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

from scientific and skilful examination of the
whole face of the will be eminenily useful TO
Congress when they come to consider the propris
ely OF making appropriations for these great ma
tional objects. Proper defences on land win be
necessary for the security and protection OF our
possessions; and the establishment of navy-yards.
ana oock tor the repair and construction OF YES
Sels, VIII De important alike to our navy and COM
mercial marine. Without such establishments
every vessel, whether of the navy or of the mer-
chant SERVICE requiring repair, must, at great ex-
pense, come round Cape Horn to one Of our At
lantic wards for that purpose With such estab- |
lishments vessels. it is believed NAV be built or
repaired as cheaply in California as upon the At
lantlc coast They would give employment to |
many of our enterprising ship-builders and me-
chancs and greatly facilitate and enlarge our COM
merce in the Pacific.
AS it is ascertaned that mines of gold, silver,
"copper" and quicksilver exist in New Mexico and
California and that nearly all the lands where
they are fonnd belong to the United States, it is
deemed important to the public interests that pro-
vision be made for geological and neurological
examination of these regions Measures should
be adopted to preserve the mineral lands especial
y such contain The precious metals; for the use
of the United States; or if brought into market
to separate them from the farming lands, and dis
pose of them in such manner as to secure large
return of money to the treasury, and at the same
time lead to the development of their wealth by
individual proprietors and purchasers. 10 do
this it will be necessary to provide for an lmmed-
at survey and location of the lots. If Congress
should deem it proper to dispose of the mineral
lands they should be sold in small quantities, and
at fixed minimum price.
| l recommend that surveyor generals offices be
authorized to be established in New Mexico and
California, and provision made for surveying and
| bringing the public lands into market at the earli-
est practicable period. In disposing of these
lands, recommend that the right of pre-emption
be secured and liberal grants made to the early
emigrants who have settled or may settle upon
them.
1t will be important to extend our revenue laws
over these Territories and especially Califor-
MIA, at an early period. There is already con-
siderable commerce with California; and until
ports of entry shall be established and collectors
appointed, no revenue can be received.
If these and other necessary and proper
ures be adopted for the development of the wealth
and resources of New Mexico and California, and
regular Territorial governments be established over
them, such will probably be the rapid enlargement
of our commerce and navigation, and such the
addition to the national wealth. that the present
generation may live to witness the controlling
commercial and monetary power of the world
transferred from London and other European en-
poriums to the city of New York.
The apprehensions which were entertained by
some of our statesmen, in the earlier periods of
the government, that our system was incapable of
operating with sufficient energy and success over
largely extended territorial limits, and that if this
were attempted, 1t would fall to pieces bV its own
weakness, have been dissipated by our experience
BY the division of power between the States and
federal government, the latter is found to operate
with as much energy in the extremes as in the
centre. 1t is as efficient in the remotest of the
thirty States which now compose the Union it
was in the thirteen States which formed our con-
stitution Indeed, it may well be doubted wheth-
err it our present population had been confined
within the limits of the orr ginal thirteen States
the tendencies to Capitalization and consolidation
would not have been such as to have encroacheC
upon the essential reserved rights of the States
! and thus to have made the federal government
widely different one, practically from What it is r
theory and was intended to be by its trainers. Sc
far from entertaining apprehensions of the safety
of our system by the extension of our territory
the belief is confidently entertained that each new
e State gives strength and an additional guaranty
for the preservation of the Union itself
In pursuance of the provisions ofthe thirteenth
article of the treaty of peace friendship. limits
and settlement, with the republic of Mexico, anc
t of the act of July the twenty-ninth l64S, claim:
OF our citizens which had been ''already qudateC
4 and decided against the Mexican republic" a
2 mounting, with the interest thereon, to two mil
lion twenty-three thousand eight hundred anc
thlrty-tWO dollars and htty-One cents have beer
e liquidated and paid. There remain to be paid o
= these claims, seventv-four thousand one hundred
:, and ninety-two dollars and twenty-six cents.
e Congress at its last session having made ne
provision for executing the fifteenth article of thu
treaty, by which the United States assume to make
= satisfaction for the 'unliuudated claims" of on
ceeding three and quarter millions of dollars,
S the SUBJECTS again recommended to your favorable
Y consideration.
= The exchange of notifications of the treaty will
: Mexico took place on the Both of May, l849-
n Within one year after that time the commissions
! and surveyor which each government stipulates t.
r appoint, required to meet sat the port of Sal
It Diego, and proceed TO run and mark the said boun
n Diary in its whole course to the mouth of the Ri
If Bravo del Norte. 1t will be seen from this pro
S vision, that the period within which commits
l. sioner and surveyor of the respective government
It are to meet at San Diego, will expire on the BOT
If OF May, l849. Congress- at the close of it's las
?, session, made an appropriation for "the expense
: of running and marking the boundary line' be
J. between the two countries. but did not fix tn
d amount of salary which should be paid to tn
t, commissioner and surveyor to be appointed tn
part of the United States 1t is desirable that tn
er amount OF compensation which they shall receiv
IS should be prescribed by law, and not left as {
7r present, to Executive discretion.
IS Measures were adopted at the earliest practical
period to organize the "Territorial governmer
er OF Oregon" as authorized by the act of the fou
tenth OF August last The governor and marsha
e OF the territory, accompanied by military esco
let the frontier OF Missouri in September last ar
ID look tne southern route, by the way of Santa F
and the river Gila to California with the ntentc
n. OF proceeding thence in of our vessels of W.
m to their destination. The governor was fully az
vised of the great Importance of his early arriv
ns in the country, and it is confidently believed
pE6Scl
IN month"; or early in the next The other officers
at the Territory have proceeded by sea-
c. In the month of May last, communicated il
&c formation to Congress that Indian war had br
9ir ken out in Oregon, and recommended that autho
v lty be given to raise an adequate number of vo
he unteers to proceed without delay to the assistant
ny OF our fellow citizens in that Territory The a
r thorlty to raise such force not having been gra
IN ted by Congress as soon their services could
of dispensed with in Mexico, orders were issued
Sc the regiment of mounted rif1emen to proceed
CHI Jefferson Barracks, in Missouri and to prepare
We march to Oregon as soon as the necessary provi
of Ion could be made Shortly before it was ready
of march, 1t was arrested by the provision of the
n passed by Congress the last day of the last Sc
ne sion, which directed that all the non-commissio
ed officers musicians and privaes of that regimen
he VINO mad been in the service in Mexico should III
If on their application, be entitled to be discharge
a. The effect OF this provision was to disband Il
y, rank and he OF the regiment; and before their pl
b. ces could be filled by recruits, the season had
nd far advanced that it was mpracticabe for it pr
nd coed until the opening of the next spring.
In the month of October last the accompanyir
d. communication was received from the governor
a the temporary government of Oregon, giving i
formation OF the continuance of the Indian distu
Dances, and of the restitution and defenceess co
dltlon OF the Inhabitants Orders were immedi
he tely transmitted to the commander of our Soua
ron in the Pacific to despach to their assistance