Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-12-08

commissioner of the General Land Office from
the most authentic information in his possession,
and which is herewith transmitted, contains ono
million one hundred and nnety-three thousand
aud sixly-ono square miles, or seven hundred
and sixty-lhree millions FIVE hundred and hity.
nine thousand and forty acres; while the area OF
the remaining twenty-nine States, and the terri
tory not yet organized into States east OF the
Rocky mountains, contains two millions fifty nine |
thousand Eve hundred and thirteen square miles,
or thirteen hundred and eight millions one hum
dred and twcnty-six thousand and hity-cight
acres These estimates show that the territories
recently acquired, and over which Our exclusive |
jurisdiction aud dominion have been extended, |
constitute country more than half as large as
all that which was held by the United States
before their acquisition II Oregon be excluded
from the estimate, there viii still remain within
the limits Of Texas. New Mexico and California,
eight hundred and hfty-ono thousand ave hun
dred and ninety eight square miles, or five hun
drod and forty-five millions twelve thousand sew
| en- hundred and twenty acres being an addition
equal to more than onc-third Of all the territory
owned by the United States before their acqui.
stion; and, including Oregon, nearly as great
an extent Of territory rs the whole Of Europe,
/ Russia only excepted. The Mississippi, so late
/ " the frontier of our country. is now only its
centre. With the addition OF the late acquisi
tons, the United States are now estimated TO be
nearly as large as The whole Of Europe. 1t is
estimated by the superintendent of the coast
survey, in the accompanying report, that tho ex
tent OF the sea coast Of Texas on the Gulf Of
Mexico is upwards Of four hundred miles of
the coast Of Upper California, on the Pacific, Of
nine hundred and seventy miles; aud Of Ore
gon, including the Straits OF Fuca, of six hun
dred and fifty miles; making the whole extent
of sea coast on the Pacific one thousand six hun
dred 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 tho United States around the capes Of Flori-
da TO the Sabine, on the eastern boundary Of
Texas, is estimated to be three thousand one
hundred miles: that the addition Of sea coast,
including Oregon, is very nearly two-thirds as
great as all we possessed before and excluding
Oregon, is an addition of one thousand three
hundred and seventy miles; being nearly equal
to one half OF the extent of coast which we pos
sossed before these acquisitions. We have now
three great maratimc frouts--on the Atlantic, the
Gulf OF Mexico and the Pacifc-makine ia the
, whole extent Of sea coast exceeding ave thou
sand miles This is the extent Of the sea coast
OF the United States, not including bays, sounds
: and small irrcgulariiie, 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 suryey,in bis re-
port, would bo thirty three thousand and sixty
! three miles.
1t would be difficult to calculate the value Of
these immense additions 20 our territorial posses
sions. Texas, lying contiguous to the western
boundary Of Louisiana, embracing within its
limits part Of the nayigable tributary waters OF
! the Mississippi, and an extensive sea coast could
not long have remained in the hands Of foreign
/ power without cndangcring the peace Of our
southwestern frontier. Her products in The vi
cinity Of the Mississippi must have sought a
market through these streams, running into and
through our territory and the danger Of irrita-
ton aud collision of interests between Texas Us
a foreign State and ourselves, would have been
imminent, while the embarrassments in the com
mercial intercourse between them would have
been constant and unavoidable. Had Texas
fallen into the hands, or under the influence and
control Of a maritime or military foreign power,
as she might have done, these dangers would
have been still greater. They have been avoid
cd by her voluntary and peaceful annexation to
the United States. Texas, from her position,
was a natural and almost indispensable part OF
our territories. Fortunately, she has been res
tored to our country, aud now constitutes one Of
{ the States Of our coniederacy, upon an equal
! footing with the original States" The salubrity
of climate the fertility of soil, peculiarly adapt
. ed to the production of some OF our most yalua-
bic commodities, and her commercial advantages,
/ must soon i,iske her one of our most populous
: states.
A New Mexico, though situated in the interior,
c and without 4 sen coast, is known to contain
n much fertile land and to abound in rich mines
of the precious metals, aud To be CAPABLE of sus-
Il ;;anng large population From it, position, it
+ "a the intermediate and connecting territory be-
tween our settlements and our possessions in
r Texas. and those on the Pacific coast.
Ill Upper California. irrespective OF the vast min
;. eral wealth rccently developed there. holds al
b this day in point Of value and Importance to the
i rest Of the Union, the same relation that Louis
;. lana did, when that fine territory WAS acquired
G from France, forly-6ye wears ago. Extending
nearly ten degrees of latitude along the Pacific,
c and embracing the only safe and commodious
$ harbors on that coast for many hundred miles,
with temperate climate, and an extensive in
terror Of fertile lands il is scarcely possible to
r estimate its wealth until it shall be brought I'M
= der the government of our laws and its resour-
n ces fully developed Ii must receive the rich
g commerce of China Of Asia, Of the Islands of the
Q Pacific, of Western Mexico, of Central America,
!, the South American States, and of the Russian
Possessions bordering ON that ocean. great
4 emporium will doubtless speedily arise on The
;. Californian coast, which NAV be destined 10 ri.
:.