Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-12-15

on ihe California coast. which NAV BE- destined
70 rival in importance New Orleans itself. The
depot Of the vast commerce which must exist
on the Pacific, will probably be at some point on
The Bay Of San Francisco, and will occupy the
same relation to the whole western coast ofthot
ocean, as New Orleans does TO the Valley Of
the Mississippi aud the Gulf Of Mexico. To
this depot our numerous whale ships will resort,
with cargoes to trade, refI and obtain supplies.
This Of itself will largely help to build up a ci-
" which would soon become the centre Of
great and rapidly increasing commerce. Silua-
ted on safe harbor, sufficiently capacious for
all the navies, as well as the marine Of the
world, and convenient to excellent timber for
ship building owned by the United States, il
msst become our great Western Naval Depot.
lIwas known that mines Of precious metals
existed TO a considerable extent in California al
the time Of its acquisition. Recent discoveries
render il probable lhatIheso mines are more ex-
Iensiye aud valuable than was anticipated. The
accounts Of the abundance Of gold in that ter
rlIoy are Of such On extraordinary character as
would scarcely command belief, were thew not
corroboraIed by the authentic reports Of officers
IN the public service, who have visited the min
eral districts, and derived the facts which they
| detail from personal observation. Reluctant to
credit the reports in general circulation, as 10 the
quantity Of gold, the officer commanding our
forces in California visited the mineral districts
in July last, for the purpose Of obtaining correct
Information on the subject. His report TO the
| War Department, Of the result Of his examna-
lion, and the facts Obtained on the spot. is here
with laid before Congress. When he visited the
country, there were about four thousand persons
engaged in collecting gold. There is every rea-
son to believe that the number OF persons so en-.
poyed has since been augmented. The expo-
ratlons already made warrant the belief that the
supply is very large, aud that gold is found al
various places in an extensive district Of country
Information received from officers Of the Ma.
Wy and other sources, though not so full and mi
nuIe confirm The accounts of the commander
Of our military force in California. 1t appears,
also, from these reports, that mines of quiyksiI-
yer are found in the vicinity Of the gold region.
One Of them is how being worked, aud is belle.
we'd 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 abors Of those who have resorted
to them, have produced surprising change in
the state Of affairs in California. Labor com.
mands most exhOrbitant price, and all other
pursuits but that Of searching for the precious
metals are abandoned. Nearly the whole Of
the male population of the country have gone
to the gold district. Ships arriving on the coast
are deserted by their crews, and their voyages
suspended for want Of sailors. Our command
/ I'M off l.
soldiers cannot be kept in the public service with
out large increase Of pay. DeserIions in his
command have become frequent and he recem-
mends that those who shall Withstand the strong
temptation, and remain faithful, shall be rewarded,
The abundance of gold, and the all engross-
| ing pursuit of it, have already caused, in Cali
iOrna, an unprecenied rise in the price Of the
necessaries of life.
That we may the more speedily and fully a.
vail ourselves of the undeveloped wealth of
these mines, il is deemed of vast importance that
a branch of the mint of the U. S. be aulhor-
zcd 10 be established at your present session, in
California. Among other signal advantages
which would result from such an establishment
would be that Of raising the gold to its par value
IN that territory. A branch mint Of the I. S.
at the great commercial depot on the west coast,
would convert into our own coin not only the
gold derived from our own rich mines, but also
the bullion and specie which our commerce may
bring from the whole west coast Of Central and
South America. The West coast of America
and the ad accent interior embrace the richest and
best mines Of Mexico, New Greneda, Central
America, Chill and Peru. The bullion and spe-
Gle drawn from these countries, and especially
from those Of Western Mexico and Peru, 10 an
amount in value of many millions Of dollars,
are now annually diverted and carried by the
ships OF Great Britain TO her own ports, 10 be
coined or used 10 sustain her national Bank, and
thus contribute to increase her ability TO COM
mand so much of The commerce of the world.
lfa branch mint be established at The great com.
mercial point on that coast, a vast amount Of
bullion and specie would flow thither to be re.
coined, and pass thence to N. Orleans, N. York,
and The Atlantic cities. The amount Of our
constitutional currency at home would be great
y increased, while its circulation abroad would
be promoted, 1t is well known 10 our merchants
trading to China and the west coast of America,
that great inconvenience and loss are experien-
ced from the fact that our coins are not current
at their par value in those countries.
The powers of Europe, far removed from the
west coast of America by the Atlantic Ocean,
which inlervenes, and by tedious and danger
Gus navigation around the Southern Cape Of the
Continent of America, can never successfully
compete with the United States in the rich and
extensive commerce which is opened to US, at
so much less cost by theaceuisition of California.
The vast importance and commercial advan-
ges Of California have heretofore remained un-
developed by the government of the country Of
which it constituted part. Now that this fine
province is u part of our country, all the states
of the Union, some more Immediately and d.
rectly than others are deeply interested in the
speedily development of'its wealth and resour-
ces. No section of our country is more nteres-
ted, or will be more bene6ued than the csmmer-
cial, navigating, and manufacturing interests oil
the Eastern States. Our planting and farming
interests in every part Of the Union will be great
benefited by it. As our commerce and nav
igalon are enlarged and extended, our exports oI