Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/247



capital from  all  parts  of  the  world,  to  secure  quick settlement and  rapid  development,  doing  in  one  year the work  that  under  different  circumstances  might occupy one  hundred  years  to  accomplish.

The objectionable  law  was  repealed  in  March  1851. A tax  of  four  dollars  was,  however,  finally  imposed on Chinese  laborers  in  the  mines;  the  only  reason  for discriminating against  these  people  being  that  they were low,  helpless  creatures,  without  even  a  vote  to sell. The miserable  spirit  of  discriminating  against foreigners had  shown  itself  in  other  ways. On the 5th of  August  1850,  the  San  Francisco  board  of aldermen  by  resolution  prohibited  that  aliens  should engage in  draying,  driving  hackney  coaches,  rowing boats for  the  conveying  of  passengers,  or  selling spirituous liquors.

By midsummer  of  1850  anarchy  prevailed  in  the southern mines  with  alarming  proportions. At Mor- mon gulch resolutions  were  passed  that  all  Mexicans should quit  those  diggings  within  fifteen  days,  or  be forcibly  expelled. However, this  was  the  action  of foreigners,  not  of  Americans. At Sonora  it  was ordered that  all  foreigners,  except  such  as  were  en- gaged in permanent  and  respectable  pursuits,  should leave the  country  within  fifteen  days. Reading this between the  lines,  it  meant,  if  we  may  believe  the San Francisco  Journal  of  Commerce  of  July  29,  1850, that the  Americans  had  determined  that  all  Mexi- cans and Chilians  must  quit  the  country. That journal justified  the  policy  because,  as  it  alleged  of "atrocities  daily  perpetrated  by  foreigners  of  Spanish- American  origin." The native  Indian  did  not  rank high enough  in  the  scale  of  humanity  to  command the deliberations  of  any  august  popular  meeting. If he dared  strike  a  blow,  whatever  its  object  might  be, even in  defence  of  his  wife  and  children,  an  outcry was raised,  and  mounted  men  with  rifles  would  ride to the  rancheria,  and  shoot  down  men,  women,  and children^ innocent  and  guilty,   promiscuously. Who