The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-10-25
MEXlCO-CALIFORNiA.

AohoOh iiuo WltttOh q iOie iCt
terupon the relations Of the Unitet
States and Mexico. The British gov
ernment and people are evidently ap
prehensive that the result of our con
troversy with Mexico will be to place
California under our control. They
dread also the advantage this will give
the United States in their commercial
intercourse with the East Indies
The declared policy of England has
been to dissuade Mexico from wal
with the United States, but if the pos.
session of California be our object. it is
nov in timaled that the interference Of
some European power may be neces.
sary TO stay our progress! And should
any European power interfere with
our controversy with Mexico, or any
other power on this continent, the only
effect will be more firmly to determine
our purpose, and render more certain
its attainment. We quote from the
letter what folio ws:
s.Can the United States be allowed
10 send in settlers to the unoccupled
lands of their neighbors, and then take
possession of the department by the
votes of those settlers? And what
chance has Upper California, which, In
my opinion. is vital point for BIRTHS
interest, when there are already 1900
American settlers on the banks Of the
river Sacramento, discharglng itself
into the bay of San Francisco, the fin
est port in the world, who may next
year vote in favor of annexation!
The plans of the United States are
most insidious; bv demanding the Rio
Bravo as the Texan frontier, instead OF
the old limit of the Nueces, they cut
immense slices from the four depart
ments Of Mexico. They get the op-
posite bank of the river to Metamoras,
the Mexican port of the north, as it is
called; they take in one half Of Tamau-
lipas, the department on the Gulf. a
good share of Coahulia, good portion
Of chihuahua, and nearly the whole of
new Mexico, with the capital, Santa
Fe. The territory thus LAID hold Of is
larger than Texas, and the northern
part of it, Santa Fe, is most important,
as already through it all the contra
band of the United States is introduced;
so much SO that the supply Of the
whole north of Mexico is in the hands
of American smugglers. From all
these points excursions are not diff
cult into neighboring Mexican depart
ments, and these States, languishing
under central government, without
physical or moral force, will one by
one submit to American influence, un-
til the mining districts are LAID hold of,
and the secret object of Yankee policy
be finally obtained. This result is evi-
dent; as Russian encroachmen on the
Turkish empire; to those who are on
the spot and have an interest in study
ing the question; but fear it will not
be deemed equally clear by those in
Europe who have so omany other points
pressing on their attention. Let me,
therefore, call your notice to the coast |
of the Pacific, and to those maritime
stations whence, if Mexico can rival
England in manufactures suited to the
Chinese market, she can send supplies
four weeks sooner than we can by the
most expeditions convey ance. al
lude more particular to Upper Califor-
MIA AMI to the Bay of San Francisco;
as the soil Of the former is fertile be-
yond expression, the climate excellent,
and the harbor Of the latter is capable
Of containing all the fleets of all the
nations in the world. This province
is much discontented with the central
government. 1t has been more than
once in open revolt, and so powerIess
is the government, that an expedition
of 1000 men destined to secure it from
United States aggression, though pre-
pared several months back, is unable
10 move for want Of money to buy the
soldiers rations.
The Americans are assiduously get
ing possession of that territory; they
llready command the banks of the
eading river, the Sacramento; they are
'uying titles from the hungry govern
'rs. and as | said before, they have
800 settlers in district where only t
40 British subjects are to be found. a
Mexico YES 100000 dollars of un- I
'eitled claims, besides 100000 of ad- +
nitted claims, 10 the United States;
md it is just possible that the enlarged n
rexan frontier of Upper California Il
night be taken in payment of these a
claims, il a sum of money be not nd. ,
led sufficient to relieve the govern t
nent of its embarrassments. As the e
United States have shown us the ex- E