannot lor a moment l)f tolerated willingly by any good citizen. And it is to be hoped that better councils will prevail; and that their sober second thoughts will prevent a further appeal to arms and mixing in imlisciiiniua'c rontestand slaughter those who should have lived and have lived as brethcrn of tlie same gieat family One roflectionjseenis (or<o<l upon us. It is that the present collision and spilling ol Irak-rnal blood is in a great measure chargeable to the ciiminal delay of Congress in acknowledging the ]>lamest rights ot cc a l ilornia and doing her justice. That pitriotic and learned body has spent nonrly nine months in session, and at length California instead of being in the Union, seems neatly forgotten by the Solans in Washington. This cruel and unjust delay has already commenced its work. Those who wish an excuse for lawless acts dud it in our anomalous posi • lion. They .say we arp neither a state nor a territory, nor a republic, and that the laws of our lust Legislature are a farce. Radically wrong, foolish and wicked as is such an argument, it "nds many ready to act upon its suggestions and make the law of might paramount to all others. The laws of our State are the laws of its people, and aie |ust as binding now us they would be bail California been admitted, asuashei tight long ago. lint the ellects of the delay .ire becoming moie and moie visible. It is weaking confidence in the nower-. that be, on the pint of tne reckless, and is likely to be a poli/ic source of trouble, if not of anarchy and revolution. May not such fate be ours ?

The Gold Hunter, anxionsly looked for by a thousand eager anil impatient citizens, who were waiting her nrrival on the wharf, came in about 1 1 o'clock last night bunging the cheering intelligence of a cessation, of hostilities. She left Sacramento nt 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, up lo which time peace reigned, and n flairs generally have a tranquil appearance. Tim Rioters have been completely subjugated ond forced to acquiesce in the mandates of the law. The prominent characters in the nlTuiy have been arrested, and placed in close custody on board the prison ship. MayeloiT Bigelow we are most happy to announce, is not dead — the report of his death has thus been premature' though accounts place him in a dangerous situation, I'lii wounds are serious, and the only apprehension felt for hia ultimate iccovcry is in the event of infljinwtion setting iti. The ncting Mayor has issued a proclamation, olV.ring a re wai <l of a thousand dollars for the apprehension and conviction of any of the principal lcadeis in the a/Tray. A letter wnt found in Dr. Robinson's tent, after his arrcit, which proves that the outrage was premeditated on the part of the squatters. It furnishes strong evidence agninst Dr. Robinson. 'I he Times says tli.it it is in the hind writing of Dr. Robinson. At 2 o'clock yesterday, (Wednesday) a body of squatters numbering about forty, proceeded to the foot of I street, on the levee, and undertook lo regain pos- • litou of a lot of ground which had been lately in tho occupation of one of their party. They were fully armed, and a general understanding prevailed that their object included the liberation of tlie two men committed the duy before to the prison ship, upon the charge of being concerned in the riotous assembling on the morninp of the 12th for the purpose of forcibly resisting the proems of law. After the displacement of some of the lumber upon the ground, the party of itquntterß were deterred from proceeding further in their intent. Tho Mayor had meantime requested all good citizens to aid in suppressing the threatened riot, and very large numbers had gathered about the spot — several citizens armed, proceed also to the prison ship, but no demonstration was fnade in that direction. The squatters retreated in a martial order and passed I street to 3d, thence to J and up to 4lh followed by a crowd of persons. They were here mot by the Mayor who ordered them to deliver up their aims and disperse. This they refuted to do, and immediately neverul shota were fired at him, four of which took effect lie fell from his home and was carried to his residence, dangerously if not mortally wounded. Mr. J. W. Woodland, who unarmed, stood near the Mayor at the time, received a shot in the groin, which he survived but a few moments. A mun named Jesse Morgan, s:ud to be from Millersaille, Ohio, lutely arrived, and who was seen to aim at the Mayor, next fell (lend from the effects of a ball which passed through his neck. Mr. James Harper was very severely, bnt not dangerously woundid in supporting the Sheriff. It appeared, from an examination befoie the Gironer, that ihe party of Squatters drew up in regular order on arriving at the corner ol 4 h street, and that the sheriff wus several times fired upon before he din. played any wo.ipons, Testimony was also given at to the pcrton who wus seen to fire upon Mr. Woodland, the mounted lander of the Squdters, an Ins>hin,m liy the name of M'lloncy, hud his hois* 1 bhot under him ; he endeavoured to escape, but was pursued u s>ho. t distance up an alley and shot through the head, falling dead. Dr. Robinson and one of the armed p.irty under his command, was wounded in the lower part of his body. Mr. llulo of (he firm Ciowcll, llulc & Co, was slightly wounded in the kg- A. youg boy son of MiItogers was ulso wounded. We have heard of iieviMil others, but are not assured of the correctness of tho reports. Upou the oath of several gentlemen 1 hut they saw Dr. llobinion deliberately aim at tho Mayor, ho was ai rested ai'i placed in confinement. An Irishman named Caulfie'd, accused of a similar act with regard to both the Mayor and Mr. Woodland, wus arrehleil late in the afternoon. After these terrible scenes, which occurred in less time than we have employed to describe them, hid passed, a meeting of the Council was held, the proceedings of which appear in iinoihcr column The citizens, congrcguted at the corner of 2ud un'l J street, and in other places ihioughiut tho cdy, and pioc.cd to oignni/e in pructice to prevent further outr.igc A body of mounted men, under the command of tho bheriif, hearing the repoi t that the Squutton were i c • inlorcing at the Fort, proceeded thither. The lawless mob were nowlieie to be fo und ; scouts were despatched in all directions, but no trace of them could be tli\covered. ling. Gen. Winii issued a pro.lamaliou, declaring the city under the mart al law. At evening quiet wan fully lcstored ihiou^hnut the city. An cxtiaordinnry police force of S'JO was summoned for ilutv during this night. There is a universal icadincss to respond to the demands on this trying occasion. The following is from the Tunes Bxtia, issued at onu o'cloi'k yusteiduy afternoon: The night pussed without tho least disturbance. The compaiy of Capt, Sher.wxd an I M>ij a tinyder, and the Artillery under Major Fowler, wore constantly on duty ; nlson police foice of about 2 00. Tlij g.cutust vigilance was observed but no farther ariesu were made, und quiet seems to be fully lestored throughout the city. The Squatters have successfully conccale djlheime-lvci or iled. A proposition ia veiy generally tu|>|>oite»l, D gi^e notice to ull occupying city property, as squulUia

to leave foilhwitli, and that their tenements be dc moliahed, and a'l vestiges of their presence to bei<~ moved. An oaily action to this direction will piobably ens" . Lieu Governor McDoupral returiud frmn 13enin.ini the Gold Hunier this morning bringing 50 stand of .inns and 1500 cartridges. We understand that a detachment of ciralry will be despatched to llie mighbouting mining depots for the purjoscof arrcslin«- any who m,»y bi- indentinud as having acted in opposition to the officers ol the law .luring the riots ; nho to obtain early advice of any hostile movrmentb in those qnaitcrs. Sheriff McKmuey, on returning fiom the fort yesterd.iy, entered the house of the Surveyo. of the Settler's Association, andtook possession of reocrds,,docu" meats, &Cm found theiein.

How inn Ftres Occun.-In our walks about town of a windy afteihoou or evening— and when tlo we not have such ?— We are pained to see here ami there instances of shocking carelessness, aa we conceive, from the use of " Portable Furnaces. ' 1 lace such a furnace, well filled with ignited chaicoal, beside a wooden building—and we have a few mote of the same sort still "left— around which are strewn dry shavings, bits of paper, &c, and you have all Ihe app ianccs necessary to make a good conflagPiiiiun, such nsbhall bum, if you please, to the tune oi to -85,000,000. But what of that? Will not the burnt district all be built up with fiie proof brick buildings ? We happen to see an hombre from the window ot our Bleeping room every daj, busily engaged jti kindling up his furnace under such circurostancep, with this improvement— -that his is a covered furnace, the stove pipe from it tests secuiely in the snug niche between two nice houses built of re»inous wood. A <ittcr place, we ventuie to say, could not be /bund in all the city, for such a purpose as above indicated. We hope our worthy Fire Wardens will not fail to inspect, whenever convenient, the perfect arrangeincuts of the movable as well as immovable furnaces and fixtures for " warming and heating" so plentifully distributed throughout our citj . — Pacific News, Runiiisii in San Francisco. — The streets are much blocked up with mbbish of all sorts and kinds, fiom a stick of wood ton pile of bricks, and a cigar box to a packing case, there are also the inconvenience aiising fiom ilie presence oHnulding materials we do not object to these so much, as it betokens the speed filling up some ugly gapjpresenting an unpleasant reminder of the fire disasters. But the piles of old boxes in which goods hsive t becn imported, and the street counters into which the)- are converted for the exposure of urticles of merchandise, ought to be removed instanter. We hops the street commissioner will keep his eye on them, and make the owners, of piemibes remove them as an unnecessary obstruction to passengers. Our streets are all of them narrow enough and sufficiently crowded with vehicles and loot passengers, without their being unnecessarily lumbered up.— Alia CaliJoinUt" VkcmAßLEs.— There is nothing which showi the settled purpose of those who have come to California moicthan the culture of the soil. Even in our city's midst there are very fine gardens, and a few milis distant more extensive ones. Our city is well supplied with vegetables, and at comparatively moderate prices, we had noticed upon the table of the St Fiancis Hotel, juno or ten diflcient kind-, of fresh vegetables of California K iowth, and all of the most excellent flavor. Our nidiket is now supplied wiih peas, beans, beets,, squasos, onions, lettuce, pumpkins, lonvitoeSj carrots, turnip*, utiw puiatoub, ci'jhagcs, cucuo^frs, ladLhes, oauhfloweis, and green corn ; and in the way of Iruit, we have water and musk melons, peais and blacks berries. What would Col. Gt-eene, of the Boston Post say to this for the sand hills of San Francisco, wheie a year ago au onion and potato were lookad upon as marvellous and curious productions ol nature.— ./4Wa California.