Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-12-08


commerce which must exist on the PACING WIN
rrnhahlv he at some point on the bay of San Fran
cisco and will occupy the same relation TO the
thoIae western coast of that ocean, as New Or |
49, a"os m the valley of the Mississippi and the
Hie - Mexico. To this depot our numerous
haIe ships will resort with their cargoes, TO trade,
St and obtain supplies. This of itself will large
Iv contribute to build up city, which would soon
become the centre of great and rapidly increasing
commerce. Situated on a safe harbor, suinclehl-
y capacious for all the naves as well as the ma
rine ofthe world and convenient to excellent TIM
Der for ship building owned by the United states,
it must become our great western naval depot.
1t was known that mines OF the precious HeIdis
existed m n considerable extent in California at
the time of it's ACQUISITION. Recent discoveries
renterit probable that these mines are more 6A-
tensive and valuable than was anticipated Inc
accounts of the abundance OF gold In that territory
40 of crch an extraordinary character as would
scarcely command belief were they not corrobora-
ted by the authentic reports OF othcers IN the pup
lie service who have visited the mineral DISTRICT
and derived the facts which the detail from per-
sonal observation. Reluctant to credit the reports
in general circulation to the quantity of gold,
the officer commanding our forces in California
visited the mineral district in July last, for the
purpose of obtaining accurate information on the
subject. His report to the War Department OF
the result of his examination, and the facts obtain
ed the spot, is herewith laid before Congress
| When he visited the country, there were about
| 1000 persons engaged in collecting gold. There
is every reason to believe that the number OF per-
sons so employed has since been augmented. The
| explorations already made warrant the belief that
that the supply is very large and that gold is
found at various places in an extensive district OF
county.
information received from officers of the navy
and other sources, though not so full and minute
confirm the accounts of the commander of our
military force in California. 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 n surprising change in the
state of affairs in California Labor commands a
most exorbitant price, and all other pursuits but
that of searching for this precious metals are a.
bandoned. Nearly the whole of the male popula-
ton 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 ontertains
apprahens ms that st lliers cannot be kept in the
public service without large increase Of pay
Desertions in his command have become frequent
and he recommends that those who shall with
stand the strong temptation, and remain faithful
should be rewarded
This abundance of gold and the all-engrossing
pursuit of it, have already caused in California an
unprecedented rise in the price of the necessares
of life
That we may the more speedily ard fully avail
ourselves of the undeveloped wealth of these
mines, it is deemed of vast importance that q
branch of the mint of the United States be au,
thoriZed to be established at your present session
in California. Among other signal advantages
which would result from such an establishment
would be that of raising the gold to its par value r
that Territory. A branch mint of the UniteC
f States at the great commercial depot on the wes
coast would convert into our own coin not only
the gold derived from own rich mines, but al
so the bullion and specie which our commerce
l may bring from the whole west coast of Contra
and South America. The west coast of America
and the adjacent interior embrace the richest ano
l. best mines of Mexico, New Grenada, Contra
d America, Chill, and Peru. The bullion and spe
S Gle drawn from these countries and especially
e from those of Western Mexico and Peru, to al
o amount in value of many millions of dollars, ar
: now annually diverted and carried by the ships O
Great Britain to her ports, to be recoined o
IF used to sustain her National Bank, and thus con
II tribute to increase her ability to command so mucl
IF Of the commerce of the world If a branch min
II be established at the great commercial point upol
2, that coast, vast amount of bullion and speci
er would flow thither to be reconed, and pass theme
lie to New Orleans, New York, and other Atlantic
a cities. The amount of constitutional curren
IF cy at home would be greatly increased, while it
&c circulation abroad would be promoted. 1t is wei
E. known to merchants trading to China an
l. the west coast OF America, that great inconven
le fence and loss experienced from the fact tina
&c our coins are not current at their par value II
id those countries.
g The powers of Europe, far removed from tn
r. west coast of America by the Atlantic whic
IS, intervenes, and by tedious and dangerous navi
n cation around the southern cape of the continen
n of America, can never successfully compete wit
n the U. S. in the rich and extensive commerc
IT, which is opened to at so much less cost by tn
d, acquisition of California
o The vast importance and commercial advanta
~ ges of California have heretofore remained unde
Id veloped by the of the country of whic
If it constituted part Now that this fine PROVING
i'll is part of our country all the States in the Unior
K some more Immediately and directly than other:
he are deeply interested in the speedy deveOpmeT
re of its wealth and resources. No section of on
We country is interested, will be more benef
lg ted than the commercial navigating, and MANI
featuring interests of eastern States. Our plar
ting and farming interests in every part ofthe UT
n, ion will be greatly benefited by it. AS our CON
lie merce and navigation are enlarged and EXTENDED
IS exports of agricultural products and of mani
w features will be increased and in the new ma
c. kets thus opened they cannot fail to command RI
to munerating and profitable prices.
is The acquisition of California and New Mexico
r. the settlement Of the Oregon boundary and tn
Mt annexation of Texas, extending to the Rio Grand
co are results which, combined, of greater const
er qucnce, and will add more to the strength an
OF wealth of the nation than any which have prec'
81 ded them since the adoption of the constitution
he But to effect these great results, not only Cal
tn fornia, but New Mexico must be brought undo
- the control of regularly organized government
of part of New Mexico lying west of the Rio Grand
of and without the limits O., Texas, imperiously d
he mand that Congress should at its present sessio
ry organize territorial governments over them.
'e- Upon the exchange of ratifcations of the trea
10 of peace with Mexico on the thirteth of May las
* the temporary governments which had been esta
lc- lished over New Mexico and California by o.
ne military and naval commanders, by virtue of Il
nd rights of war; ceased to derive any obligatory for
"a from that source of authority; and having be-
he ceded to the United States, all government al
lot control over them under the authority of Mex
of had ceased to exist. Impressed with the necess
sse of establishing territorial governments them
ST. recommended the subject to the favorable conside
asst alton OF Congress in my message communicate
the ratified treaty of peace, on the sixth of Ju
of last, and invoked their action at that sessio
es- Congress adjourned without making any provisit
I'm for their government The inhabitants by Il
M transfer oftheir country, had become entitled
he the benefits of our laws and constitution and y
lot were left without any regularly organized go
w eminent. Since that time, the very limited pow
III possessed by the Executive has been exercised
of preserve and protect them from the inevitable
int sequences of a state of anarchy. The only go
nd eminent which remained that established
on the military authority during the war. Regardir
or this to be dc fnctO government; and that by t
nj presumed consent of the inhabitants it might
err continued temporarily they were advised to CO
en form and submit TO it for the short interveniI
i L r n