The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-08

whole country consisted OF nothing bnt ponds ana marsh
with pyramids OF agaors sufficient IN numbers 10
enclose the whole country In reference TO Oregon,
commended that the country without value,
when II is now conceded that portion OF 1t IS the most
beautiful and fertile country upon the glooe Ihese ar
guments against the value OF new territory, and MS
acquisition, may satisfy the block gentry who Inhao
your large cities, but they will never be received as
sound truthful by the sturdy pioneers and their de-
scendanls IN the great west whose indomtable energy
and industry have reclaimed the once savage wids OF
that lovely region from the bowling beasts and
scaping knife and planted upon its rockies cliffs OF
the proudest cities in the world where the deep revenge
OF the savage has yielded TO the peaceful pursuits OF
civilization, and the sweet music OF the church-b Is
substituted for the Indian war-song Our western peo
pie have subdued all opposition TO their grand and tn
umphant march to greatness They still flow on to the
lar west, as one wave follows another upon the grea
deep, until even now they have planted the standard OF
liberty upon the distant shores OF California There, ag
rcuural perfection has already caused the marshes and
the to blossom like the rose, furnishing annu
ally surplus production OF the stall OF life. almost sufh
Gent to supply the wants OF the whole civilized world
number OF years ago. as now recolec commis
soners appointed in Kentucky to- examine and re-
port the value OF the country south OF Green rver the
greater portion OF whlcris of the richest love-
lest, and most beautiful in the world and believe they
reported that the whole country hardly worth the
cost OF survey refer to this only for the purpose OF
illustrating that men OF correct intentions may well be-
and often mistaken to the value and resources OF
new country 1t is not the value or quantity OF the
public lands in acquired country that give 1t Its conse
quence and Importance, as IS contender by some II
the extension OF jurisdiction and sovereignty the power
to collect revenue, and call out the inhabitants within It's
limits, in time of danger, to defend the honor and glory OF
the Unon that make object OF the very first import
any, public domain in the State of Louisiana belonging
to the government Still, her citizens pay annually into
the treasury of the United States millions of dollars OF
revenue. Are Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and
Louisiana worth nothing TO the Union now, because
there is but little public domain within their limits
Why, sir hundreds OF millions of dollars could not pur
chase these proud States be stricken from this coned
eracy Yet the federal government only has urisdic
ton and sovereignty over them No, fellow citizens,
h,tu fha hrl md
those and their sister States who the darkest hour OF
deadly conflict bore aloit the standard of their country
the stars and stripes amid the storms OF battle IN our
character for this nation and themselves durable
than brass-more precious than gold.
But is this last charge, that New Mexico and CaoI
MIA is worth dollar, true! maintain that it is not
and propose investigate it for moment In the first
place. admitted by all that the country embraced in
an area of between five and eight hundred thousand
square miles, situated between two degrees OF latitude
furnishing mid and pleasant climate, adapted to the
culture OF all the most valuable productions of the hus
bandman, with but very sparse population; indeed,
great portion of it is without population at all France
has of hundred and ninety thousand square
miles, with population OF thirty millions. Kentucky
has area OF about fortytwo thousand square miles
Then New Mexico and California, which we have ac-
CURED By this treaty, will make from twelve to eighteen
States large Kentucky, and Gil France be taken as
criterion by which esllmate) susceptible OF sustaining
population OF one hundred and twenty millions, or five
times as many souls as are now IN the United States OF
America Is this territory competent to the support OF
heavy population refer the country to the remarks OF
the from Delaware delivered in the United States
OF the select committee upon the subject OF territorial
governments in Oregon, California, and New Mexico:
"Mr Clayton said the subjects resrred to this commit
temporary civl governments to be organized EN-
baced of 492 square miiesabout as large
that of all Europe and capable of sustaining,
sooner or liter the population of mighty empire The
nsc difficulties necessarily belonging TO such an organl-
cation increased by the and cha of the
population existing there well OF that hereafter
10 be Introduced by the extension q" the cons uion ana
laws OF the United States over so vast a country
| have other wing authority upon this point, which
desire to present for the consideration OF the country
elf the testimony OF the Hon. Waddy Thompson, OF
South Carolina, munster Mexico not long since is to be
relied California is the most vauable country on the
globe After Mr. Thonpson's return from Mexico he
wrote book, entitled Recoections of Mexico He is
whig opposes the He stands Mr. Clay's Lex
ngton patiormhe asks territorial indemnity. In his
try in the world equal to California, or which combines so
many advantages Let us quote few paragraphs from
this book
"o nothing of other habors in California that of San Fran
enough for the navies of the world and its shores
are covered with enough timber species Of the veoa to build
such that OF California he had been there
grains we'll been BY more than on whom
so Incredible that will not state it. The whole lsce Of the
sD Ssr w their ns
these the richest mines Of gold and silver have been discovered
profits and than these there the markets Of India
|
haps is remain the power Mexico
and that all the maritime have the advantage of its
England acquiring which have the
believing she desires do and good
believing she will if with this
for territory; the believe that have
people who not been crowded into small
greater influence and his destiny
than all ohershe Jews and in own time, the English
"1 want territory for have already too much If
make this remark would be to
California should geve that country into the hands
of England, any other of the great powers
Though Mr. Thompson tells that it worth twenty
years prevent England from getting California, yet
he has taken his position the Lexington platform of
more territory and no ndemntyand that too when il is
well known that England would have owned California
ere this had it not been for the war"
There is but one material point in all this in which Mr.
Thompson is fault His view of the proprety of press
ing heavy population in small circle is, my judg
ment erroneous The we have, the larger
we grow, and the more healthy and stout are. Why,
| in my beloved State-yea, district and county
had the honor of being of company of Is men
who volunteered to their country the Mexican
and of that number, there between and 100
stout, strong, chvalrous young men, weighing from 1860
TO 220 pounds and over six feet high This is but fair
specimen OF our Kentucky warriors, and these the
effects Of country which affords free circulation But
few days since, fellow citizens, received letter from
a distinguished citizen of Loulsiana--a gentleman of
high reputation and scientific attainments-one whose
opportunities have for time past been the very best
to enable him TO speak undersandngy upon the subjects
to which his letter refers. will read this letter, as the
value of these Territories subject of great Importance
to the whole people OF the nation. Here it is:
The geological wealth of the territory Obtained by the
United States in her treaty with Mexico is unknown
vey having been made by scientific geoogist That