History of the State of California: From the Period of the Conquest by Spain to Her Occupation by the United States of AmericaFrost, John
History
History of the State of California: From the Period of the Conquest by Spain to Her Occupation by the United States of America
Frost, John
California -- Gold discoveries; California -- History
Whether California be admitted into the Union at the present session
of Congress, or not, we may consider her Constitution and many of her
laws necessary for carrying out the provisions of the Constitution, as
fixed and operative. We have then, in a knowledge of their laws, a
view of the character of society in California, in many particulars,
but there are others which require further observation. One feature
strikes the observer at first glance. It is the variety of nation
which marks the population of the principal cities of California.
There may be seen the rapid, yet prudent Yankee, with a sharp eye to
the main chance, and a ready comprehension of the consequences of a
bargain or a speculation; the cool, slow, and heavy-moving Englishman,
wishing to be sure of his game, and, therefore, late in grasping for
it; the lively and sociable Frenchman, contrasting appearances and
manners with things in Paris; the coarse-looking German, with a lively
conception of the wealth of the country, and a deep consideration of
the means of grasping a goodly share of it; the half-Spanish native of
California, with his love of indolence, and easy of satisfaction; the
Chilian, with the ferocity and the cowardice of the descendants of the
Spaniards, and loving fandangoes and riding horses, as intensely as
the Californians, the Chinese, with dirty, but industrious habits, and
the native Indians--a mean, degraded specimen of that noble race that
once were lords of the American forests.
At the present time, it is a matter of doubt, whether the Americans or
the foreigners predominate in the population of California. It is
certain that the former have things pretty much their own way in the
various cities and in the mines. But that may be from a want of unity
of action among the foreigners. The habits and modes of life belonging
to the Americans are generally prevalent in the cities; but in the
smaller and older towns, the native Californians conduct every thing
in the old Spanish mode. The difference between the society of Los
Angeles and Sacramento City, is wide, and affords a good contrast
between the restless, enterprising, utilitarian spirit of the
Americans, and the indolent, pleasure-loving spirit of the
Californians. With the Americans, in the cities where they are in the
majority, business is the uppermost consideration upon all occasions,
and profit and loss, and chances of obtaining a competency, the
constant subject of thought. With the Californians, the enjoyment of
the present, which alone is theirs, is at all times a matter of prime
importance; and gambling, drinking, dancing, guitar-playing, and
riding on horseback, are the principal sources of their pleasures.
Which of these modes of passing away life is the most philosophical,
we leave to the speculative. But it is apparent in California, that
the energy of the American character is exercising a great influence
on the descendants of the Spaniards. Their spirit is infectious. In
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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