The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-12-22


lance New Orleans itself. The depo, o.
the vas, commerce which mus, exs, on the
Pacific will probably be at some point on
tho bay of San Francisco, and will occupy
the same relation to the whole western
coast of that ocean, as New Odeans does
to tho valley Of The Mississippi and the gull
of Mexico. To this depot our numerous
whale ships will resort with their cargoes
TO trade reiit, and obtain supplies. This
Of itself will largely contribute 10 build ~
a city, which would soon become the cen
ire Of great and rapidly increasing CON
merce. Situated on safe barber, suifi
cienlly capaclous for all the na,ics as vel
as the marine Of the world, and conve.
nicu, 10 the excellent timber for ship bg.ld
ing, owned by tho United States, ii mus,
become our gtea, western naval depot.
|, vas known that lnnes of the precious
metals existed TO a considerable exten, 10
California al the time Of lis acquisition. -
Recen, discoveries render II probable that
these mines are more extensive bnd v1!u.
able than was anticipated. Tic accounts
Of the ABUNDANCE OF gold in tina, Terrific.
~ are Of such a character as would scarce
IS command belief, Hcre they not corrob
GRATED BY the authentic reports Of officers
in the public service, who have visited the
mineral distinct, and derived tie facts which
they detail from personal observation.
Reluctant to credit the reports In general
circulation as TO the quantity Of gold, the
officer commanding our forces in California
visited the mineral district 10 July last. for
the purpose of obtaining accurate informa.
ton on the subject. His report to the War
Department OF the result Of his cxamna.
tion and the facts obtained on the spot, is
herewith lad before Congress. When he
visited the country, there were about four
thousand persons engaged ~ collecting
gold. There is every reason to believe
that tho number Of persons 50 employed has
since been augmented. The explorations
already made warrant tho belief tia, the
supply IS very large, aud tina, gold is found
a, various places ia al extensive district Of
country.
Information received from officers OF the
navy and other sources, though no, so full
aud minute, confirm the accounts Of the
commander Of our military force IN Calfor.
MA. II appears, also, from these reports,
that mines Of quicksilver are found IN The
vicinity Of the gold region. One of them
IS now being worked and is believed to be
among the most productive IN the world.
The effects produced by the discovery oil
these rich mineral deposltes, and the sue
cess which has attended the labors Of those
who have resorted TO them, have produced
a surprising change in the state Of atilirs IN
California. Labor commands most eyor.
bl,an, price, and all other pursuits bat that
Of searching cor the precious metals are q.
bandoned. Nearly the shole oil the maia
population of tho country have gone TO the
gold district. Ships arriving on the coast
are deserted by their crew, and their yny.
ages suspended Tor want Of sailors. Oar
commanding officer there enlortaIns appTc.
tensions thu, soldiers cannot be kept 10 the
public service without a large increase OF
pay. Dcscrtons IN his command have be.
como frequent, aud he recommends that
those who shall withstand the strong temp.
ta,ion, and remain faithful, should DO re-.
wardcd.
This abundance Of gold, and the allen.
crossing pursuits Of il, have already caused
in California an Unprecedented rise 10 the
price Gt the necessaries OF life.
Tha, VIC NAV the more speedily and lul.
" avail ourselves Of the undeveloped wealth
Of these mines, II 10 dremed Of vast i'm.
poriancc that a branch OF the mint Of the
United States be authorized TO be establish.
ed, at your p,escn, session, IN California.
Among other signal advantages which would
result from such 40 establishment would be
that OF raising the gold TO its par value in
that Territory. A branch min, Of tho
United States al the great commercial depo,
on the west coast, would convert into our
own CON 10, only the gold derived from our
own rich mines, but also the bullion and
specie which our commerce may bring
from the whole vest coast OF Central and
South America. The vest coast OF Amer.
lea and the adjacent, Interior embrOce the
richest and best mines OF Mexico, Now
Grenada, Central America, ChIh, and Peru.
The bullion and specie drawn from these
countries, and especially from those OF
Western Mexico and Peru, TO an amount
in value Of many millions G! dollars, are
now annually diverted and carried by the
ships Of GreaI Britain TO her own ports, 10
he rccolned or used to sustain her National
Bank, and thus contribute to increase her
ability to command so much of the com.
merce Of tho world. Ii branch min, be
es,a oished at the great com nerclal point
upon that coast, q vast amount OF bullion
and specie would flow thther to be recolned
and pass thence to New Orleans, y. York,
and other Atlantic cities. The amour, Of
our constitutional currency ut home would
be greatly increased whllo It's circulation
abroad would be promoted. IL is vel
known to our merchants trading TO China
and the ives, coas, of America, that grea,
Inconvenience and loss are experienced frou
the fac, that our coins arc not current a
their par value IN those countries.
The Powers Of Europe, far removed from
the vest coast of America by the Atlantic
ocean which lntervenes and by tedlou.
- t,op Il ti,,