CALIFORNIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 140, 25 April 1864, Page 6

CALIFORNIA.

[FHO'-i A COKKKSPOXDEN'T.] San Francisco, March sth, 1804. AVn on thos f Pacific side of the. continent feel but little effects o:' tho war. in fact it benefits us, but at tho expense <fi those on the other side. Our currency is L r o](l and slver, while on the other side it is nothing but paper. "Wo havr raise.l smno live regiments in California, but- thev all used on this side in garrisoning the different ?>osts in the Indian country, The men in the reiruk-ir army liave all been sent to the Kast, and the California troops take their place. A great many, however. have left here and joined regiments in their native f-'tates, and many of the Generals on both sides have been residents of this State. Halleek, the Seereta-y of AVar, is an old resident of this city, and has lar-re interests here now. This war is a ten'ible one, carried on with such vindiei iveness that it makes one shudder at the awful sacrifi-e of life that is dnilv made; but such things will h ippfji to the end of time. Other countries have had t•» pass through similar ordeals, and Ido not see wbv (his country should be an exception. The United Siates will be one country T have full confidence in, for she is fiirhting in a just cause. Shrerv is the cause of the war, and must be abolished; it is against the spirit of the institutions of-he eountrv, and there will be no peace until it i« ah-dished. This rebellion has hastened its downfall perhaps a centurv, for it would ha\e taken that time to have abolished it hv peaceful means. It is only a i a-iestion of time. To alter the condition of four 1 million of slaves is a difficult problem to solve, and it \vill take many years before it is settled. I hope that l he war in New Zealand is about, olosiner. The Maoris, like the Indians of this country, will fade :iw,r* before the march of the Saxon raee, and giving t le Negro liberty here they ■ too will be crowded out. Thousands will emigrate ; to Siberia, "West India Islands, and Mexico, and it would be a great blessinar to America if such should be the ease. The prejudice in this country against the inferior races is so great that they cannot harmonise. America is only for the white man, where everyone i;< equal politically. To pnt the Negro on a political equality cannot lie done in this generation. ; The Neirros must receive the benefits of education to fit them for their altered position before that can be done. It is the I T lti*aists for and against slavery who have hastened this bloody war. One side contends for the immediate emancipation of all slaves, while the other believes in slavery as a Pivine institution, J and seek* to spread it The conservatives | want it confined to its present boundaries, where it will gradually die out, and which, in iny opinion, is the only practical method. To make all slaves free men would be an injury to both races. All Negro children born after a certain date should be declared free, and should be educated the same as the whites to fit them for their positions ; the owners of the parents of such children receiving compensation from Government, which would be fair and equitable to the slaveowner: and no doubt such settlement will be made between the contending sections, when propositions for peace are made. Tho spring campaign is just opening, and before next winter the war. I think, will be closed. The South is bringing her whole force into the contest, and, if beaten, will have to lay down her arms from slu er exhaustion, while the Noith can be beaten half a dozen time's and then be stronger than the South is at the present time.

About six months ago T took a trip to "Wasboe, the great silver country, of which no doubt you have heard much. It is situated just beyond the boundary of California, in Nevada territory (many silver mines heuiu- in Unit Sf:ite\ and distant from Francisco about SMI miles.. Vii μ-inia city (about 4 yo:n> old), contains 2"i,000 inhabitants, a'nd is destined to he a very impuitaut place. Tt is ]!crfcctly astounding to sec the amount of work that has been done in so short a time. The discoveries of silver the past two yonrs (besides copper and gold), extending from British America on'tho Noiih, to Mexico on the South, will make California one of the richest and most powerful States in the T'nion. San Francisco will be the third commercial city in the world, ranking next to London and New York.