Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-12-13

spot. are herewith la,d before Congress-
When he visited the country, there wer,
about four thousand persons engaged il
collecting gold. There is every reason Ii
believe that the number of persons so EN-
ployed. has since been augmented. The
exp rations already made, warrant tn G
brlie' thats'he supply is very large, ane
that gold is found at various places in an
extensive district of country.
Information received from officers of the
Navy and other sources, though not so full
E EsaIld laintlse.s ,confsm ttee accounts of the
commander OF our military force in Cali.
fornia. Happears. also from :heir reports,
that mines Of quick silver 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 deposi,es. and the sue
cess which has attended the labors Of those
VINO have resorted 10 tf.em. have produced
a surprising change in the state of affairs
in Carolidia. Labor commands most ex-
orbtant price. and all other pursuits but Of
searching for the precious metals are
abandoned. Nearly the whole of.lhe male
population of the country have gone 10 the
gold district. Ships arriving on the coust
are deserted by their crews, and their voy.
ages suspended for want of sailors. Our
commanding officer there entertains appre.
tensions that soldiers cannot be kept in
the public service withou. large increase
Of pay. Desertions in his command have
become frequent, and he recommends that
those who shall Withstand the strong temp
lalion. and remain faithful, should be re-
warded.
This abundance OF gold, and the all en-
crossing pursuit Of it have already caused
in California IN Unprecedented rise in the
price OF the necessaries OF life.
That we may too, more speedily and full.
ly avail ourselves of the undeveloped
wealth Of these mines. it is deemed OF vast
importance that branch of the Mint of
the United States be authorized TO be es-
tablished, al your present session, in CAL
ifornia. Among other signal advantages
which would result from such an establish
men, would be that OF raising the gold 10
lis par value in the territory. A branch
Mint of the United States at the great COM
mercial depot on the west coast, would
convert lnlo our own coin not only the
gold derived from our own rich mines. but
also the bullion and specie which our COM
merce may bring from the whole west
coas. Of Central and South America. The
west coast OF America and the adjacent IT.
terror embrace the richest and best mines
Of Mexico. New Grenada, Central Ameri-
ca, Chill and Peru. The bullion and spe-
Gle drawn from there countries, and spe-
cially from those Of western Mexico and
Peru, 10 an amount in value Of many
million. ofdollars, are now annually divert.
ed and carried by the ships of Great Brit.
ain 10 her own ports, 10 be recoined or US
ed 10 sustain her national bank, and thus
contr ibu,e TO increase her ability TO COM
mand so much of the commerce of the
world. II branch Mint be established
at the great commercial poin: upon that
coast, vast amount of bullion and specie
would flow thi'her to be recoined, and pass
thence 10 N. o. N. Y. and other Atlantic
cities. The amount Of our constitutional.
currency at home would be greatly increas-
ed, while its clrculalien abroad would be
promoted. 1t is we'll known TO our mer-
chants trading TO China and the west coast
Of America. that great Inconvenience and
los are experienced from the fact thai
our coins are not current at their par value
in those counties.
The powers of Europe, far removed
from the west coast of America by the At
lanic Ocean which intervenes, and by a
tedious and dangerous navigation around
the Southern Cape of the continent OF
America. can never successfully compete
with the United States in the rich and ex-
tensive commerce which is opened to us at
so much less cost by the acquisition OF Cal
ifornia.
The vast Importance and commercial
advantages of California have heretofore
remained undeveloped by the government
Of the country Of which it constituted q
part. Now that this fine province is a
part Of our country, all the States of the
Union. and some more immediate and di.
rectly than others, are deeply interested in
the development Of its wealth and re-
sources. No section of our country isl
more interested. or will be more benefit
ted, than the commercial. navigating. and
manufacturing interests OF the Eastern
States. Our planning and farming inter-
es,s in every part of the Union will be
greatly benefited by it. As our commerce
and navigation are enlarged and extended.
our exports Of agricultural products and
manufactures will oe increased; and in the
new markets thus opened, they cannot fail
10 command remunerating and profitable
prices.
The acquisition Of California and New
Mexico, the settlement Of the Oregon
Boundary and the annexation Of Texas,
extending 10 the Rio Grande. are results
VIII ch, combined. are OF greater conse-
ouence, and will add more TO the strength
and wealth of The Nation than any which
have preceded them since the adoption OF
the Constitution.
But TO effect these great results. not on
lv California, but New Mexico must be
h,oueht under the control Of regularly OR.
eapized governments. The existing con.
di,iyn of California. and Of that part oi
New Mexico lying west Of the Rio Grande
and without the limits Of Texas, imperious
" demand tha, Congress should at its pres
ent session, organize Territorial Govern
ments over them.
Upon the exchange Of the ratification
| IF tho 'Crsaty of peace with Mexico, or