CALIFORNIA.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 573, 11 October 1851, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

San Francisco news to the 3 1st of July had had been received at Sydney. The extracts in the papers before us are too copious to be transferred to our columns to-day, but we scarcely regret our inability to copy details, most of which only further exhibit that prevalence of anarchy and rampant crime which has given California a bad pre-eminence over almost every country on the face of the civilized earth. In addition to the ordinary record of ciimes issuing in tlie killing of one or two persons, we have an account of a riot at Colonia between the adherents of the Mill and the Tunnel Companies, in which fifteen men were killed. " Indian hunts" seemed to be growing in favour with the miners, in proportion as the hunters were more successful in bringing doxvn their human game. A traveller coolly repoits that "the miners always kill the Indians whenever an opportunity presents, but they cannot spend the time necessary to follow them to their strongholds in the mountains, and thus hundreds of the rascals unfortunately escape." One party, commanded by a Captain Harvey, had killed sixty or seventy yf the Pitt River Indians, mortally wounded many more, and captured and brought in to Shasta four squaws and a child of six years old. A Mr. French, writing from Shasta, pathetically complains, " Our town is rightly infested by these ttoublesome hombres, who, »o doubt, are after their wives and children we hold as prisoners." The Vigilance Committees were as active and lawless as ever. The Governor of California had indeed issued a Proclamation against their proceedings, which we subjoin in

oider that our tendcts may judge fur themselves of the cliai actor of the Executive in this "glorious State" of the "glmious Union." They will see that, contenting himself with a few sententious tiuisms about the sanctity of life and properly, and the duly of obedience to the laws, Governor M' Doug all takes no vigorous action against the confederated Lynchers who are trampling all these obligations under their feet, but seems to think he does enough by offering a few simple and practical suggestions to bodies which, judging from their past deeds and their declared intentions, will only laugh his Proclamation to scorn, and are sure of being supported and lauded for doing so by the Californian press, which manifestly quails and cringes under this reign of terror, — boasting all lhe|while, however, of its own super-eminent freedom and puiity. Pnon A.v\rioK. Executive Department, Vdllejo, July a Ist, 1851. To the People of the Stale of California. It lias been repicsented to iue tint organizations of citizen^, styling themselves " Vigilance Committees." have been formed in vanous portions of the st.tte, and assume powers inconsistent with the existing laws, and serious apprehensions are entertained of collision between the constituted authorities and the citizens thus organised ; and it becomes my duty to take some step by winch so gieat a calamity may be averted. It is earnestly hoped that a few simple and practical suggestions may serve to securcuhis desirable end. No security of life or property can be guaranteed except the constitution and laws be observed. Let these be forcibly dispensed with, their sacrednesa violated, and submission to their authoiity refused, and we are reduced to a state of anaichy more dangeious in its tendencies and probable results than the worst laws under our system can pobsibly be, no matter how conuptly administered. We are just entering upon our career, our character is not yet formed" people from all climes and all countries are flocking to our shores, it then becomes us to take no unadvUed step which shall letard our progress now or prejudice our claims to a high and commanding stand hereafter. But more than this, we owe it to ourselvet to impress upon the strangers who have settled amongst us unacquainted with, and peihaps enteitaimng prejudices unfavourable to the practical operation of our peculiar institutions, that onr government is a governmeet of laws and that thought they may sometimes prove inadequate, sometimes operate oppressively or be administered corruptly, the remedy is not in a destruction of the entire system, but is to be cecured by a peaceful resort to those consitutional means which arew isely afforded to reform whatever abuse may exist and correct whatever errors may have been committed. The occurencea of the past three or four weeks the apprehension of individuals within the jurisdiction of legally constituted tribunals., their trial sentence, and execution, without authority of law, by a voluntary association of citizens, who thus v u-tually place tliemseles above and beyond all law except tbnt pi escribed by and for themselves, will prove sufficiently prejudicial to our interests abroad, commercial and otherwise, if such organizations, assuming such unquestionably dangerous powers were now dissolved but if continued there is no calculating the extent of the injury which may result to us aB a State. The dangerous tendencies, in other respects, of organizations of the character under consideration, the excitement produced m the public m\nd, consequent upon their action, ies>i3tance to the constituted authorities, which must always inevitably result, and threatened collisions between themselves and officers of the law in the execution of their duties, cannot but beappieciated and deprecated by every right thinking and patriotic citizen of the state, and need not therefore be dwelt upon here. Whatever may have been the exigency heretofore existing, requiring or supposed to require the adoption of exti.iordinury measures on the part of the citizen, it is bow happily, m a great degree, passed, and such measures shuuld, on this account, if on no other, be at once abandoned. Another criminal code, with more efficient provisions, attaching adequate penalties to the commission of offences, and directing a more prompt and effective administration of justice, has gone into operation. Courts are now enabled to try, sentence, and execute, as tbe offence desorves ; safe and secure prison-bouses are bein^- provided, and the officers there is reason to believe, are ready and anxious to discharge tbe high duly imposed upon them by the people. i cannot do less, theiefore, than earnestly recommend to my fellow-citizens everywhere throughout ! the State to aid in sustaining the law, for this is our ! only real and permanent security. Associations may ! be organised, but they should be formed with the view to aid and assist the officers of the. law in the execution of their duties, and act in concert with the civil authorities to detect, arrest, and punish criminals. By pursuing this course, much good may, and undoubtedly will, be accomplished, and all the dangers which threaten uulawful assumption! of power thus averted. Inefficiency will not then secure impunity to crime, nor dangerous criminals be permitted to go unwhipt of justice, is my sworn duty to see that the laws are executed and I feel assured that all good citizens will cordially co-operate with me in its discharge. John M'Dougal Govenor. The Mei chants of San Francisco had held a Public Meeting for the purpose of forming I an Exchange. I The amount of duties received at the Custom House for the Quarter ending June 30, 1851, was, on Cargoes of Foreign Vessels, 465,561 dollars; American Vessels, 160,721 ; Total, 626,283 dollars. The Market had assumed a better aspect. Most of the recently arrived vessels had discharged their cargoes, and many articles were selling at advanced prices. Bricks weer [in good demand ; ' Lumber of many kinds was firmer in price ; and Cement had run up to above seven dollars. The San Francisco Morning Post of the 30ih of July, stated, " The demand for Flour has materially increased within a few days past ; the Company hold at twelve dollars per 200 lbs. The holders of outside lots are demanding an advance on last week's prices. Recent information from Ch li confirms that previously received, in relation to the suspension of the mills in consequence of the very high price demanded by the agriculturists iov wheat, and that little flour would be exported from there for some months." Another account says> " There is a regular business doing in Gallgo Flour, from eleven to twelve dollars for consumption. The steamers prefer it for stores, likewise the principal bakers. We examined a parcel of it, and found it prime," Tbe news from the mines was, on the whole, satisfactory, as ,to the continued finding of gold. , The Sacramento Union states that the largest lump of gold ever found in California ! was taken out on Scott's River. It weighed three thousand one hundred and forty dollars —-(a long way off the yet unrivalled piece obtained by Dr. Kerr in the Australian Gold Field) — and was pronounced a singularly beautiful specimen, being entirely free from spot or blemish, and having not a particle of ojiartji mixed with the gold,

A boat belonging to the English barque William had been upset in San Francisco Bayon the 27th of July, and eight persons drowned, four of whom were masters of British vessels in the harbour. Neither their names, nor the names of their ships are mentioned.

kuncnfc by a Rliuiinj-d Convict. — On the evenings of Monday and Tuesday, Mr. C. A. King 1 , a returned convict, deliveied two lectures on transportation, &c, at Settle, both of winch were attentively listened to by a very nuraeious audience. His first lectuie was given in the diess and chains worn by convicts in Van Diemen's Land, and the second in thedresa nri'l mask worn by convicts in tbe new model prison. The manner in which the lectures were given was very interesting, and the description given of the horrors of convict life can hardly fail, we would imagine, to do much good to the rising generation especially. He gave a brief history of his own course of life, commencing with the first step to crime, which is well calculated to serve as a warning to those only who are coromoncing a wicked career of life. Mr. King it may be remembered was sentenced in 1835 to fourteen yews' iiiinspoitation. IntheyearlB4ohcmadehisescape,gotto Amenr.i, and at last, after enduring unheard of hardships, arrived in England, was betrayed, and retaken in Manchester, tried again at Liverpool assizes, beforo Mr. Justice Coleridge, and was again sentenced to transportation for life. Such an impression, however, did his recital of his past endurance make, that his address to the Judge caused many to become interested in his favour, and a petition signed by (50,000 persons, was presented to her Majesty, praying for a commutation of bis sentence. His sentence was accordingly commuted to five years' solitary confinement, in a small cell in the Milbank Penitentiary London, after which he received a free pardon, and has since been giving the benefit of his experience to the public. His lectures cannot fail to produce a good effect. — Lancaster Guardian.