The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-21

tablish the Mexican authority there, though an ex-
pedition with this object was said TO be fitting out
at Acapulco. Preparations were making by the
Californians to give it proper reception. But we
will not anticipate the contents of the letter.
Correspondence Of the Journal OF Commerce.
CALIFORNIA, July, ls45
BY almost every newspaper from the United States,
and many from England, we find extracts and sur
misses respecting the sale OF this country One
month, England is the purchaser; the next month,
the United States. In the mean time, the progress
Of California is onward and would still be more so,
il Mexico would not send every few years band of
thieving soldiers.
Should the supreme government allow the Cali
fornians to rule their own country, they would have
peace and prosperity. General Don Jose Castro, a
native of Monterey, is now at the head of govern
ment as commandment general; Don Pho Pico, as
governor. Mexico promised General Michetorena
eight thousand dollars per month from the custom
house of Mazatlan and all the duties entering the
custom-house of California, to support his troops.
General Castro has sent Seor Castanares to Mexi-
co, as commissioner, giving his reasons why he
drove all Mexican officers and soldiers out Of the
country puts himself at the disposition of President
Herrera, and asks for only three thousand dollars
per month from Mazatlan; promising with this
sum, and the Of the custom-house of Mon
terey that he will maintain peace and order through
out California; and objects to any civil or military
| officers from Mexico This, Castro can perform;
though Herrera will not put faith in it.
| We have now news that Mexico is fitting out an
| expedition of troops in Acapulco for California
the expenses to be paid by two or three English
houses in Mexico, who, it is said, are responsible
for the pay for eighteen months. Last December,
when General Micheltorena met in the field by
| the Caifornans, about halfway between Monterey
and the Yerba Buena, (San Francisco,) he agreed
to treaty with the natives, obligatng himself to
send out of California, within ninety days. all his
..- Cal Al, h
draw his forces to mission whose resources were
placed at his disposal the field. At the signing
Of the treaty, the Californian agent of the Hudson
Bay Company and his clerk were present. This
gentleman resides at the Yerba Buena, where the
company own land and buildings, selling goods and
purchasing furs and hides. Their last shipment
was in April.
Within month after the signing Of the treaty,
the Californians found that General Micheltorena
had sent his chief officer to Mazatlan for more sol
defs, and made no preparation to ship the soldiers
who were with him. They therefore again col
lected, and on February 23d, after fighting with
non, General Micheltorena capitulated, and sent
with all his forces to San Bias, where most of his
men ran away from him.
The business of the Hudson Bay Company is
now under the charge of the English vice consul for
California, who has brought bill against the new
government Of California for powder, lead, and
ances, supplied by the late agent to the natives last
October and November, when they rose against the
supreme government of Mexico. General Castro
has promised payment for the amount demanded. .
The British government have appointed one of
their subjects, who formerly resided in New York,
(where he owns property vice consul of Califor-
mia. The salary is SMALL but as he can live on his
rancho, (farnl) he has no expenses in entertaining
company, &c. The French consul lives in Monte
rey, with a salary of over four thousand dollars
yearly. There is not one English or French vessel
doing business on this coast nor has there been for
These consula fherefore have nothinp IN
do, apparently. Why they are N service, their gov
eminent best knows; and Uncle Sam tpiH know, to
his cost.
Almost the whole foreign trade of California is in
the hands of Americans. There are now seven Bos-
ton ships and barques here The American consul
has jurisdiction Of one thousand miles Of seacoast,
while the nature of the trade such, that he has
barely any fees. Government allows no salary.
The fees Of the consulate are under two hundred
dollars the year, the stationery bill about the same,
which is not allowed by the Department Of State.
There are many owners of large tracts of land in
California who hold them under the idea of the
country changing owners having no present use for
them, as the Indians, tame and wild, steal several
thousand head of horses yearly from the ranches.
Most of these horses are stolen for food. The In
dians cut up the meat in strips, and dry it in the
sun. While this continues grazing of cattle cannot
be probably conducted. There is no expectation
that the government will find remedy. Nothing
but the fear the Indians have of the American set
tiers, will prevent it. They steal but d few horses
from foreigners there is too much danger of being
followed. Mexico may fret and threaten as much
as she peases, but all here in California, governors
and generals, give California land to all who apply
for it and from the nature Of things, they will con-
tnue to do SO.
Foreigners arriving here expect to live and die in
the country Mexican officers to remain two or
three years, and then to be shipped off by force,
less they choose to marry natives, and become Cali
fornians, body and soul. The ports of California,
with the exception Of Mazatlan are the only Mexi-
can Pacific ports that flourish. All others are fall
ing, and falling fast. Here there is much advance
in everything and the country presents each year
holder front TO the world. 1t must change owners
II is of no use to Mexico, but an eye-sore shame
and bone of contention. Here are many fine ports;
the land produces wheat even to one hundred fold;
cotton and hemp will grow here, and every kind Of
fruit there is in New England; grapes in abundance
Of the first quality; wine of many kinds is made, yet
there is no facility of making Much of will pass
for Port The rivers are full of fish, the woods Of
game. Bears, seal, and whales, can be seen from
one view. The latter are often in the way of the
boats the beach. Finally, there is the bay Of
San Francisco, with its branches. This bay will
hold all the ships in the United States. The en-
trance is very narrow, between two mountains, eas-
ly defended, and perhaps the most magnificent har-
Dor in the world; and apparently of az much use to
the civilized world as if it did not exist. Some day
or other this will belong to naval power. This
every native is prepared for. When Captain Arm
strong called on the governor "a natve) to give
back the country, in the name of Commodore Jones,
Seor Micheltorena and officers were expected here
in month, TO take the command. The governorsaid
he preferred Commodore Jones should retain the
command, rather than General Micheltorena.
Words cannot express the advantage and impor-
lance Of San Francisco TO navsi power. There
are FIVE hundred to one thousand American whalers,
with twenty thousand American seamen in the Pa
cifc; half Of them will be within twenty days. sail
of San Francisco. While the port belongs to Mex
leo, il is safe place for whale ships In a war
with England, France, or Russia, should one Of
these nations own the port and at some future day
declare war against the United States, what will be
the RESULT San Francisco must be obtained, or the
Oregon and California must become nation within
themselves. Time is continually bringing this into
notice; and one of the two must soon be CONSUME
mated. 1.-THE Oregon dispute continues, let Eng
land take eight degrees north Of the Columbia and
leo, and exchange.