Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-12-14
VOL. V. NO. 50.


ious metals, for the use of the United States or
IL brought into market, to separate them from
the farming lands, and dispose of them in such
manner as to secure large return of money
to the treasury and at the same time lead to the
Development of their wealth by individual pro-
prieors and purchasers. To do this it will be
necessary to provide for an immediate survey
and location of the lots. If Congress should
deem it proper to dispose of the mineral lands,
they should be sold in small quantities, and at
a fixed minimum price.
recommend that surveyor generals offices be
authorized to be established in New Mexico and
California, and provision made for surveying and
bringing the public lands into market at the ear
Hest possible period. In dsposing ofthese lands
recommend that the right of pre-empion be
secured, and liberal grants made to the early EN-.
igrants who have settled, or may settle upon
them
twill be lmportantto extend our revenue laws
over these Territories, and especially over CAL
ifornia, at an early period. There is already
considerable commerce with California and un-
til ports of entry shall be established and collec-
tors appointed, no revenue can be received
If these and other necessary and proper meas
ures be adopted for the development of the
wealth and resources of New Mexico and Cali
fornia, and regular Territorial governments be
established over them, such will probably be the
rapid enlargement of our commerce and naviga-
ton, and such the addition to the national wealth,
that the present generation may live 10 witness
the controlling commercial and monetary power
of the world transferred from London and other
European emporiums to the City of New York.
The apprehenslons which were entertained by
some OF our statesmen, in the earlier periods of
our Government, that our system was incapable
OF operating with sufficient energy and success
over largely extended territorial limits, and that
if this were attempted it would fall to pieces by
its own weakness, have been dissipated by our
experience. By the division of power between
the states and federal government the latter is
found to operate with as much energy in the ex.
tremes as in the center 1t is as efficient in the
remotest Of the thirty states which now compose
the Union, as it was in the thirteen states which
formed the constitution. Indeed it may well be
doubted whether, if our present population had
been confined to the limits of the original thr-
teen states, the tendencies to Capitalization and
consolidation would not have been such as have
encroached upon the essential reserved rights Of
the states, and thus have made the federal gov
eminent widely different one practically from
what it is in theory, and was intended to be by
its trainers. So far from entertaining apprehen.
sons Of the safety of our system by the extern
sion of our territory, the belief is confidently en-
tertained that each new state gives strength and
an additional guaranty for the preservation of the
Union itself.
In pursuance of the provisions of the thirteenth
article Of the treaty of peace, friendship, limits
and settlement with the republic of Mexico, and
of the act of July the 90, 1848, claims of our
citizens which bad been "already liquidated and
decided against the Mexican republic" amount.
ing, with the interest thereon, to two million
twenty three thousand eight hundred and thirty
two dollars and ffty-one cents, have been liqui-
dated and paid. There remains to be paid of
these claims, seventy four thousand one hundred
and nnety-two dollars and twenty six cents.
Congress at its last session having made no
provision for executing the fifteenth article of the
treaty, by which the United States assumed to
make satisfaction for the " unliquidated claims"
of our citizens against Mexico, to an amount not
exceeding three and a quarter millions dollars"
the sub ject is again recommended to your favor
able consideration.
The exchange of notifications of the treaty with
Mexico LUUh PlOoo on the Both of May 1885,
Within one year after that time, the Commissioner
and surveyor which each Government stipulates
to appoint, are required to meet at the port of
San Diego, and proceed to run and mark the said
boundary in its whole course to the mouth of the
Rio Bravo del Norte." 1t will be seen from this
provision, that the period within which COM
missioner and surveyor of the respective govern
ments are to meet at San Diego, will expire on
the Both of May, 1849. Congress, at the close
Of it's last session. made an appropriation for the
expenses of running and marking the boundary
line" between the two countries, but did not fix
the amount of salary which should be paid to the
commissioner and surveyor to be appointed on
the part of the United States. 1t is desirable
that the amount of compensation which they shall
receive should be prescribed by law, and not left,
as at present, to Executive discretion.
Measures were adopted at the earliest practi-
cable period to organize the Territorial govern
ment Of Oregon" as authorized by the act of the
fourteenth Of August last. The governor and mar
shall of the Territory, accompanied with small
military escort, left the frontier Of Missouri in
September last, and took the southern route, by
the way of Santa Re and the river Gila, to Cali
fornia with the intention Of proceeding thence in
one of our vessels of war to their destination
The governor was fully advised of the great inn
portance of his early arrival in the country and
it is confidently believed he may reach Oregon
in the latter part Of the present month, or early
in the next. The other officers for the Territory
have proceeded by sea.
In the month of May last, communicated in
formation to Congress That an Indian war had
broken out in Oregon, and recommended that
autnOrlty De given 10 raise an adequate NUMBER
of volunteers to proceed without delay to the as
sistance of our feow-citizens in that Territory.
The authority to raise such force not having
been granted by congress, as soon as their SER
vices could be dispensed with in Mexico, orders
were issued to the regiment of mounted rifemen
TO proceed to Jefferson Barracks in Missouri,
and to prepare to march to Oregon as soon as the
necessary provision should be made. Shortly
before it was ready to march, it was arrested by
the provision Of the act passed by Congress on
the last day of the last session, which directed
all the non-commissioned officers, musicians and
privates of the regiment, who had been in service
in Mexico, should upon their application, be en-
titled to be discharged. The effect of this pro-
vision was to dlsband the rank and file of the
regiment, and before their places could be filed
by recruits, the season had so far advanced that
it was impracticable for it to proceed until the
opening of the next spring.
In the month of October last, the accompany
| ing communication was received from the gov
ernor of the temporary government Of Oregon
giving information of the continuance of the In
dian disturbances, and the restitution and de.
fenceless condition of the inhabitants. Orders
were Immediately transmitted to the commander
of our squadron in the Pacific, to despatch tc
their assistance part Of tho naval forces on tina
station, to furnish them with arms and ammunition
and to continue to give them such aid and pro-
lection as the navy could afford, until the army
could reach the county.
1t is the policy of humanity; and one which
Ia H. .A.IG 49,