They were brave else they had never taken the journey through unknown deserts, and through lands where wild Indians had their homes.

They were just and true to friends, and to real enemies, terribly bitter and uncompromising.

Money was borrowed and loaned without a note or written obligation, and there was no mention made of statute laws as a rule of action.

When a real murderer or horsethief was caught no lawyers were needed nor employed, but if the community was satisfied as to the guilt and identity of the prisoner, the punishment was speedily meted out, and the nearest tree was soon ornamented with his swinging carcass.
Many of these worthy men broke the trail on the rough way that led to the Pacific Coast, drove away all dangers, and made it safer for those who dared not at first risk life and fortune in the journey, but, encouraged by the success of the earliest pioneers, ventured later on the eventful trip to the new gold fields.

I cannot praise these noble men too much; they deserve all I can say, and much more, too; and if a word I can say shall teach our new citizens to regard with reverent respect the early pioneers who laid the foundations of the glory, prosperity and beauty of the California of to-day, I shall have done all I hope to, and the historian of another half century may do them justice, and give to them their full need of praise.
As long as I have lived in California I have never carried a weapon of defense, and never could see much danger.