The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1848-12-15

"'o 'cPo''o " tie war DepdItlncnt VI tc to
r suit of his examination, and the facts obtained
e on the spot, is herewith laid before Congress
8 When he visited the country, there wers
e about 1900 persons engaged in collecting
gold. There is every reason to believe tina,
the number Of persons So employed has since
. been augmented. The explorations already
made warrant the belief that the supply is very
large, and that gold is found at various points
in an extensive district Of country.
Information received from officers of the
Navy, and other sources, though not so full
! and minute, confirm the accounts of the COM
mander Of our military forces in Cali ornia,-
1t appears, also, from these reports, that
mines of quicksilver are found in the vicinity
-of the gold region; one of them is now being
worked, and is believed 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 labors Of those who
have resorted to them, have produced sur
PTising change in the state Of affairs in Cali
forDia. Labor commands most exorbtss,l
price, and all other pursuits, bht that Of
searching for the precious metals, are aban.
doned. Nearly the whole 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 commanding officer
there entertains apprehensions that soldiers
cannot be kept in the public service, without
a large increase OF pay Desertions IN his
command have become frequent, and he rec
ommends that those, who shall Withstand thel
strong temptation, and remain faithful, sholid
be rewarded.
The abundance Of gold, and the allam
crossing pursuit of it, has already caused Dal
ifornla an Unprecedented rise in the necc5s
saries in life. II
That we may more speedily and fully avail
ourselves of the undeveloped wealth of these
mines, Il is deemed Of vast Importance that a
branch Of the mint of the United States be
authorized 10 be established, during the pres.
ent session, in California. Among other signal
advantages which would result Asom such an
establishmentw would be that of raising the gold
to it's par value in that territory. branch
mint of the United States at the great com
mercial depot on the west coast, would convert
in to 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, Central and South
America. The west coast of America and
the adjacent interior, embrace the best mines
IF New Mexico, New Grenada Central Amer
Ca Chill and Peru. /
The bullion and specie drawn from these
countries, and especially from those Of West. Q
,rn Mexico and Peru, to an amoiht ID value
If many mill ions Of dollars, are now Annually
diverted and carried by the ships of Great
Britain to her own ports, to be recoined, or 9
,sed to sustain her National Bank, and thus n
to increase her ability to comma nd I.
10 much of the Commerce of the world. Ifa j
,ranch mint be established at the great com.
nercial point upon that coast, d vast amount u
# bullion and specie would flow thliher to be U
ecolned, and pass thence TO New Orleans, Il
New York and other Atlantic cities. The .
mount of our constitutional currency at home
would be greatly increased while It's circula
ion abroad would be promoted. 1t is well
he west coast of America, that great incon.
enence and loss are experienced from the
acts that our coins are not current at their
ar value in those countries. o
The powers of Europe removed from the e
vest coast Of America by the Atlantic ocean, II
which intervenes, and by the tedious and l
dangerous navigation around the southern
ape of the continent Of America, can never
compete with the United States
n the rich and extensive commerce which is Ii
opened to US at so much less cost by the &C.
uistion of California.
The vast Importance and commercial ad-
'antages Of California have heretofore re- Fl
NAMED undeveloped by the government of the
which it constitutes part. Now that
his fine province is part OF our country, all
# the States of The Union, some more imme-
lately and directly than others. are deeply IN.
crested in the speedy develodment of it's
wealth and resources. No section of our
ountry is more Interested, or will be- more
'ene6ed than the commercial. naviga>
ing and manufacturing interests of the east
.rn Statea Our MA ming A nd farming inter.
lists in every part OF the Union, will be great
y benefited by it. AZ our commerce and
navigation are enlarged and extended, our
Exports of agricultural products and our man.
fractures will be increased. and in the new
markets thus opened, they can not fail to com
nand remunerating and profitable prices.
The acquisition Of Cali fornia and new Mex
Co., he settlement of the Oregon Boundary,