The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-04
POLITICAL.

day last. We are glad TO see this American spirit
in portion Of the wing press Whatever differ
ences of opinion we may have among ourselves,
England may rest assured that, in all questions
which concern encroachments by European powers
on the North American continent, we are a united
people.
From the New York Courier and Enquirer
The EScLIsH IN CALlYoRNIA.-- That portion of
the Pacific coast known as California is at present
attracting an unusual share Of the attention OF the
governments and people of this country, Great
Britain, and France. Il is regarded by them all as
in itself one of the richest and most beautiful re-
gions Of the EARTH and as des'inea by Its situation
its harbors, and its proximity to Asia, to influence,
at no distant day, the commercial and political af
fairs of the world. We have published, from time
10 time, from the leading English and French papers,
able and important speculatons upon this subject;
and special attention has been excited by the pas
sagcs we have given from the Mexican correspond
ence Of the London Times, 10 which the possession
Of California by the British is held TO be indispensa-
BILE to check the progress in wealth and power of
the United States, which is beginning to excite the
jealousy and alarm of the leading nations of Eu-
rope That writer has repeatedly intelgently and
most zealously urged upon the British government
the necessity Of at once acquiring California by pur
chase from matchmaking that thus and thus
ly, can the American republic be cut of from the
west Pacific coast and shut out from most advan-
tsgeous access to the trade of Asia Substantially
the same view is urged in the leading and official pa
pers of Paris.
In this state of things, the character, condition,
and general relations OF California, become to us
objects of the deepest interest Il has been generally
understood that certain portions of the territory
have been mortgaged to parties in England, by
whom money has, at various times, been loaned to
Mexico; and that there is disposition on the
part of the British government, by means Of this
mortgage, to acquire possession and dominion of
the whole country. 0fcourse, no Just argument in
favor of such possession be drawn from the
existence of such mortgage, as the mortgage will
be equally binding, and acquire additional value and
validity, should California become part and parcel
of the United States. In that case, the debt will lie
guaranteed by the American governments and if the
soicitude Of the British government extends solely
to the security Of these debts, will abandon its de-
signs (if such have been entcrtained) of acquiring
dominion there, and allow California to assume
clear however, that jealousy Of the United States,
disposition TO check their progress, and to re-
tard their growth in power and sway, is at the root
of this proposition to make California province or
dependent section of the British possessions. Such
a contamination would be 10 the United States
most serious and important event-one which
would greatly influence our relations with all the
world, and cut us off forever from easy and indie
pendent access to the boundess wealth of Asiatic
commerce consequence to which the United
States can never submit. We lay it down as an
axiom-to be enforced by war, il necessary---that
when Mexico ceases to own California it must con-
stitute an integral part of the American Union
Accurate and reliable information upon the sub
ject becomes, therefore, of the utmost public
importance; and we are gratied 70 be able to pub
lish the following letter from Mr.. Gushing, which
was written in answer to the inquiries Of friend:
NEwBURYPoRT, Gath October, l845.
DEAR SiR: ! have before me sundry documents,
the interest of the British holders Of Mexican bonds
in the territory OF California.
|. By decree Of the President ad interim of the
Mexican republic, issued April 12th 1887, under
the authority Of an act Of Congress Of the 4h of the
same month, 1t is declared
may, if the public creditors see it, be consolidated
through the agency Of Messrs. Lizard & Co., and
of the Mexican minister in London.
2. That the existing bonds may be exchanged,
one half for new bonds Of such consolidated fund.-
''and the other half in land warrants on the vacant
Sonora, and California, at the rate Of four acres for
,each pound sterling" r.G
Z. That s.for further security in the payment of
the principal and interest Of the national consolidated
fund, the Mexican government specially hypothe-
Gates, in the name of the nation, one hundred mil
the departments Of California, Chihuahua, New
Mexico, Sonora, and Texas, with special guarantee
to said consolidated fund until the total extinction
Of the bonds"
10. That foreigners, who, in virtue of their land
warrants, shall come to establish themselves on their
properties, shall acquire from that date the title Of
cooniss, and shall participate they and their fami-
lies, in all the privileges which the laws grant, or
may grant, to any Others of the same origin, and
under the same conditions"
Other articles Of this decree, namely, the 3d. 4th,
5h 9th, 9th, and 9th regulate various questions Of
He IL
rants.
ii. On the 14th Of September, 1887, in pursuance
of previous meeting of the holders of Mexican
bonds, il was agreed, between them and the agents
of the Mexican government to accept the offer of the
latter, with twelve notifications proposed, of which
the most material to the present purpose are the fol-
lowing, namely:
2. That, (among other things instead Of at once
converting half Of the old bonds into land
rants, for that half shall he issued deferred bonds
(which deferred bonds shall be at all times receiva-
bic in payment Of vacant lands in the departments
of Texas, chihuahua, New Mexico, and California,
at the choice Of the purchaser at the rate Of four
acres for each pound sterling"
4. That the deferred bonds shall contain clause
STIMULATING that 'the Mexican government when
thereto required shall grant the bearer of the said
bond full right Of property and complete possession
in the number Of acres Of land corresponding to the
amount of said bond, with the accruing interest
thereon, at the rate Of four acres Of land for each
pound sterling; Of which full and complete posses
sion shall he given by the competent authorities on
the presentation of said deferred bond"
7. That Che Mexican government, in addition to
the general hypothecation Of 100 900 900 of acres
contained in the It'll article Of the decree, "shall
specially set apart twenty-five millions Of
acres of government lands in the departments hnv-
ing the nearest communication with the Atlantic,
and which may appear best suited for colonization
from abroad; the said lands to be specifically and
exclusively held open for the location Of deferred
bonds"
IA. That bonds Of the first class may run until
the year 1866, and those Of the second class until
the year 1876
The other articles are not particularly important
TO the subject ofinquiry.
Ill. On the lst Of June, 1889, an act was passed
by the Mexican Congress, which
!. Approves the above agreement made with the
holders Of Mexican bonds on the l4th September
1887;
2, Grants one year for the proposed conversion
of the foreign debt;
4. Requires the executive TO take heed that .'no