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

eonnrarn;sinc this delicass and dangerous ques-
t;nr put If Congress shall now reverse the de-
oision by which the, Missouri compromise was
erected and shall propose to extend the restric-
t;on over the whole territory. South as well as
North of the parallel of So degrees 80 minutes,it
will oease to be compromise and must be re-
corded as an original question.
~ Congress, instead of observing the course
If nou.interference leaving ths adoption of their
domestic institutions to the people who may in
habit these territories, if inste,d of extending
the Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific, shall
prefer to submit the legal and constitutional ques-
tions which may arise to the decision of the ju-
tiicial tribunals, as was proposed in bill which
passed the Senate at your last session, adjust
ment may be effected in this mode. lfthe whole
be referred to the Judiciary all parts of the I'm
ion should cheerfully acquiesce in the final de-
cision of the tribnnl created by the Constitution
for the settle ment Of all questions which may
arise ndsr theu Constitution, treaties and laws Of
the United States
Congress is earnestly invoked, forthe sake of
the Unior, its harmony and our continued pros
perity a. nation, to adjust at its present session
this the only dangerous question which lies in
our path--ifn not ia some of the modes suggested,
In some other which may be satisfactory
In anticipation of the establishment of regular
governments over the acquired territories, a joint
commission of officers of the Army and Navy has
been ordered to proceed to the coast of Califor-
mia and Oregon for the purpose OF making re-
eoaaoisances.and report as to the proper si1es
for the erection of offortfcations or other defens-
i've works on land, and for suitable situations
for Naval stations The other information which
May be expected from scientific ana sklliIni
examination of the whole face of the coast Will be
eminentiy useful to congress, when tney come 10
onsicer the proprietyo yofmaking appropriations for
these great national objects. Proper defences
fnr
protection of our possessions; and the establish
ment of NAVY Yards and dock for the repair
and construction of vessels, will be important a.
like to our navy and commercial marine. with
out such establishments every vessel whether OF
the navy or of the merchant service, requiring
repair, must at great expense come round cape
Horn to one of our Atlantic yards Tor tnat pur-
pose. With such establishments, vessels, IL ~
believed, may be built or repaired as eheaply IN
California as upon the Atlantic coast. Ihey
would give emnloyment to many of our enter
prisins ship builders and mechanics, and greatly
facilitate and enlarge our commerce IN the fa-
cifc
As it is ascertainei that mines Of gold, silvet.
c-pper, and quicksilver exist in New mexico
and California, and that nearly all the Lands,
where they arc found belong to the United States,
it il deemed important to the public interests
that provision be made for q geographical and
meteorological examination of these regions
Measures should be adopted to preserve the mln-
eral lands especially such as contain the Meclous
metals, for the use of the United States, or II
brought into market to separate them from the
farming lands, and dispose of them IN sseh man
ner as to secure large return of money TO the
treasury and at the same time lead to the deVel-
opemsnt of their wealth by individual proprie-
tors and purchasers. To do this, it will be nee
osssry to provide for an immediate survey ana
location of the lands. If Congress should deem
it proper to dispose of the mineral lands, they
should be sold in small quantities, and at liked
minimum price.
Irecommend that Surveyor Generals be au.
thorized to be established in New Mexico and
California. and provision made for surveying and
bringing the public lands into market at the ear
last practicable period. In disposing of these
lands recommend that the right OF presumption
be secured and liberal grants made to the carly
emigrants who have settled or may settle upon
them.
It will be important to extend our revenue
laws over these territories, and especially over
california at an early period There Is already
a considerable commerce with California, and
until ports of entry shall be established and col
lectors appointed, no revenue can be received.
II these and other necessary and proper meas
ures be adopted for thedevelopement of the wealth
and resources of New Mexico and California.
and regular territorial governments be estah-
1isho1 over them, such will probably be the rap
id enlargement of our commerce and navigation
and sueh the addition to the national wealth thnt
the present generation may live to witness the
controlling commercial and monetary power OF
the world transferred from London ana other
European emporiums to the city of New York
Tho apprehensions which were etertain-
ed by some of ohr Statesmen in the earli-
er periods ofthe government that our sys-
tenn was incapable of operating with suftl-
cient energy and success over largely ex-
tended territorial limits, md that if this
were attempted it would fall to pieces by
its own weakness, have been dissapated by
our own experience. By the division OF
pewer between the States and Federal Gov
ornmcnt, the latter is found to operate with
rs much energy in the extremes as in the
centre. 1t is as efficient in the remotest of.
the thirty States which now compose the
Union, as it was in the thirteen States
which fro,ned our Constitution. Indeed it
NAV we'll be doubted whether, if our pres
ent population had been confined within
the limits Of the originol thirteen States,
the tendencies to Capitalization and consol-
idation would no, have been such as to en-.
croached upon the essentinl reserved rights
Of the States and thus to have made the
Federal Government widely different
one, practically, from what it is in theory,
and was intended to ba by its trainers So
far from entertaining appretensions of the
safety Of oursys.em by the extension Of our
territory, ths belief is confidently entertain-
ed that each new State gives strength and
an additional guaranty for the preservation
of the Uaion.
In pursuance of the provisions of the
18th nr.icle Of the Treaty ofPeace, friend
ship, limits, and settlement with the Repub.
lie ofMexico, and Of the act of July the
29;b, .84e, claims of our citizens "which
had already been liquidated and decided
gainst,he Mexican Republic" amounting,
with. the interest thereon to two million
twenty three thousand eight hundred and
thirty.tso dollars and fifty one cents, have
been liauaidated and paid. There remain
to be paid of those claims seventy.fpur
thousand oneehundred and ninety two dol
lars and twenty six cents.
Congress at lis last session having made
no provision executing the 18th Article of
the Treaty, by whichthe Uuited States as.
sumo 10 make satisfaction for the s'unliquid-
ated claims" of our citizens against Mexi.