CALIFORNIA.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 569, 27 September 1851, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

We inseited in the last New Zealander the extracts of most immediate importance which had been received at Sydney from San Francisco. We now transfer a digest of intelligence as given in the Sydney Herald of Sept. 6, omitting, of course, those portions which, (either from that source, or from the papers received by the Helen S. Page) have aheady appealed in our columns. The seventh of July, the nnmveisary of tlie raising of the American flag m California, was celebmted with great pomp throughout the State; and om San Francisco ci.'iU'iiipoMries indulged, as will be readily supposed, m the most extravagant rhapsodies on the occ.imoi). \\ c dio told that, " live yeais ago, that veiy day, Commodore Sloat landed in foice at the city of Monterey, and took possession of the country in the name of Iho all-conqueim" aims of tho gloiious States of the Union ; winch event has boon tho corner-stone to a scnes of con&orjuencea which have astonished the eaith, and whose futuvo developments are no doubt destined to be moie vondruful than those which have passed." Then came long disseitauons upon the achievement of Liberty sown by Amencan love of Freedom ; and then we aio told that, "when the starspangled banner was unfuiled over California, a

thousand Aineiicnns, with nfles in their hands, stood ready lo sustain that banner, or peiinh in the attempt. And we aie ulbo mfoiiued, that these determined riflemen " fult that theirs was a high mission ; that in their hands was the destiny of the Pacific coast ; that New Woild, whose mjstenes more than three centuries had f.uled to unfold ; and that they came to piomote tbe cause of civilization and freedom wheiever their exeitions and their influence could affect the human race." The lcsults of the riflemen's exertions are then described ; and we learn that •• California, under the j flag of the Great Republic, has so far exercised an influ- | ence upon the age such as no other country has ever exorcised ; this being the consequence of a high degree of civilization, of an impulse, the offshoot of freedom's germ, long since sown in blood upon the fields of Bunker IJill and Yoik Town." — "And what is Cahfornia'b destiny 1" asks the writer, who, by way of suggesting tbe pioper mode of replying, desires his readers '' to take a calm survey of what she has done, and answer the question." This surrey we now propose to < take, in so far as tbe "liberty and high degiee of civilization" of the state are concerned. A few days after the recent savage murder of aßiitish subject by a large body of the citizens of the free city of San Francisco, a public meeting was held in the Plaza, for the purpose of approving and confirming, by a solemn resolution of the people, of the hanging of Jenkins by the orders af a self-constituted tubunal called the Committee of Vigilance ; who, sitting within closed doois, had tried and condemned the miserable man to death. At this meeting a Captain Hutton presided, who opened the proceedings by declaring that, m his opinion, Lynch law was the only law adequate to the necessities of the city. It was then moved, seconded, and earned by acclamation, " That this meeting sanctions tbe action of the Committee and the people in hanging Jenkins." However, amidst the shouts ol assent, one single "no" was heard ; and the dissentient was immediately assailed with yalls, and every other kind of savage demonstration. Nothing daunted, Mr. H. K. W. Clarke mounted the balcony, and exclaimed, " Alone, I say no, when this meeting is called upon to sanction a cold-blooded murder." He was about to proceed, but was seized and hustled into the crowd, who proposed to hang him on the spot. The uproar waa so great that Captain Ilutton adjourned tbe meeting, who then proposed to cut off Mr. Clarkes ears, and give him thnty-nine lashes. Hia fiiends, however, rescued him ; and he, perfectly cool, made his way to his hotel, though severely bruised, and covered with blood. As this is the Alia California's own account of the transaction, it is not likely that the 6avage character of the outrage was exaggerated ; in /act, it is given as another instance of the fiim determination of the brave American race. That specimen of California's progress in civilization, " the Vigilance Committee," had taken upon itself to demand from the Shenffth.it Burdue alms Stuart, who was serving his term of imprisonment for 14 years, for the recent assault on Mr. Janson, should be delivered up to its members, in order that they might try him for the murder cf Mr. Moore, at the Cuba River,, He was accordingly sent to Marysville, where a branch of the Vigilance Committee was established, was tried, convicted, and th°re was every prospect of hia being speedily hanged, when another man named Stuart was taken into custody by the officers at the head quarters of this tubunal, and he was just as positively sworn to at San Francisco as being tho real murderer aa the other man Stuart had been sworn to at Marysville. As these vigilant bubstitutes for the legally appointed officers of the Government could scarcely hang the two Stuarts, they agreed that it was merely a case of mistaken identity, and that the first Stuart had better be sent back to serve his time in prison. As to the second Stuart (although a man in every respect of appearance, height, and complexion, the very opposite to tbe description positively sworn to by the witnesses at Marysville), the Alta California, which appears to be the official organ of the Vigilance Committee, notifies | " that it is pretty correctly settled that the Stuart in possession of the Committee is the real Stuart, the murderer of Mr. Sheriff Moore, and that he will u-ndoutyedly be hanged." We now, in further illustration of the blessings which the star-spangled banner has introduced into California, submit the following paragraphs from the latest papers received by us, not ranging over more than ten days previous to the Bth of July ultimo. We commence with a notice fiom the vigilance Committee, which all the papers are desired to copy :— Vigilance Committee Room.— lt having become necessary to the peare and quiet of this community that all criminals and abettors in crime should be driven from among us, no good citizen, h.sviDg the welfare of San Francisco at heart, will deny the Committee of Vigilance such information as will enable them to carry out the above object. Nor will they interfcie with said committee when they may deem it best to senrcb any premises for suspicious characters or stolen property. Therefore — Resolved, That we the Vigilance Committee do claim to ourselves the right to enter any pcison or persons' premises where we have good reason to believe that we shall find evidence to substantiate anil carry out the object of this body, and lurther, deeming ouiselves engaged in a good and just cause— wi intind to maintain it. By order of the Com mitiee of Vigilance. No. 67, Secietary. Sau Francisco, July 5, 1851. We now give the criminal chronicles of the above few days : — In the city of Sonora, a worthy citizen. Captain Snow having been brutally murdeied, and two of the assassins h.wiug been taken a few d.iys afterwards, weie tried and hung by the populace and buried in the grave which they hnd dug for thtir victim. A maurauding paity of twelve men, comancled by a Capt in living, were all killed by the Indians, of the Colmilla tribe, near LosAngtlos. They deserved their fate. During a considerable portion of yesterday the Vigilance Committee was engaged in examining seveial persons whom they had betoie them. Jt was rumoured lavt night about town that one of the prisoners— a coloured man— bad confessed that he set the city on fire ou the 23rd instant, but that he did it under threats from a white woman, whom they also had anested. We are not in possession of the evidence, and have no sufficient means of judging of the supporting proof. It can scarcely be possible th.it the negro would have made any confession of such a nature had it not been true. It could not have been for the rewaid offered, for he must have known that his life would be the forfeit. That such has been made is certain. It is perhaps as well not to mention the name of the woman whom the darkey accuses of being the instigator of the deed. If RUilty her name will be known soon enough. If the proof be positive, then mercy would scarcely be exercised towards tbe culprit ; and, indeed no mercy should l;e shown to the peipetrator of so execrable an act — Alta California, July 6. All our honest citizens who are in the streets at night should be very caieful how they allow any strange person to approach them. The streets aie exceedingly dark and iv many places dangerous from the efferts of tbe flic. The city is yet festering with an abundance of cut-throats, who will not hesitate to rob or kill. An attempt was made lnst night in Montgomeiy street. The slung shot is as silent as death and as sure. Allow no susp.cious person to approach within staking distance. Some of them have a method of assuming the appearance of drunken men, and stagger wiihin reach of their victims. E\cry such person should be given a wide beith. This caution is not given without necessity, and should not be neglected or despised.— Alta California, July 7. A shocking affair occurred in this city on the night to the great fire. Lewis Pollock having been shot dead by Samuel Gallagher, having been provoked iroia his bed and killed while undressed.— Hnd, I A party of nine men, under Capt. Fitzp.\trick have i been cut off by tbe Indians, and, as is supposed, all murdered, at Rogue River. ! Last Saturday night, at Yorktown, near ( auopo Seco, [ five Mexicans, entered the house of another Mexican, put their pistols to his head, and forced \vm to deliver up his mouey, and thus robbed him of between five and six hundred" dollars- These men weie undoubtedly from Cam,io Seeo, and seeing the weakness, iudecision, and misplcicecl sympathy ot the people theic, weie emboldened to commit this* fresh onti age. How loni? will it be beioic a well meaning portion of the community will learn to reject the advice ot Sydney biid«, and show no leniency to the scoundrels in our midst ? Great excitement picvailed at iUokehimme Hill on the evening of July 3id, and Judge Lynch is t.iumph«mt The particular, as iar as I have learned, are the c : John Nelson shot a man named Hall. The ball entered the cheek, near the centre, on the right side, p.issing entirely tluough, and coming out near the ear, on thu left. Not one word passed between the pai ties at the time, but Nelson coolly shot Hal!. He was sober at the time that it was particularly notice* 1 by all the witnesses. On Tuesday nv.;ht last, while intoxicated, Nelson claims he was giossly insulted, and thinks Hall was accessoiy. After shooting Hall, he drew a knife and said he was pieparod for more, and made an advance towards the crowd ; l»uts"on attempted an escape ; he was pursued and shot at twice, but without, eliect. Seeing it hope'ess to make fuither elfoit to escape, he tin ust a dn k kmfc into his left side, about six inches in leiiflth. He was tikui, Judge Walton pi esidmsr, and tried before a. jury ot twelve intelligent miueis The |ivy retired but a Jew minutes, and unanimously gave a vcidictof an attempt at wilful and preuic.dUa.Ud uuir-

d«T; the man shot at being still alive, with a slight chance of recoveiy. The citizeus at large were then called upon to give the sentence. The prisoner being in a critical situation, and apparently near his end by his own hand, and his victim not being dead, it was voted that the giving of his sentence be delayed till morning, It was cleiiily proved that Hall was not present, and had nothing to do with the affair at which time Nelson claimed he was so insulted. The pistol used was a fcinple ban el, carrying about thirty to the pound ; the rhrk about a foot and a half long.^-Corres* pondent of the Alia California. A teinble row occurred at a new town called Melones near Carson's Diggings, about two abandoned women, in which one or two Americans and three or four Mexicans were killed. We now close these illustrations of California's destiny. To give the sickening details of the bloody warfare earned on between the Indian tribes and the American squatters would occupy far more space than we can spare. In this respect the Cahfornun papers admit that u bloodshed has followed on the track of civilization and settlement; that wrong has been righted in blood, and revenge ceitain and sanguinary ;" and they unhesitatingly declare, that " from this time forward they must be prepared to hear of desperate encounters with the Indians, of massacres, and strife, and bloodshed, which no local nor borrowed power can, pievent. 1 ' In the same papers which contain the accounts of these frightful a trocities, we aie told, as we have already stated, that " California has a high destiny to accomplish, and that to her biave and virtuous citizens, and to the world, the Seventh of July commends itself as a day of remembrance and celebration."

The above was prepared for publication before the last arrival from California, which brings a few days later news. We are glad to find that at last the authorities were beginning to exert themselves to put an end to this atrocious state of things. We fear, howerer, that the ''j/o'pulais. voice" will be too strong for the "constituted authorities," and that until the Central Government interfere these barbarities will not be discontinued. If the Constitution of the United States Government cannot afford a remedy, the civilized nations of the earth must deal with California as they would with the barbarians on the coast of Africa or the northern pacific. Following the example of the slave-holding State of South Carolina, we perceive that California is threatening a secession movement, " aiming eventually at ! a great western Republic." When the atrocities which, we have ennmerated are known at Washington, we suspect that the statesmen of the East will look back with shame to the day when California became one of the thirty-one sisters.

Gold Odds and Ends. — A piece of gold ore about 3 lbs. weight was picked up at the Wentworth diggings in the early part of the w eek. We have it upon good authority that from 4 to 5 cwt. of gold leaves Bathurst for Sydney weekly by the escort and other known means of conveyance. Many people are about leaving the Turon for Bathurst in consequence of the fresh in the river. It is expected that a month will elapse before operations can be advantageously commenced. Flour has been sold aa high as 9d. and beef 6d. per lb. at the Turon. Two men passed through the town yesterday on their way to South Australia, whence they had come to our diggings. They were heartily sick of them, and, after spending about a month there and all their cash, had sold their tools, &c, and left. Mr. Joseph Simmons, senior, who has just returned from, the Turon, purchased the right of a digging allotment from a party of young men for £24, for which they had asked £150 a few days before, and would not take less. The sudden depreciation in its value was caused by tho water springing too fast upon them. They had been making from six to eight ounces a day, and having accumulated a small fortune were returning to their farms. Dr. M'Hattie purchased b variety of beautiful cabinet specimens of gold in its different shapes, for PJis Honor the Chief Justice. One splendid specimen of gold in the quartss was from the new diggings, weighing three and four ouncps. Great numbers of miners are returning from the World's End diggings, which have not proved so rich generally as was expected. A k\r are doing extremely well, but there appears to be greater uncertainty there than at any of the old diggings, the gold not being so generally diffused through the soil. A gentleman lately sojourning at the Turon informs us that, whilst there, a man contrived to sneak into a tent in the night time, find appropriate a pair of boots and £20 in cash whilst the owner was asleep. Fortunately he awoke before the thief had effected his retreat, and grappled with him. He immediately gave the alarm, and in a few moments was assisted by Messrs. Francis, M'Dougall, and Smith, near whose quarters tho occurrence took place, who secured him for the night by tying his hands. A large number of the diggers assembled together in a few minutes, and recommended a eumm«ry disposal of the culprit. One proposed a little judicious ear-cropping, another thought a trifle of a roasting would be profitable, and suggested that he be put on the firo without further delay. Both recommendations had their advocates, but the respectable portion of the assemblage preferred the constitutional mod« of punishment. The delinquent was therefore kept in durance until the dawn of day, when he was transferred to the authorities. Since Saturday last Mr. Austin has bought gold to the amount of ,£1157 19s, 9d , Mr. Parker £400, Air. Dusford £687 55., and Messra. Syer Brother« £552 10a. Other buyers have purchased small amounts, making a considerable total in the whole. Owing to an alteration ia the rate of exchange, gold has depreciated in Sydney to £3 6s. Gd. per ounce. — Bathurst Free Press.