Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-12-13

| tween Texas as foreign State and our
| selves. would have been imminent. while
the enbarrassnents OF commercial inter
course between them must have been con
slant and unavoidable.
Had Texas fallen into the hands. or un.
der the influence and control. of strong
fn aratime military foreign power. as she
might have done. these dangers would
have been still greater. They have been
avoided by her voluntary and peaceful an
nexation 10 the United States. Texas
from her position. was natural and mos'
: Indispensable part of our territories. For
tunately, she has been restored to our
country. and now constitutes one of the
States Of our contederacy. ''upon an equal
footing with the original States" The
saubritv Of the climate. the fertility OF
soil. peculiarly adapted to the production
of some of our most valuable staple com
modities. ana her commercial advantages,
must make her soon one of our most pop
ulous States.
New Mexico. though situated in the in
terror. and without a sea coast. is known
10 contain much fertile land. to abound in
rich mines OF the precious metals, and 10
be capable of sustaining large popula-
ton. From its position. it is the interme-
diate and connectin. territory between our
settlements and possessions i'll Texas, and
those on the Pacific coast
Upper California. irrespective of tie
vast mineral wealth recently developed
there. holds at this day. in point of value
aud Importance TO the rest of the | Mon.
the same relation that Louisiana did,
when that fine territory was acquired from
France 40 years ago. Extending nearly
ten degrees of latitude along the Pacific,
and embracing the only safe and commo-
dIous harbor on that coast, for many hun-
dred miles, with a temperate climate and
an extensive interior OF fertile lands, it is
scarcely possible TO estimate its value. I'M
til it shall be brought under the govern
ment Of our laws, and its resources fully
developed. From its position it must
command the rich commerce Of China, of
Asia. of the Islands of the Pacific, of
Western Mexico, Of Central America. the
South American States. and OF the Rus
sian possessions bordering on that ocean.
4 great emporium will doubtless spec
Oily arise on the California coast. which
may be destined to rival in importance
New Orleans itself. The depot of the
vast commerce which must exist on the
Pacific, will be at some point or the bay Of
San Francisco, and will occupy the same
relation to the western coast of the ocean,
as New Orleans does to the Valley Of the
Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. To
this depot our numerous whale Ships will
resort with their cargoes to trade. re-ft
and obtain supplies. This trade will
largely contribute to build up city, which
would soon become the centre of great
and rapidly increasing commerce. Stu
ateu on safe harbor. sufficiently capa-
cious tor all the navlcS. as well as the ma
r;nes of the world, and convenient to eX-
cellent timber for ship building, owned
by the United States. il must become our
great western depot.
1t was known that mines Of precious
metals existed to a considerable extent in
California at the time of its acquisition
Recent discoveries render it probable that
these mines are more extensive and valu-
able than was anticipated. The accounts
Of the abundance Of gold in that terrific
ry, Of SUCH an extraordinary charac
ter as would scarcely command belief,
were they not corroborated by the anthem
tic reports of officers in the public service.
who have visited the mineral district, and
derive the facts which they detail from
personal observation. Reluctant to cred
it the reports in general circulation as to
the quantity Of gold the officer command
ing our forces in California, visited the
mineral district, in July last, for the pur-
pose of obtaining accurate information on
the subject His report to the War De-
and the facts obtained on the spot, is here
., Laid hnf l,
tied the country, there were about 1000
persons engaged in collecting gold
There is every reason to believe that the
number OF persons so employed has since
been augmented. The explorations al
ready made warrant the belief that the
supply is very large. and that gold is
found at various points in an extensive
district Of country.
Information received from officers Of
the Navy. and other sources. though not
so full and minute. confirm the accounts
Of the commander Of our military force
in California. 1t 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
Of these rich mineral deposits, and the
success which has attended the labors of
those who have resorted to them. have
produced a surprising change in the state
Of affairs in California. Labor commands
most exorbitant price. and all other pur-
suits. but that Of searching for the pre-
cious metals, are abandoned. Nearly the
whole male population Of the country
have gone to the gold district. Ships ar
irving on the coast. are deserted by their
crews. and their voyages suspended for
want Of sailors. Our commanding officer
there enter,ains apprehensions that SOL
diers cannot be kept in the public service.
without large increase of pay. Deser-
tons in his command have become fire.
quent and he recommends that those.
| who shall withstand the strong temptation
and remain faithful. should be rewarded
This abundance of ooli and ,bo Ill