The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-08-12
WHOLE NUMBER 81.

our army, some Of the conquered Mexi-
can inhabitants, who had al 6,st submitted
to our authority. broke out in open insur-
rection, numbering our soldiers and citizens,
and committing other atrocious crimes.
Some Of the principal offenders. who were
apPrehended, were tried and condemned by
a tribunal invested with civil and criminal
jurisdiction which had been established in
the conquered country by the military off,
GERS in command. a. That the offenders de-
served the punishment inflicted upon them
there is no reason to doubt; and the error
ir the proceedings against them consisted in
designating and describing their crimes as
"ueason against the United States" This
error was pointed out, and its recurrence
thereby prevented, by the Secretary Of War,
in dispatch TO the officer in command in
New Mexico, dated on the Goth Of June,
lS47, a copy Of which, together with Co
pies of all communications relating TO the
subject which have been received at the
War Department, is herewith transmitted.
The resolutions call for information in
relation 10 the quantity Of public lands &C
lquired within the ceded territory, and chow
much Of the same is within the boundaries
LOT Texas, as defined by the act OF Congress
Of the republic Of Texas Of the 18th day
Of December, 1886" No means Of max
ing an accurate estimate on the subject is
in the possession Of the Executive Depart
ment. The information which is possessed
will be found in the accompanying report
Of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
| The country eeeded to the United States
lying west Of the Rio Grande, and to which
Texas has no title, is estimated by the Com.
missioners Of the General Land Office to
contain 526.O7S square miles, or 366, &c.
900 acres.
| The period since the exchange Of ratif-
cations OF the treaty has been too short to
enable the government to have access to,
or to procure abstracts OF copies Of, the
land titles issued by Spain or by the re
public Of Mexico. Steps will be taken to
procure this information at the earliest prac-
ticable period. Ii is estimated, as appears
from the accompanying report Of the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury, that much the larger
portion Of the land within the territories
ceded remains vacant and inappropriate,
and will be sub iect to be disposed Of by the
United States. Indeed, very considera-
bic portion OF the land embraced in the
cessioD. it is believed, has been disposed Of
or granted either by Spain or Mexico.
What amount Of money the United
States may be able to realize from the sales
, Of these vacant lands must be uncertain;
but it is confidently believed that, with pru-
, dent management, after making liberal
: grants TO emigrsnts and settlers, il will ex-
coed the cost Of the war and all the expen-
SEES to which we have been subjected in
acquiring it. .
The resolutions also call for the ''evi-
{ dence, or any part thereof" that the eek
. tensive and valuable territories cedsd by
; Mexico to the United States constitute in
demnity for the past --
: The immense value Of the coded coun
' try docs not consist alone in the amount o.
e money for which the public lands may b
I sold. If not dollar could be realizes
+ from the sale Of these lands, the cession o
II the jurisdiction over the country, and thu
d fact that it has become part Of our Union
n and cannot be made subject to European
II power, constitutes ample "indemnity for tn
o past, in the immense value and advantage
J. which its acquisition must give to the com
Il mercial, navigating, manufacturing and az
a ricultural interests of our country.
= The value Of public lands embrace
within the limits Of the eeded territory
v great as that value may be, is far less i'm
o portant to the people Of the United State
d than the sovereignty over the country. Mos
Of our States contain no public lands ownec
o by the United States. and yetthe sovereign
}, ty and jurisdiction over them is Of incalcu
Ie liable importance 10 the nation. In tn
IS State OF New York, the United States
I, the owner of no public lands. and yet two
IS thirds OF our whole revenue is collected 9
y the great port Of that State. and within he
he limits is found about one-seventh Of our en-
n tire population.
n Although none Of the future cities o.
4 our coast Of California may ever rival Ii
he city Of New York in wealth, populatio
n and business, yet, that important cities wi
b. grow up on the magnificent harbors Of TIL
al coast, with rapidly increasing population
We and yielding large revenue, would seel
at to be certain. By the possession OF d
he safe and capacious harbors on the Gallo
W MIA coast, we shall have great advantag'
:. in securing the rich commerce Of the cas-
lst and shall thus obtain for our products ne
At, and increased markets, and greatly enlarl
OF our coas,ing and foreign trade, as well
n augment our tonnage and revenue.
%. These great advantages, far more ths
i'm the simple value Of the public lands in d
re- ceded territory, constitute our indemni
Us for the past.
De- JAMES, X. POLK.
ne WAsHNGroS, jury "a, 1S4S.