The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-08-09

possessed will be found in the accompanying
report to the Secretary ofthe Treasury.
The country ceeded 10 the United States ly.
inc west of The Rio Grande, ard to which Texas
ha. no title, is estimated by the Commission.
pr of,he General Land office to contain $780,
ora snuare miles, of 366 ,6s9,920 acres.
The period since the exchange OF ra''hcatlons
of the treaty has been too short TO enable the
government iu have access to. or 10 procure an
sracts ofcopies OF the land titles issued by Spain
or by the republic of Mexico. Steps will De
taken to procure this Information at the EARL
es, prac,ible period. 1t is estimated, AS appears
from the accompanying report, OF the Secretary
of,he Treasury. that much the largest portion OF
The land within the territories ceded remains
vacant and unappropria,ed, and will be subject
to b. disposed OF by the United States. Indeed
a very fnconsiderable portion OF the land embra.
ced in the cession, it is believed. has been dis
posed of or granted either BY Spain or Mexico:
What amount of money the United States
NAV be able to realize from the sales OF thes
vacant lan!s must be uncertain, but it is conn.
den,ly believed that with prudent management,
afer making liberal grants to em'grants and
settlers, i, willIexceed the cost OF the war ano
all the expenses to which we have been suo.
ieced in acquiring ii. 49,,
The resolutions also call for the "evidence.
or any mart thereof" that the "extenslve a. d
valuable territories ceded by Mexico The Unit
ted States constitute indemnify for the past.
The immense value of the ceded country does
not consist alone in the amount ot money lo'
which the public lands may be sold. 1t not
dollar could be realized from the sale OF these
lands, the cessions of the jurisdiction over Inc
country, and the fact that il has become Par'
of our Union, and cannot be made subject I"
European power, constitutes ample" indemnify
for the pa.t," in the immense value and advan'
tages which its acquisition must give 10 Inc COM
mercal, navigating, manufacturing ana aer''
cultural interests of our country. -.
The value of public lands embraced within
the limits of the ceded territory, great as tha'
value might be, is less important TO the people
ofthe United States that the sovereignty over
The country. Most of our tatrs contain M
public lands owned by the United States; and
vet the sovereignty and jurisdiction over them
is OF ncacuable importance 10 the nation. In
the State of New York, the United States is the
owner of no public lands. and yet two thirds ol
our whole revenue is collected al the great Por'
ofthat state and within her limits is found abou'
one seventh ofour entire population.
Although none of the future cities on oo'
coast of California may ever rival the cl'y o
New York in wealth, population and business
yet, that important cities will grow up in mag
nificent harbors ofthat coast, with rapidly IN
creasing population, and yielding large rese'
ME- would seem to be certain: ny the posses
sion of,he safe and capacious harhors on the
California coast. we shall have great advantages
in securing the rich commerce ot the eas', anu
shall thus obtain for our products new and in
creased m ,rkets, and greatly enlarge our coast
ing and foreign trade as we'll as augment ouI
tonnage and revenue.
These great advantages, far more than the
simple value of the public lands in the ced's
territory, "consli,ute our indemnify for the past.
JAMES K. POLK.
WASHINGTON. July "a, ls4s.