The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-12-12
,odes suggested, in some other which may be

4
satisfactory. \
In anticipation of the establishment OF reg
ular governments over the acquired territo>
ries. Joint commission of officers of the army
and navy, has been ordered to proceed to the
coast of California and Oregon, for the pur-
pose of making reconnoisances and report as
to the proper sites for the erection Of fortiica-
tons or other defensive works OH land, and OF
suitable situations for naval stations. The In
formation which may, be expected from SCI,
enti6c and skilful examination OF the whole
face of the coast will be eminently useful to
Congress, when they come to consider the pro-
priety of making appropriations for these great
national objects.
Proper defences on land will be necessary
for the security and protection Of our posses
sions; and the establishment of navy-yards
and dock for the repair and construction OF
vessels, will be important alike to our navy
and commercial marine. Without such es-
Establishments, every vessel, whether of the ma
Wy or of the merchant service, requiring re-
pair, must, at great expense, come round Cape
Horn to one Of our Atlantic yards for that
purpose. With such establishments, vessels,
It is believed, may be built or repaired as
cheaply in California as upon the Atlantic
coast. They would give employment to ma
ny of our enterprising ship builders and me-
chanics, and greatly facilitate and enlarge our
commerce in the Pacific.
As it is ascertained that mines Of gold, sill
yer, copper and quicksilver exist in New Mex
leo and California and that nearly all the
lands where they are found belong to the u
nited States, it is deemed important to the pub
lie interests that provision be made for geo.
logical and meteorological examination of these
regions. Measures should be adopted to pre-
serve the mineral lands, especially such as con-
tain the precious metals, for the use of the u
nited States or if brought into market, to sep
arate them from the farming lands, and dispose
of them in such manner as to secure a large
return of money to the treasury, and at-the
same time lead to the development of their
wealth by individual prcprietors and purchas-
ers. To do this, II will be necessary to pro-
vide 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 fixed mini
mum price.
recommend that surveyor-generals' offices
be authorized to be established in New Mexi-
co and California; and provision made for sur
veying and bringing the public lands into
market at the earliest practicable period. In
disposing of these lands, recommend that the
right of presumption be secured, and liberal
grants made to the early emigrants who have
settled or may settle upon them.
1t will be important to extend our revenue
laws over these Territories, and especially over
California, at an early period. There is al
ready considerable commerce with Califor-
MIA and until ports Of entry shall be establish
ed and collectors appointed, no revenue can
be received.
If these and other necessary and proper
measures be adopted for the development of
the wealth and resources oil New Mexico and
California, and regular Territorial govern
ments be established over them, such will prob
ably be the rapid enlargement Of our COM
merce and navigation, and such the addition
to the national wealth, that the present gener-
alton may live to witness the controlling COM
mercial and monetary power OF the world
Emporiums TO the city of New York.
The apprehensions which were entertaiEed
by some of our statesmen, in the earlier peri
DDS of the government, that our system was
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 fed
eral governments, the latter is found TO oper
ate with as much energy in the extremes as in
the centre. 1t is as efficient in the remolest
Of the thirty States, which now compose the
Union, as it was in the thirteen States which
ormed our cons titution.
Indeed, it may well be doubted, whether, if
Dur present population had been confined
within the limits of the original thirteen States.
the tendencies to Capitalization and consolida-
ton would not have been such as TO have en-
croached upon the essential reserved rights of
the States, and thus to have made the federal
government widely different one, practical
". from what it is in theory, and was intend
tanning apprehensions Of the safety of our sys-
tenn by the extension Of our territory, the be-
lief is confidently entertained that each new
State gives strength and an additional gnaraD-
ty 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 Inc
republic of Mexico, and of the act OF Ju-
ly the twenty-ninth, 1S4S, claims of our
citizens which had been "already liquida-
ted and decided against the Mexican re-
public" amounting, with the interest there
on, to two million twenty-three thousand
eight hundred and thirty-two dollars and
fifty>one cents, have been liquidated and
paid. There remain to be paid of these
claims, seventy>four thousand one hund>
red and ninety>two dollars and twenty-six
cents.
Congress at its last session having made
no provisions for executing the fifteenth
article of the treaty, by which the United
States assume 10 make satisfaction for the
"unliquidated claims of our citizens a.
gainst Mexico, to "an amount not exceed
ing three and quarter millions of dol,
lars" the subject is again recommended
to your favorable consideration.
The exchange of notifications of the
treaty with Mexico took place on the thir-
tieth of May, 1s4S. Within one year az
that time, the commissioner and surveyor