The Arkansas banner., 1848-12-19


 ment Of laws, and its resources fully developed From its position it must command the rich com merce of ChIna, of Asia, of the islands oi !ne fs- : ei6c, of western Mexico of Central America, me South American States, and ol ths Russian posses 1 sions bordering or that ocean. great emporium
 will doubtiess speedily arise tbe California coast which may be destined to rival m importance New l Orleans itself Tho depot os the vast commerce which must exist on the Pacific, wisl pc at some point on the bay of san Francisco, and VIII occupy
 inc same relation to the whole western coast oi that ocean. as New Orleans docs 10 the valley ol the
 Mississippi and the Calf of Mexico. To tais depoi
 our numerous whale ships will sesori wI heir car
 goes 10 trade Fefi and obtsin supplies Ihts trade
 will largely contribute to build up eNy, wnsn
 would soon become the centre Of great and rapidly 1 increasing commerce. Stuateti on sale harboF,
 sufficiently capacious for all the naves. as welt as inc marines of the world, and convenient to excel. lent timber for ship baildlng, owned by the Uaea Estates, n must become our gieaf western dePot' | It was known that mines of the precious metals existed to considerable extent in California at the time of it's acquisition. Recent discoveries render it probable that these mines are more extensive and valuable than anticipated. The nccounts ci the abundance Of gold In that territory are of such an Iaxtraoriiiary character as would scarcely com ,n.pa belief were they not corfob0rated by the thentc reports of officers in the public service, who hnvs visited the ninera district, and derive the acts 1 which they detail from personal observation. he- lnctant 10 credit the reports in general circulation ! 10 the quantity Oi gOlu Ups OhACet our forces in California, visited the mineral district in July Iast for tle purpose of obtaining accurate informatiou on the sub cot His report to the " ar | Department of inc result Of his exaulinahon, and ihe facis on the spot is herewith laid before Com I gress. When he visited the country, there were about 900 persons engagrd in collecting gold There is every 10 believe that the number oi persons so employed hns since been augmented.- | The explorations already Tahc warrant the belief that the supply is very large and that gold IS found at various points in extensive district of country Informaiion received frsm officers of the Navy. and other sources, though not so full and minute confirm the accounts of our commander of eur military force in California. It appears also from these reports that mines oi quicksilver arc found In the vicinity of the gold region one oi them is now being worked, and s believed 10 be amohg the most 1 productive in the world.
 The effects produced ty the discovery of these rich mineral deposits, andthe success which has at | tended the abors of thgtc who have resorted 10 ] them, have produced surprising change in the state of aifairs in California. Labor commands most exorbitant price, and all other pursuits put that of searching for the precious mcals are aban- doned. Nearly lthe whole male population of the country have gone to thegold district. Ships arr- wing on the coast, deierted by tleiT crews and ! their voyages suspended for want Of sailors Oar commandiug officer there enter .ains apPrehoRsions that soldiers cannot bc Kept in the public service, without large increase d pay. l,cseriions in his command have become frequent, and he recom- niends that those who shall withstand the strong temptation. and remain faithful, shall be rewarded. This abundance of gold, and the all engrosihg pursuit of it, has already caused in Cali ornia an 1 unprecedented rise in the necessaries Of life. l That we may the more speedily and fully avail ourselves of the undeveloped wealth of these mines,
 it is deemed Of vast importance that branch ot tie mint of the States be authorized to be established dufing the present session in California Among other signal advantages which would result from tiishf hR gold to its par value in that territory. A branch 1 mint of the United States at the great commercial depot on the West coast would convert into our coin. not only the gold derived from cur own rich mincs but also the bullion and specie which our i commerce may bring from the whole West coast, i Central and south America The West coast of 1 America, and the udjacent interioF, enlbraee the best miaes of New Mexico, New Grenada, Ceairal 1 America, ChiIi and Peru.
 The bullion and specie drawn from these conn- tries and especially from those of Western HIeNioo ! and Peru, 10 an amount in ysue ot many millions of dollars are now annually diverted and carried by tho ships of Great Britain to he own ports, to be recoined, or used to sastan her National Bank, and thus contribute to increase her abi fly 10 command 1 So much of the commsrco of the world. II branch
 must he established, at the great commercial point upon that coast vast amount of buliiou and specie would flow thither to be Fecoined, and p1ss thenee 1 to N. Orleans, New York. and other Atlantic cities I The amount of our constitutional currency at homo
 
 shroaJ would be promofe9. IL is well known to our merchants trading to China, and the west coast oi America that great inconvenience and loss are ex- perienced from the fact that coins are not cur 1 rent at their par value ia those countries.
 ! The powers of Europe, removed from the West coast of America by the Atlantic ocean. which in- tervenes and by the tedious and dangerous navga- ton around the Southern cape of the continent of I America can never successfully compete with the | United States in the rich and extensive commerce which Is opened 10 us at 90 much less ceSt py the acquisition oi California
 I inc vast importance and commercial advantages of California have heretofore remained andeveoped by the government of ihe country of which il copsti 1 tntes a part Now that this fine province is part Of our country, all of the States of the Unun some more immediately and directly than others. are deep
 y interested in the speedy development of its wealth ! and resources No section of our country is moro
 interested or will be benefited more than the com mercial navigating and manufacturing interests of the Eastern States. Our planting and farming inter ess u every part of the Union will Dc greatly bone ! fitted hy it. As our commerce and navigation are enlarged and extended cur exports oi agricultural products and our manufactures will be increased, 1 and in the new markets thus opened. they canno; ! fail to command remuneratng and profitable prices 1 The acquisition of California and New Mexico, the settlement of the Oregon boundary, and the nexation of Texas extending to the Rio Grande are results which combined, are of greater consequence and will add to the strength and wealth of the nation, than any which have preceded them, since the adoption of the constitution:
 Ba, 10 effect these results, not only California. but New Mexico must be brought under the con trol of regular orgtnizel governments. The exis. ting condition ot California and of the part of New
 Mexico lying West of the Rio Grande, and without the limits of Texas imperiously demand that Con gress should, at its present session, organize terri toriai governments over them.
 Upon the exchange of ratification of the treaty of peace with Mexico, ou the 2nth of May, the tempo rary government which had been established over New Mexico, had ceased 70 exist. Impressed with inc necessity of festabshiug territorial governments over them, recommended to the favorable consid- eraton oi Congress, in my message communicating
 the ratified treaty of peace, the 9th of July las,
 and invoked their action at that session. Congress adjourned without making any provision for their government
 The inhabitants, by transfer of their country, have become entitled to the benefits of our laws and Constitution: and yet were left wi;houtany regular tVf organized nu1ent Since that time inc