Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-12-22

: " SS'Ch ltu anu SIAlN-lIlTc
millions five hundred and fifty-nIne thou
sand and forty acres while the area of tn
remaining OF the twenty-nine States, an
Inc territories not yet organized into State
east OF the Rocky Mountains contains tw
millions iity-nine thousand FIVE hnndre
and thirteen square miles, or thirteen hund
dred and eighteen million one hundred AM
twenty-slX thousand and ffly-eight acres
These estimates show that the territorie
acquired, and over which our exclusive in
rsdicuon and dominion have been extend
ed, constituting a country more than hal
as large as all that was held by the Untet
States before their acquisition. If Oregon
be excluded from the estimate, there will
still remain within the limits of Texas New
Mexico and California eight hundred anC
hlty-One thousand five hundred and ninety
eight square miles, or five hundred anC
l0rly-hve million twelve thousand sever
hundred and twenty acres being an add
ton equal 10 more than one third of all the
territory owned by the U. States before the
acquisition, and including Oregon, nearly
a. great an extent OF territory as the whole
OF Europe, Russia only excepted.
The Mississippi, so lately the frontier o.
our country, Is now only lis centre. With
the addition of the late acquisitions, the
United States are now estimated to be near
ly as large as the whole of Europe.
1t is estimated by the Superintendent Of
the Coast Survey, i'll The accompanying re-
/ port, that the extent of the Sea Coast OF
| Texas on the Gulf of Mexico, is upwards
OF 400 miles ; of The coast of Upper Cali
/ iornia, Oh the Pacific, 60 miles; and oil
Oregon, including the Straits of Fuca, OF
$50 miles, makig The whole extent of both
the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico 2O2O
miles. The length of the coast on the At
lantIc from the Northern limits of the Uni>
ted States. around the Capes Of Florida to
| the Sabine ION the eastern boundary oil
Texas is estimated to be 3,l00 miles so
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 1870 miles, being
nearly One>half OF the extent of the coast
which we possessed before these acquisi-
tons. We have now three great marine
fronts, on the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico,
and The Pacific; making in the whole an
extent OF sea coast exceeding 5000 miles
This IS the extent of the sea coast of the L .
). not including BAYS Sounds, and small
irregularities of the main shore, and of the
Sea Islands, if these be included, the length
OF the shore lInC or coast, as estimated bv
the Superintendent of the Coast Survey in
his report, would he 3,363 miles.
1t would be difficult to calculate the
value of these immense additions to our
territorial possessions. Texas, laying con-
tguous to The western houndcIy of Louis
lana, embracing within its limits a part of
the navlgabe tributary waters of the Miss
lsslppl, and an extensive sea coast could not
have long remained in the hands of for
elgn power, without endangering the peace
of our southwestern frontier. Her pro-
duets in the vicinity of the tributaries of the
Mississippi, must have sought a market
thro these streams, running INTO and thr0-
ugh our territory; and the danger Of lrria-
ton and collision ofinterest between Tex
as foreign STATE, and ourselves, would
have been imminent, while the cmharraS-
ments IN the commercial intercourse be-
tween them must have been constant and
unavoidable. Had Texas fallen into the
hands, or under the influence and control
of Il strong maritime or military foreign
power. as she might have done, these dan
gers would have ocen avoided by her vols
untary and peaceful annexation 70 the
United States.
Texas, from her postum, was natural
and almost indispensable part of our terri
tories. Fortunately she has been restored
to our country, and now constitutes one of
the states of our confederacv, upon ar
equal footing with the original States
The saIubrity of climate he fertility
of soil, peculiarly adapted to the produc-
| ton of some OF our most valuable staple
commodities, our commercial advantages
must soon maze her one of our most pop
uIouS States.
New Mexico, though situated within the
interior and without seacos, is known to
contain much fertile lands, to abound in rich
mines ollhe most precious metals, and to be
capable of sustaining large population.-
/ From lis position, it is the intermediate
! and connecting territory between our set
/ dement's and our possessions in Texas, and
those on the Pacific coast,
Upper California, irrespective of the vast
mineral wealth recently developed there,
holds, at dis day, point of value and
| importance TO the rest of the Union, the
same relation that Louisiana did, when
that fine territory was acquired from France
forty years ago. Extending nearly ten de-
grces of latitude along the Pacific and en-
braring the only safe and commodlous
harbors on that coast frr many hundred
miles, with a temperate climate. and an
extensive interior of fertile lands, it is
scarcely possible TO estimate its wealth I'M
til it shall be brought under the govern
ment OF our laws, and its resources fully
developed.
From its position, it must command the
rich commerce of China, of Asia, of the
islands OF the Pacific, of western Mexico,
OF Central America, the South American
states, and the Russian possessions border
ing on that ocean. A great emporium will
doubtless speedily arise on The California
coast which may be destined TO rival in i'm.
portance New Orleans itself. The depot