Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-12-07

an extent Of sea coast exceeding 5000 miles.
bis lsithe extent OF sea coast OF the United
States, not including bays. sounds, and small
ire zu,auties Of the main shore and OF the
SEA islands; u ul-se te includsi she length OF
int shore hne oi coss, y - ina Ted Nv the SUI
peUndvni 81 the cosst surveys. "a tins report,
would be 3j.063 miles
10 would b. difficult, 10 calculate the value
VI these immense additions tu oul territorial
possessions. Texas. living contiguous to the
western boundary OF Lrsls,4nt. embracing
Wttmuits limits a part eft the nayigab,e ino-
uary waters OF the Mi,,is,i gri, aud on ex-
ieusitr sea coast, cuuldnpt hong have remuia-
Ell IA The hands OF iofeiga power. wrhout
emdngcriug The peaCs ol orr Soulh-Ncstem
irOngier. her products IN tie vicinity OF the
tributaries Il the Mississippi. must have
Sought market through those streams fuu-
ulng into aud through our territory; aud the
danger OF irritation and collision oi interests
between Texas, ss q foreign SAFE, and ours,
ever would have been imminent. white The
endorsements in the commercial intercourse
bvtvern Them must have been constant and
unavoidable. Had Texas fallen intu tie
LANDS, or under lhe influence and control ui
stroug mainline OF military power, as she
might have done, these dangers would have
been sila greater. They have been avoided
by her voluntary and peaceful auneXstiun 10
the l.. States.
Texas, from her position. wss a natuml-
aud almost Indispeasab bic part "a our tesulo-
rirs. Fortunately she has bren restored 20
ouf county. anj now constitutes Que OF tn
States OF our coulrlemcy. upon an equal
ipotiCg viii tbe original States. The saiu-
buiy OF climate. the fertility of soil peculor-
u adapted 10 the production OF some OF oar
mus valuable staple commodities, and her
c1inmerclal advantages, mus SION make her
one OF car mos, p pu.ous STATES.
New Mckee. though situated an the mite
fiof. and without a sea coast, Is known to
contain much fertile hand. To abound in uch
mines OF The precious metals, ani to be capa-
Bile al sustaining large popuIanou. From
lis position il Is the Intermediate aud connec.
ting territory between vne settlements and
our possessions IN Texas and those on The Pa
cihc coast.
Upper California, Irrespective OF the vast
muerdl wealth recently developed there,
holds at this day, IN point OF value and iai-
pottsnce, 70 the rest OF the Union. the same
relations that Louisiana nd when that hde
territory was acquired from France, 40 years
ago. Extending nearly 10 degrees OF latitude
along the Pacific. and embracing the only
sale and commojious htrbor on the coast Tor
many hundred miles, TO a temperate climate,
aud On extensive interior oil fertile lands, 1t Is
scarcely possible 10 estimate its wealth. unlil
II Snail be bought under the government OF
our laws and is resources fully developed.
From lis position, il must commend The
rich commerce oi China, OF Asia, Of the Isl
ouds OF the Pacific. ol Western Mexico, OF
( d a. A it,
and OF the Russian Possessions, bordering on
1 hat Ocean. greatempunum viii doubtless
speedily arse on the California coast which
may be destined % rivt ia importance New
Orleans itself. The depot OF Inc vast com
meIce which must exist on he Pacific,
will probably be at some point on the Boy OF
San Franlsco. aud viii occupy the same rela-
iion 10 the whole western coast OF thai ocean.
as New Orleans does 10 the Valley oil the
Mississippi and the Gull OF Mexico. To
tbis depot Our numerous Whale SHIPS v Ill re-
sprt, with their carsaes To trade, geiit and Oh
tain supplies. This OF itself viii largely
hc p 10 build up ii city which would soon be-
come the centre OF greht and rapldly ia
creaslng commerce. Situated oa u sale hll-
bor, sufficiently eapacious or al the navies,
as well as The marine oil lhe world, and con-
senient 10 excellent lumber Tor ship bulldog,
owned by the United States. 1t must become
our great Western Naval Depot.
Il was known that mines OF precious met
ais existed toa considerable extent in Galilar-
ma at the time OF its acquisition. Recent
discoveries render il probable that these mines
are more extensive aud valuable than was an
ilcipaied. The accounts OF the abundance of
gold IN that territory are OF such an eAtranr-
dinary character as would scarcely colnnsnd
belief, were they not cJrroborated hy the au-
'henac reports Of officers il the public ser,
tlce, who have visited the mineral districts,
aud derived the facts which they detail from
personal observation. Reluctant to c.eait
the reports in general circulation, as to the
quantity OF gold, the officer commanding our
iorces in California visited the mineral dis
tncis IN July last Tor the purpose OF obia m
Jog correct information on The subject. His
report TO the War Department. OF the resait
OF has examination, aud the facts ubtained on
The spot, is herewith laid before Congress. -
When he visited the country, theme were a.
bout 1000 persons engaged in collecting gold.
Thus abundance OF gold and The all cngros
stag pursuit OF it have already cansed. in
California, an unprecedented rise IN the price
Of the ueees sarles OF lie.
'uat we may we more speedily ana hllY
avail ourselves Of the mdeveloped wealth OF
hese mines, Il Is deemed OF vast importance
TIA! "a branch OF The mint OF the L s. be au-
'hofi1ed to be established, at your present
Sc ssion; IN California. Among other signal
advantages which would result from such an
establishment would be that OF raising Tie
god 10 IFS par value IN that territory A
branch mint Of the u. 5. at the great CONNER
nal lie ON bs
MO our own con not only the gold derived
rom ourown rich mines bat also the bullion
nd specie which our commerce may bring
rom the whole west coast OF Central Amer.
d. The West coast 6l America and The adj.
accent interior embrace the rrhest and best
n,ncs OF Mexico, New Grenada, Central A.
nefica Chill aud Peru. The bullion and
PEA lie drawn from these countries. and espe-
Iniiy irom those OF Western Mexico and
cru, 10 an anonnt ia value ol many millions
dollars, are now annually diverted and car
ed by the ships oil Great Britain to Der own
cgts TO be coined or used 10 sustain her Ma
onaI Bank, aud thus contribute TO Increase
er ability to command SO much of the com
Ierce OF the world. II brunch mint BE-. e.
ah!lshed at the great commercial point un
iat coast, vast amount OF bullion and spe-
e would flow thlher; to be rr-coIued, and
49, thence 10 n. Orleans n. York, ANA the
.daniie cities
The amount Of our constitutional currency
home would be greatly increased while rs
Tcuidilon abroad would be promoted, 1t Is
eli known 10 our merchants trading 10 Chi
4 ANA the west coast Of America, that great
convenience and loss are experienced from
k fact that our coius are not current at their
Ar value in these countries
The powers of Europe, lar removed from
e west coast OF America, bY the Atlantic
,ean, which interviews, aud bya tedious and
ngefous navigation around the Southera
Ipe OF the Conllneu, OF America, can never
eoesstuLIy compele with The U. s. IN the