The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-06
TWO CENTS.

Of his examinati and the facts obtained on the
spot Is herewith laid before Congress When he vsi
ted the country, there about thousand per
engaged in collecting gold There Is every res
to believe that the number Of persons employed
made wsrrant the belief that the supply very large
and that gold s found at various places in extern
information received from officers of the navy and
other Sources though not SO full and minute, conhrm
the accounts Of the commander Of our military force
mines of quicksilver found In the Vicinity Of the
gold region One Of them Is now being worked. and Is
pessed 20 De among the most productive IN the World
mineral deposites and the success which has attended
the abors Of those who have resorted to them have
produced surprising change In the state OF affairs In
California Labor commands most exorb,tant price.
and all other pursuits but that Of searching for the
precious metals are abandoned Nearly the whole Of
the male population of the country have gone to the
gold district Ships arriving the coast are deserted
by their crews and their wages suspended for want
OF sailors Our commanding officer there enter tains
appre ensi0ns that soldiers cannot be kept in the
public service without large increase Of pay Dsser
nds that those shall withstand the strong
tempt alton, and remain faithful should be warded
This abundance Of gold, and the al-engrossing pur-
suit oft, have already caused In California unpre-
cedented rise in the price of the necessaries Of life
That may the more speedily and fully avail our
selves of the undeveoped wealth of these mines 1t is
deemed Of vast Importance that branch OF the mint
of the United States be authorized to be established,
at your present session, in California Among other
signal advantages which would result from such
esablishme mt would be that Of raising the gold to ts
par value in that territory. branch mint Of the
United States at the great commercial depot the
wet coast would convert into our own coin not only
the gold derived fiom own rich mines but also the
the whole west coast of Central and South America
The west coast of America and the adjacent interior
embrace the richest and best mines Of Mexico, New
lion and specie drawn from these countries, and es-
pecaly from those of Western Mexico and Peru to
amount in value Of many millions of dollars,
annually diverted and carried by the ships of Great
Britain to her ports to be reconed or used to
tain her national bank and thus contribute to increase
her ability to command much of the commerce Of
the world. II branch mint be established at the
great commercial point upon that coast vast amount
Of bullion and specie would flow thther to be recoined
and pass thence to New Orleans New York and other
Atlantic cities. The amount Of our constitutional
currency at home would be greatly increase while It's
circulation would be promoted II is we'll known
to merchants trading to China and the west coast
perenced from the fact that coins not current
at their per value in those countries.
The powers Of Europe. far removed from the west
coast Of America by the Atlantic ocean which inter
venes, and by tedious and dangerous navigation
around the southern cape the continent of America
successfully compete with the United States
in the rich and extensive commerce which is opened
to us at much less cost by the acquisition Of Cali
fornia.
The vast Importance aud commercial advantages OF
California have heretofore remained undeveloped by
the Of the country Of which 1t constituted
a part Now that this fine province Is part Of our
country, all the States of the Union some more imme-
daely and directly than Others deeply interested
in the speedy deveepement fits wealth and
No section Of country is interested, will
be more benefited, than the commercial, navigating,
and manufacturing interests Of the eastern States
Our planting and farming interests IN every parlof
commerce and navigation are enlarged and extended,
exports Of agricultural products and Of manufao
opened, they cannot fail to command remunerating
and profitable prices.
settlement of the Oregon boundary, and the
on Of Texas extending to the Rio Grande, results
which combined are Of greater consequence and win
add more to the strength and wealth Of the nation
than any which have preceded them since the adop-
ton Of the Constitution.
But to effect these great results not only California
but New Mexico must be brought under the control OF
regularly organized governments. The existing
dillon Of California snd Of that part Of New Mexico
Of Texas mperiousy dema nd that Congress should
its present session, organize territorial
Upon the exchange of ratifcations Of the treaty
of peace with Mexico the thrtieth Of May last,
the temporary governmeuts which had been estab-
lsbed over New Mexico and California by our military
and naval commanders by virtue Of the rights Of
cessed to derive any obligatory force from that
Of to es
,hem under the authority Of Mexico had ceased to
'xst. Impressed with the necessity Of establishing
territorial govern them, recommended tho
subject the favorable Of Congress In my
message communicating the ratification Of peace, ON
,eseon. Congress adjourned without making any pro-
yison for their government The Inhabitants by the
transfer their country, mad become entitled 60
benefits Of our laws and constitution, and yet were
left without regularly organised government Since
that time the very limited power possessed by the Ex-
has been exercised to preserve and them
from the inevitable of state of anarchy
The only government which remained was that estab-
ished by the military authority during the Re-
.ardips this to be de feto government and that by
he presumed consent of the Inhabitants It might be
continued temporarily they were advised to conform
Ind submit to 1t for the short period before
Congress would again assemble and could legislate
he subject The views entertained by the Executive
IN this point contained in q communication Of
The Secretary of State dated the seventh of October
AIT, which forwarded for publication to California
md New Mexico, cepy Of which Is herewith trans
nitted.
The small military force Of the regular army, which
serving within the limits Of the acquired terrific
riss at the close Of the retained In them, and
additional forces have been ordered there for the
lection of the Inhabitants and to preserve and secure
the rights and interests Of the United States
No revenue has been or could be- collected at the
ports in California because Congress failed to sutho-
rize the establishment. Of custom houses, or the ap-
pointment Of officers for that purpose.
The Secretary of the Treasury, by circular letter
sddreesed collectors Of the customs the seventh
lay of October last copy OF which IL herewith trans
nitted exercised all the power with which he was In
rested by law.
In pursuance OF the act Of the fourteenth Of Au-
rust last, extending the benefit Of post office laws
o the people Of California the Postmaster General has
,ppe nted agents. who have proceeded the one to
California and the other to Greg on with authority to
the necessary arrangements for carrying its pro-
visions into effect
The monthly lire of mail steamers from Panama to
Astoria has been required TO stop ana ueiNor suu
AXE mails at San Diego, Monterey. and San Fran
siscon There mail steamers, connected by the
shmus of Panama with the line Of mail steamers on
The Atlantic between Few York and Chagres, will es
tablish q regular mail communication with Cali
Tornia.
IL is our solemn duty provide, with the least prac
able delay for New Mexico and California, regular
y organized territorial governments The causes Of
he failure do this at the last session of Congress
IRE well known, and deeply to be regretted With the
prospects Of prosperity and national
greatness which the acquisition OF there rich ana
sive territorial posesions afford how irrational t
would be to forego to reject these advantages BY
he agitation Of domestic question which is coevs,
With the existence OF government iteeIf. ana
10 endsneer by Internal strfss, geographical divi
lions, and heated contests for political power or
for sny other cause the harmony of the glorious
Union of our confedeIated States tsas Union
which binds us together as one people sna wn,cL Ios
sixty Years las beer shield and protecon