Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-12-07


ourselves and TO poslerity are CORRESPONDENCE,
increased. This will be the more obvious
when we consider the vast additions which
have been recently made TO cur territorial
p sessions, end their great importance and
value.
Wiihia less than four years the annexa.
non OF Texas TO the Union has been consum-
mated; all conflicting title to the Oregon ter
riiofy south of the Ago of north latitude. be-
Ing all that was insisted on by anv of INV
predecessors, has been adjused; and New
Mexico and Upper California have been &C.
CURED BY treaty. The area of these several
Territories. according to report carefully
I prepared by the Commissioner Of The Gene
I raj Land Office from the most authentic in
formation In his possession, and which Is
herewith transmitted, contains one million
one hundred and nine three thousand and
sixty one square miles, or seven hundred and
sIxty-three millions five hundred and fiity-
nine thousand and forty acres; while the area
cf the remaining twenty nine States, and the
territory not yet organized into States cas-, of
the Rocky mountains, contains two millions
ffty-mne Thousand five hundred and thirteen
square miles, or thirteen hundred and eiuh-
teen million one hundred and twenty six
thousand and fifty eight acres. These esti-
mates show that the territories recently &C
quired, and over which our exclusive iuris
diction and dominion have been extended
constitute country moro than half as large
as all that which was held by the IT, States
before their acquisition.
II Oregon be excluded from the estimate.
there will still remain within the limits Of
Of Texas, New Mexico, and California,
eight hundred and fifty one thousand five
hundred and ninety eight square miles, or
hve hundred and forty five million twelve
thousand seven hundred and twenty. acres;
being an addition equal to more than one
third of all the territory owned by the Uni
ted States before their acquisition; and, in
GLIDING Oregon, nearly as great an extent of
territory as the whole OF Europe, Russia On
y excepted. The Mississippi, SO lately the
frontier OF our country, is row only its CEN
tire. With the additions of the late acquis-
tons, the United States are now estimated
10 be nearly as large as the whole of Europe
Ii is estimated by the superintendent of the
coast survey, in the accompanying report,
that the extent Of the seacoast of Texas on
the Gulf Of Mexico is upwards of four hun
dred miles; of the coast of Upper California,
On the Pacific, of nine hundred and seventy
miles; and OF Oregon, including the Straits Of
Fuca, OF six hundred and fifty miles; making
the whole extent of seacoast on the Pacific
one thousand six hundred and twenty miles.
and the whole extent on both the Pacific and
the Gulf of Mexico two thousand and twenty
miles.
The length Of the coast on the Atlantic,
from the northern limits Of the United States
around the Capes of Florida to the Sabine,
on the eastern boundary of Texas, is estima.
ted TO be three thousand one hundred miles:
SO that the addition OF seacoast, including
Oregon, is very nearly two-thirds as great as
all we possessed before; and excluding Ore
gon, Is an addition Of one thousand three hun
died and seventy miles, being nearly equal
TO one half OF the extent of coast which we
possessed before these acquisitions.
We have now three great maritime fronts
-on the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico. and
the Pacl6c--making in the whole an extent
OF seacoast exceeding five Thousand miles.
This is the extent of the seacoast of the II
States, not including bays, sounds, and small
irregularities Of the main shore, and of the
sea Islands. II these be included, the length
of the shore line of coast, as estimated by
the superintendent of the coast survey. in
his report, would be thirty-three thousand
and sxty-three miles.
1t would be difficult TO calculate the value
of these immense additions TO our territorial
possessions. Texas, lying contiguous to the
western boundary of Louisiana, embracing
within its limits part Of the navigable trib-
utary waters of the Mississippi, and an ex-
tensive seacoaSt, could not long have re-
NAMED in the hands of a foreign power
without endadgering the peace of our south
western frontier Her products in the vicin-
ity of the tributaries of the Mississippi
must have sought market through these
streams, running into and through our terri
tory; and the danger of irritation and col
lision of interests between Texas as foreign
State and ourselves would have been immi-
nent, while the embarrassmens in the com
mercial intercourse between them must have
been constant and unavoidable. Had Tex
as fallen into the hands, or under the influ-
ence and control of strong maritime or
military foreign power, as she might have
done, these dangers would have been still
greater.
They have been avoided by her voluntary
and peaceful annexation to the United
States Texas from her position, was a nat
ural and almost indispensable part of our
territories, Fortunately, she has been re-
stored TO our country, and now constitutes
one of the States of our coniederacy, "upon
an equal footing with the original Sta,es.n
The salubrity of climate, the fertility of soil,
peculiarly adapted to the production of some
our most valuable staple commodities, and
her commercial advantages, must soon make
her one one OF our most populous States.
New Mexico, though situated in the inte-
rior, and without a seacoast, is known to
contain much fertile land, to abound in rich
mines OF the precious metals, and TO be ca
pable of sustaining large population
From its position, it is the intermediate and
connecting territory between our settlements
and our possessions IN Texas, and those on
Pacific coast.
Upper California, irrespective of the vast
mineral wealth recently developed there,
holds at this day, in point of value and i'm
porlance TO the rest of the Union, the same
relation that Louisiana did, when that fine
territory was acquired from France forty
hive years. Extending nearly ten degrees of
latitude along the Pacific, and embracing
the only safe and commodious harbors on
that coast for many hundred. miles, with
temperate climate, and an extensive interior
of fertile lands, 1t is scarcely possible to esti-
mate its wealth until il shall be brought un-
der the government Of our laws, and its re-
sources fully developed. From its position,
il must command the rich commerce of Chi
ma, Of Asia, of the Islands of the Pacific. of
Western Mexico, of Central America, the
South American States, and of the Russian
possessions bordering on that ocean. A
great emporium will doubtless speedily arise
on the Californian coast, which may be des-
tined to rival in importance New Orleans it.
self. The depot of the vast commerce
| ,,>ust av,et on tho Dacihn u,,U 0roha