Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-05-17
CESSION OF CALIFORNIA.

Should the news Of the purchase Of this
peninsula by Great Britain prove correct
some light may be thrown upon the pacific
tone which that country has assumed in
bringing TO a final settlement the matters in
dispute between her and ourselves. We
think there is rea son TO doubt the dsinter-
estedness of the motives which appear to
influence her on the enc hand, while on the
other she is endeavoring to get possession
of an extent OF territory, in our immediate
reghborhood, nearly if not quite equal 10
the whole twentysix states The policy of
England has ahcdys been 10 obtain a shoe
o'right. Let but the shadow Of her cam
vass shade the soil which it is her interest TO
possess, and means whereon to hang quar-
rel will not be wanting. and then her motto,
might makes right" decides the matter.
Will this country suffer her to become the
implied purchaser Of California? Has Santa
Anna the right OF dispose Of so much Of
Mexican territory? Would England per-
NIT it, were our situations is this particular
reversed? We think there need be no
doubt as it regards her answer to the latter
question.
Look at her conduct towards China. To
be sure there is a vast difference between
China and the United States-betwecn
Chinese Junk and an Anne rican man Of war
between Chinese hclplessness and Anne
rican patriotism and iirmness--but villa. Of
that? We love her best at a distance. She
is called the mother countryside is wei
come to the name, but we are old enough TO
take care Of ourselves. Whether we pos
sess the discretion which should accompany
our years, remains TO be seen.
The New Orleans Bulletin deems :he
rumor not improbable. Great Britain is
ever hankcring after new acquisitions, and
the Mexican possessions on the Gulf of Ca
lilornia and the adjacent coasts present,
certainly. very strong temptations TO the
covetous and ambitious. The country is
represented to be the finest in North Ane-
RIGA having fertile soil and salubrious eli
mate. The Pacific shore is iEdentcd with
manv bays and scaports, some Of which
furnish the best anchorage in the world.
To Englishmcn this feature Of the country
makes it particularly desirable. The ter
ri'ory extends through many degrees Of
latitude having n scacoast Of thousand
miles, counting both shores Of the PENN
sua, and running far into the interior,
where the boundaries have never been ac-
curately defined. The area OF the two
CALIFORNIA; must be fully equal in extent TO
the twen,y-sx States Of our Union.
Here is room for large kingdom, which
would soon grow to be flourishing and pop
uous if it were in the hands Of the English
or the Americans. In the hands Of the
Mexicans, it will ever remain stationary,
or relapse into the state Of nature. AT the
presen, time, the region can be Of little or
no value to Mexico. 1t is very remote from
the seat Of Government, and being thinlv
inhabited, by people poor, indolent, and
destitute Of enterprise. can yield little or no
revenue. to compensate the expense Of
keeping up form of civil and military or
ganizaton. Another motive doubtless
induces the Mexican authorities TO par,
with the domain is, the conviction, every
day growing stronger, than they cannot
hold possession much longer. The Anne
rican settlements on the Oregon, and the
Texans on the Rio Grande, will ere long
be making encroachments, and between
them must swallow up the whole region
stretching across from the Del Noric TO the
Pacific Ocean. Under the circumstances,
it is not to be wondered at if an arrange
ment Of the kind, has been concluded be-
tween Mexico and England.
American Sentinel