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

were not so brillian: as those ofthe Army IN
the late war witt. Mexico, it was because
they had no enemy to meet on their own
element. While the army had opportuni-
ties Of performing more conspicuous ser
vice, the Navy largely participated in the
conduct Of the war. Both branches Of the
service performed their whole duty to the
country. For the able and gallant SER
vice of the officers and men Of the Navy.
acting Independent, as well as in cooper
alton with our troops in the conquest OF
! the CALIFORNIA;. the capture of Vera Cruz,
and the seizure and Ie-occupation of other
important positions on the gulf and Pach-
ic coasts. the highest praise is due. Their
vigilance. energy and skill rendered the
most effective service in excluding the
munitions of war and other supplies from
the enemy. while they secured "a safe en-
trance for abundant supplies for their own
army Our extended commerce. was no
where interrupted. and for this immunity
from the evils OF war, the country is in
debted to the Navy.
High praise is due to the officers of the
several executive bureaus. navy yards,
and stations connected with the service.
all under the immediate direction of the
Secretary of the Navy. for the industry.
foresight and enery1 with which every thing
was directed. and furnished to give eilica-
CIV TO that branch Of the service
The same vigilance existed in directing
preparation Of the Navy. Of the Army.
There was concert Of action and Of pur-
pose between the heads of the two arms
of the service. BY the orders which were
from time to time issued. our vessels of
war on the Pacific. and the Gulf Of Mexi-
co, were stationed in proper positions to
cooperate efficiently with the army. BY
this me ms their combined power was bro t
to bear successfully on the enemy.
The great results which have been de-
veloped and brought to light by this war.
will be of unreasonable importance in the
future progress of our country. They will
tend powerfully to preserve US from torei On
collisions. and enable us to pursue unin-
terruptedly our cherished policy of ''peace
with all nations. entangling alliances with
none
Occupying, as we do. more comm an
ding position among nations than at any
former period. our duties and our rcspon-
sibilties TO ourselves and postcrity, are cor
rcspondngly increased. This will be
the more obvious when we consider the
vast additions which have recently been
made to our territorial acquisitions, and
their great importance and value.
Within less than four years the annex
alton of Texas TO the Union has been con-
summated; all conflicting title tothe Oregon
Territory south Of 40 . north latitude,
being ali that was insisted on by any of
my predecessors. has been al Iusted: and
New Mexico and Upper California have
been acquired by treaty The area of
these several territories according to re-
port carefully prepared by the Commits
sioner of the General Land office, from the
most authentic information in his posses
sion, and which is herewith transmitted.
contains 1913 .O61 square miles: or 763,-
$50 .O4O acres. while the area Of the re-
naming twentv-nine States, and the terri
tory not vet organized into States east Of
the Rocky Mountains. contains 2 .590.5lS
So miles. or .3l3.126 ,O53 acres. These
estimates show that the territories recently
acquired, and over which our exclusive
jurisdiction and dominion have been ex-
tended. constitute country more than half
as large as that which was held by the L
nited States before this acquisition. If
Oregon be excluded from the estimate,
there will still remain within the limits of
Texas. New Mexico and California G51,-
598 square miles. or 545.12O.72O acres
being an addition equal to more than one
third of all the territory owned by the I nj
ted States before this acquisition. and in
Guiding Oregon, nearly as serat an extent
Of territory as the whole of Europe, Rus
STA only excepted.
The Mississippi, so lately the frontier Of
our country, is now only its centre. With
the addition of the late acquisitions, the
United States are now estimated to be
nearly as large as the whole Of Europe
1t is estimated by the superintendent of
the coast survey, in the accompanying re-
port that the extent of the sea coast Of
Texas on the Gulf of Mexico. is upwards
Of 400 miles: of the coast of Upper Cali
fornia. on the Pacific, go miles; and of
Oregon. including the straits of Fuca, of
go miles. making the whole extent of sea
c aost on the Pacific 1920 miles. and the
whole extent on both the Pacific and the
Gulf of Mexico 1920 miles. The length
of the coast on the Atlantic. from the nor
thern limits of the United States, around
the Capes OF Florida to the Sabine. on the
eastern boundary of Texas. is estimated TO
be 3 900 miles. so that the addition of sea
cost. including Oregon. is very nearly two
thirds as great as all we possessed before;
and excluding Oregon for an addition of
!. $40 miles, being nearly equal to one
half the extent Of coast which we possess
ed before these acquisitions. We have
now three great maritime fronts on the At
lantic. the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific.
making in the whole. an extent of sea
coas, exceeding 5000 miles. This is the
extent Of the sea coast of the States not
including bays. sounds, and small irregu-
larities of the main shore. and of the sea
islands If these be included. the length
of the shore line of coast as estimated by
the superintendedent of the coast survey
would be 3.O63 miles.
| 1t would be difficult 10 calculate the val
ue of these immense additions to our ter
ritorial possessions. Texas, lying contis-
uous TO the Western boundary of Louisi-
81. 81