The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-06

to the Sabine on the eastern boundary of Texas is es
mated TO be three thousand hundred miles that
The addition OF seacoas including oregon very nearly
twothlrds as great as all we possessed before and ex
GLIDING Oregon, is addition OF one thousand three hun
ded and seventy miles being nearly equal to one half OF
the extent OF which we possessed before these
QUESTIONS We have three great maritime fronts
on the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific
making in the whole an extent OF seacoast exceeding five
thousand miles This is the extent OF the seacoas OF the
United States not including bays sounds and small rreg
uariues OF the main Shore and OF the sea islands If
these be included the length of the shore line OF coast
estimated by the superintendent of the coast survey, in
his report would be thry-hree thousand and sixty
three miles
1t would be difficult to calculate the value of these i'm
mense additions to territorial possessions. Texas
lying contiguous to the western boundary of Louisiana,
embracing within its limits part of the navigable b-
uary waters of the Mississippi and an extensive sea-
coast could not long have remained in the hands of
foreign power without endangenng the peace OF our
southwestern frontier. Her products in the vicinity OF
the tributaries OF the Mississippi must have sought
market through these streams running into and through
our terrory and the danger of irritation and collision OF
interests between Texas as foreign State and our
selves would have been imminent, while the embarrass
ments In the commercial intercourse between them must
have been constant and unavoidable Had Texas fallen
into the hands, under the influence and control Of
strong maritime military foreign power, as she might
have done these dangers would have been still greater
They have been avoided by her voluntary and peaceful
Ration to the United States Texas, from her posi-
ton, natural and almost indispensable part Of
territories. Fortunately, she has been restored to
country, and constitutes of the States of our
States" The saubrity of climate, the fertility of soil
peculiarly adapted to the production of of our most
valuable staple commodities, and her commercial advan-
tages must soon make her one OF our most popuous
States.
! New Mexico, though situated in the Interior and
without seacoast, Is known TO contain much fertile
land, to abound in rich mines Of the precious Metals and
TO be capable OF sustaining large population From its
position it is the intermediate and connecting territory
between our settlements and our possessions IN Texas
and those on the Pacific coast
! Upper California, irrespective of the vast mineral
wealth recently developed there, holds at this day. in
point of value and importance the rest of the Union,
the same relation that Louisiana did, when that fine ter
ritoy was acquired from France ortyfive years ago
Extending neatly ten degrees of latitude along the Pa
ciiic, and embracing the only safe and commodous har
bors that coast Tor many hundred miles with tenn
perae climate, and extensive interior OF fertile lands,
il scarcely possible TO estimate its wealth until shall
be brought under the government of our laws and It's
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 of
The Russian possessions bordering on that ocean.
great emporium will doubtless speedily arise
IN wHi e Of
the vast which must exist on the Pacific will
probably be at some point the bay of San Francisco,
and will occupy the same relation TO the whole
coast of that ocean, New Orleans does to the valley
Of the Mississippi and the gulf OF Mexico. To this
depot our numerous whale ships will resort with their
cargoes, to trade eft, and obtain supplies. This OF IL
self will largely contribute to build up city, WHICH
would soon become the centre OF great and rapidly
increasing commerce. Situated on safe harbor, sui
GENTLY caacious for all the naves as well as the ma
rns of the world, and convenient to excellent timber for
ship building, owned by the United States ii must be-
come our great western naval depot
1t known that mines OF the precious metals exist
ed TO considerable extent in California at the time OF its
acquisition. Recent discoveries render it probable that
these mines are more extensive and valuable than was
anticipated The accounts of the abundance of gold in
that territory of such extraordinary character as
would scarcely command belief were they not corrobo-
rated by the authentic reports of officers in the public
vice. who have visited the mineral district and derived
the facts which they detail from personal observation
Reluctant to credit the reports in general circulation as
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 or the sub
Jet His report to the War Department Of the result Of
herewith laid before Congress When he visited the
country, there about four thousand persons engaged
in collecting gold There is every reason to believe that
the number OF persons so employed has since been aug
mented The explorations already made warrant the be-
lief that the supply very large and that gold is found
at various places in extensive district of country.
Information received from officers of the navy and
other sources though full and minute, confirm the
accounts of the commander OF military force IN Cali
fona 1t appears Also from these reports that mines OF
quicksilver are found in the vicinity of the gold region.
One of them is being worked, and believed TO be
among the most productive in the world.
The effects produced by the discovery of these rich min
eral depostes and the success which has attended the
abos of those who have resor'ed to them, have pro-
duced surprising change in the state of affairs in Cali
fornia. Labor commands cxorbiant price, and all
other pursuits but that of searching for the precious
metals are abandoned Nearly the whole of the male
population of the country have gone to the gold district
Ships arriving the coast deserted by their crews
and their voyages suspended for want Of sailors Our
commanding officer there entealns apprehensions that
soldiers cannot be kept IN the public service without
large increase of pay Desertons IN his command have
become frequent and he recommends that those who
shall withstand the strong temptation, and remain faith
| full, should be rewarded
This abundance of gold, and the alengrossng pursuit
of it, have already caused in California unprecedented
| rise in the price of the necessares OF lie.
| That may the speedily and fully avail our
selves of the undeveoped wealth OF these mines, il is
deemed of vast importance that branch of the mint
of the United States be authorized to be establish
ell, 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 in that Territory. branch mint of
the United States at the great commercial depot on the
west coast, would convert into our own coin not only
the gold derived from own rich mines, but also the
bullion and specie which commerce may bring from
the whole west of Central and South America The
west coast of America and the adjacent interior EN-
brace the richest and best mines of Mexico New Gena
da, Central America, Chill, and Peru. The bullion and
specie drawn from these countries and especially from
those of Western Mexico and Peru, to amount in
value of many millions of dollars, annually d
vered and carried by the ships of Great Britain TO her
ports, to be reconed used to sustain her National
Bank, and thus contribute TO increase her ability to
command much of the commerce OF the world. Ii a
branch mint be established at the great commercial point
upon that coast, vast amount OF bullion and specie
would flow thher to be recoined, and pass thence to
New Orleans New York, and other Atlantic cities The
amount of constitutional currency at home would be
greatly increased while its circulation abroad would be
promoted 1t is well known to our merchants trading to
China and the west coast of America, that great ncon
venence and loss experienced from the fact that
coins are not current at their par value in those coun