Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-06-13
Rscelusssuems OF Mexico.

Gen. wsddy Thompson in his 'Recollections
OF Mexico says
From all the information which ! have re.
ceived--and have been inquistive upon the
subject-l am well satisfied that there is not on
this Continent any country Of the same extent a.
little desirable as Oregon, nor any 10 the world
which combines as many advantages as Califor-
MIA. With the exception Of the valley OF the
Willamette, there is scarcely sny portion Of
Oregon which is inhabtable except for that
most worthless Of all. hunting population
and the valley Of Willamette is Of very small
extent.-ln the South the only port is at the
Columbia river, and that 10 no port at all, as
the loss of ibe Peacock, end others Of our ves-
sells. has proven 10 say nothing ofothcr har.
bors in California. that Of San Francisco is ca.
pscious enough for the navies Of the world, and
its shores are covered with enough timber "a
species Of the live oak) to build those nsvies.
If man were to ssk Of God q climate, he would
ask just such an one as that Of California, if he
had ever been there. There 10 no portion OF
our Western country which produces all the
grains as well have been told by more than
one person on whom entirely relied, that they
had known whole fields to produce "a quan,i-
iy 90 incredible that will not state il. The
whole face Of the country is covered with the
finest oats growing wild; sugar, rice and cot
ton find their own congenisl climate. Besides
all theee. the richest mines Of gold and silver
have been discovered there, and the pearl fshe.
ries have always been sources Of the largest
profits; and more than these, there are the
markets Of India and China with nothing in.
tervening but the calm and stormless Pucfc
Ocean.
The distance from the head Of navigation on
the Arkansas and Red Rivers TO q navigsblc
point of:he waters OF the Gulf of California i,
not more than FIVE or six hundred miles let
that distance be overcome BY 4 Railroad, and
what vista is opened to the prosperity and
power Of our country. have no doubt that
the time will come when New.Orlesns will
be the greatest city in the world. That period
would be intellectually hastencd by the mea-
sures which have indicated, which would
throw into her lap the vast commerce Of China
and India. Great Britain, with that wise and
far-seeing policy for which che 10 more remark.
able than any other Government, has already
the practical possession Of most Of the ports OF
the Pacific Occan-New- Zealand and the
Sandwich Islands, and very soon the Society
Islands also. We have q commerce in that
ocean Of more than fifty millions OF dollars, and
not single place Of refuge for our ships.
will not say what is our policy in regard to
California. Perhaps it is that it remain in the
hands ofa weak power like Mexico, and that
oil the maritime powers may have the advan.
tage Of its ports. But one thing will say, that
will be worth war of.wenty years to pre-.
vent England acquiring it which have the bes,
rea sons for believing she desires to do. ond just
as good reasons for believing that she will not
do if il costs war with this country. II is,
perhaps, too remote from us to become mem.
Der Of the Union. II is yet doubtful whether
the increase Of our territory will have q federal
or a cehtralizing tendency. Iflatter, we have
too much territory; and am by no means sure
that another sister Republic there, with the
same language, liberty and laws. will not, upon
the whole, be the best for US If united in one
Government, the extremities may be 20 remote
as not to receive q proper heat from the cen.
tre-so at least, thought Mr. Jefferson, who wss
inspired on political questions If mortal man ever
was. lam not one Of those who have q yabid
craving for more territory on the contrary,
believe that we have enough. ] know of nc
great people who have been crowded into q
small space-the Egyptians, the Romans, the
Creeks. and another people who have exercis
ed q greater influence upon man and hiS des.
tiny than oil others. the Jews ; and. in our owr
time. the English. want no more territory
for we have already too much. If were te
make an exception to this remark, it would b.
. scquire California. s.-But should grisve Il
see tha, country pess into the hands Of Englant
OF any other Of the great powers.
Whenever the foreigners in California make
the movement oi separation. it must succeed
The department of Sonora. not halt the jis,snc,
from Mexico, has been in state of revolt fo
the last four years, and the Government ha
been unable to suppress it The civil war ther,
has been marked by acts Of horrible atroci,y
which are almost without precedent in an,
country. 1t is true that they do no, eat tn
flesh Of their enemies, but they leave then
hanging on the trees 10 feast the birds Of prey
There 10 scarcely road in the whole depa ?,
men, where such spec'scles are not daily ex