The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-09-22
New Maxioo and California.

thrown into excitement, to whether slavery
should be tolerated or not in these newly acquired
and extensive territories Parties have been formed
having no other substantial basis TO stand upon
han that afforded by this question. Some talk has
been had in high quarters about breaking up the
Union and scattering its fragments to the four
winds of heaven, unless this question were settled
IN one way or the other, in accordance with the
fancy of the northern southern preacher of ultra
opinions. But during all this turmoil few have
stopped to inquire what is the climate, the SOIL the
nature and capacities of these territories They
have been at times represented as mass OF rocky
mountains and barren plains, and again as the gar
den-spofs of the earth. One day we hear that the
few and scattered inhabitants can hardly find tile
means of subsistence, the next we are startled by
accounts of teeming fields, prairieS filed with
countless herds of finest cattle, and mines of
gold and silver so rich that the people cannot find
spades and shovels enough to collect the gliterng
treasure from the surface of the earth. But all
that we really know of the country is contained in
few pages Of Fremont's Journal, and in the state
ments more or less to be relied upon of travellers
who have visited different and small portions of
this magnificent addition to the Republic. Now
we give il as our opinion, and the good people may
take it for what it is worth, that before we get into
apassion about what kind of population should 90
TO these territories, it wOud'be we'll to find out
what kind of population they are fit for, and that
it would be as well to postpone the dissolution of
the Union until full graphical and geological
survey had been made, and it had been clearly
ascertained that the matter in dispute was worth
dissolving the Union about; for after all it may
turn out that neither party to this fierce struggle
would find any reward for its labors in all the
polls which could fall to the lot of the victor.
These newly acquired territories are of vast dimen-
sions, extending over many degrees of latitude and
longitude divided by lofty mountains and traversed
by many streams; the climate is necessarily varied.
and the soil in some places known to be rich, in
others to be of the most sterile quality. But here
our knowledge ceases. For what cultivation the
earth is ftted-where the fertile districts lie, and
what is their extent-what streams possess the
requisite volume for commercial purposes, and what
could be improved so as to be made navigable-al
these, and many other things have yet to be ascer-
tained before any estimate can be formed of the
value, resources, uses and probable importance of
the acquisition. Our government has hundreds of
miles of frontier to guard along the whole of which
tary colonies. yet months must eIapse before even
the proper sites for military stations can be Sc
lected, and months if not years more before prac-
ticable roads will be made to supply and connect
those stations. We think, therefore, that were the
warm debate relative to the Wilmot proviso and
such matters, moderated in its tone and the stabil-
ty of the Union generally acquiesced in until our
able corps Of typographical engineers could make
a thorough examination and survey of the country.
every body would be quite well OFF, and fully as
prepared to come to a judicous decision upon the
matters in controversy as they now are. And we
would advise, always with Difference of course.
that our patriotic and eloquent members of Con-
gress should bottle up their excitement, and save
their precious breath until after they have appro-
priated sum sufficient tn make the examination
desired, and they are furnished with the results of
the work. They will not then be likely to make
so many of those unfortunate displays of zeal
lacking WISDOM for which they have become
somewhat famous; and the Union will be less en-
dangered by the explosion of badly purified gas
We have very able body of typographical en-
gneers-youug officers who are DESTROYS of being
employed and eager to distinguish themselves. The
new territories furnish fine field for their labors
They could gain fame for themselves and confer a
benefit upon the country, by making full survey,
and af0rding that information which it is so material
that the Government, and almost every class ofOur
citizens should possess It is to be hoped that those
of the corps who have been attached to the COM
mands in New Mexico and California, will make
use of all the facilities which they possess to CON
tribute something to the small stock of knowledge
now ahOat relative to those territories, but they
are too few and too poorly provided to make
the extensive examinations required. Expeditions
should be sent out purpose furnished with proper
assistants, escorts and supplies, to traverse the
whole country end give every necessary detail of
its climate, surface, and agricultural or mineral
capabilities. But one of the first and most neces-
sary things to be inquired into is the route of a
practicable road from some point on the Texan
coast to the Pacifc-a road which will keep up
the communication with and between the frontier
posts, and furnish the means of reaching the Pa
clfc without undertaking the present long, weari-
some and dangerous overland passage, or taking
the difficult, tedious and expensive water route by
way of Chagres We may be foolish for max.
ing the proposition to find out something about the
country before we involve ourselves into civil war
as to the mode in which it shall be governed, but
we are naturally timid, and have decided aver
aion to the of either angry words or cold steel,
unless we understand fully the nature of the quar-
rel others, more mettlesome, may desire fight
any way, and may, perhaps, succeed in getting it;
but it would seem to be the path of prudence to
inquire first, and fight, if necessary, afterwards.
At all events, we have mustered courage to venture
the suggestion whether it be acted on or not.
-
NAvAL.-The following is a list of the officers
attached to the U. S. frigate St. Lawrence, off
Cape Henry on the 9th inst, bound for Europe, as
we learn from the Norfolk papers of the 18th:
Captain, Hiram Pauldng Executive Officer, Lit. H. X.
HOff; PuTser, Francis B. Stockton Surgeon Geo ymer;
LeuteRans. VIM Rogers TAYLOR. Charles E. Barton Fran
els B. Renshaw, Edmund Lanier, joseph Adams Passed
Assistant Surgeon John H. Barclay Acting Master Fox
hall A. Parksr; Assistant Surgeon, VIM F. Darlington
Chaplain, Edwin Eaton Lieut. COmd' e Marines, Be- E.
Brooke I'd Lieut. Marines, Andrew Hays Passed; Md
shipmen, Samuel P. Carer, Thomas S. Fiebrown, VIM.
N. Grabble, Walter Gillss, John Hart, Edmund w.
Henry ]. E. JOuett, William w. Low. William X Mayo.
Marshall Smith, Watson Smith Captains Clerk, Chas.
Francis Purser's Clerk VIM. H Needles Mdshipmen,
Sail a RnaIl nh Trui barfa Il hnrhuP