Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-12-13

Proper defences on land will be necessary for the
security and protection Of our possessions and the
establishment of navy yards, and dock for the re-
pair and construction of vessels, will be important
alike to our navy and commercial marine With
out such establishments, every vessel whether Of
the navy or Of the merchant service, requiring re-
pair, must, at great expense, come round Cape Horn
to one OF OUr Atlantic yards for that purpose With
such establishments, vessels, is believed may be
built or repaired as Cheaply in California as upon
the Atlantic coast. They would give employment
to many Of our cntcrprising ship builders and me
CHANCES and greatly facilitate and enlaruc our com
merce in the Pacific.
AS IT Is ascertained that mines of gold silver
copper, and quicksilver exist in New Mexico and
california, and that nearly all the lands where they
are found belong to the United States il is deemed
important to the public interests that provision be
made for geological and meteorological examna-
ton OF these regions. Measures should be adoptcd
to preserve the mineral lands especially such as
contain the precious metals, for the use IT, States
or, IT brought into market, to separate them from
the farming lands and dispose of them in such man
ner as to secure large return of money to the
Treasury. and at the same time lead TO the tcvel-
opment of their wealth by individual proprietors
and purchasers. To this, it will be necessary 10
provide for an immediate survey and location of the
lots II Congress should deem it proper to dispose
OF the mineral lands, they should be sold in small
quantities, and at a fixed minimum price.
recommend that surveyor generals offices be
authorised TO lie 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 dsposng of these lands,
recommend that the light Of pre- emption be
cured, and liberal grants made, to the early emf
| grants who have settled or may settle upon them.
| 1t will be important to extend our revenue laws
over these Territories, and especially Caiinr-
mia, at an early period. There is already consid-
cradle commerce with California; and until ports
of entry shall be established and collectors appoint
ed, no revenue can be received.
Ii these and other necessary and proper measures
be adopted for the development of the wealth and
resources Of New Mexico and California and repu-
lar territorial governments be established 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 mo-
notary power of the world transferred from London
and other European emporiums to the city of New
York.
The apprehensions which entertained by
some OF our statesmen, in the earlier periods of the
Government, that our system was incapable of ope-
rating with sufficient energy and success large
y extended territorial limits and that il this were
attempted, II would fall TO pieces by its own weak
ness, have been dssipated by our experience BY
the division OF power between the States and the
Federal Government the latter is found To operate
with as much energy in the extremes as in the cen
| tire. 1t is efficient In the remotest OF the thirty
| States which now compose the Union as it was in
the thirteen States which formed our constitution
Indeed, II may well be doubted whether if our pre-
sent population had been confined within the limits
OF the original thirteen States, the tendencies TO
! centraZatlonand consolidation would not have been
such as TO have encroached upon the essential re-
served rights of the States, and thus to have made
the Federal Government widely different ono
practically from what it is in theory, and was in
tended 10 be by lis trainers So far from
Ing apprehenslons of the safety of our system by.
the extension OF our territory, the beliefs confident
ly entertained that each State gives strength
and an additional guaranty for the preservation of
the Union itself.
In pursuance of the provisions of the thirteenth
article OF the treaty of peace, friendship limits and
settlement, with the Republic of Mexico, and of the
act OF July the twenty ninth, 1913, claims of our
citiZens which had been ''aready quidated and de-
clded against the Mexican Iepnblic," amounting.
win the interest thereon, TO two million twenty
three thousand eight hundred and thirty two dol
lars and fittyOne cents, have been liquidated and
paid. There remain 10 be paid of these claims sew
enty four thousand one hundred and ninety two
dollars and twenty-siX cents
Congress at lis last session having made no pro-
vision for executing the fifteenth article of the trca-
ty, by which the United States assume to make
satisfaction for the 'uniquidated claims ofour cit
lzens against Mexico, to ian amount not exceeding
three and quarter million of dollars" the subject
is again recommended 10 your favorable considera-
ton.
The exchange of notifications of the treaty with
Mexico took place tho ihirtieih of Nav; lS4S
Within one year after that time the commissioner
and surveyor which each Government STIMULATES to
appoint, are required 10 meet sat the port of San
Diego, and proceed 10 and mark the said bonn
dary OF It's whole course to the mouth of the Rio
Bravo del NOrte." 1t will bo seer FROM this provi-
sion that the period within which commissioner
and surveyor of the respective governments are to
meet at San Diego will expire on the ihirtieth of
May lS49. Congress, at the close of lis last SEES
sion, made an appropriation for s.the expenses of
running and marking the boundary ne' between
the Two countries, but did not fix the amount of
salary which should be paid 10 the commissioner
and Surveyor to be appointed on the part of the u
nited States 1t is desirable that the amount of
compensation which they shall receive should be
prescribed by law, and not left, as at present: to
Executive discretion"
| Measures were adopted at the earliest practical
BILE period to organize the ''terroraI government
OF Oregon" as authorized by the act OF the four
| teenth of August last. The governor and marshal
Of the Territory, accompanied by a small military
escort, left the frontier of Missouri in September
last, and took the southern route by the way of
Santa Fe and the river ella, TO California. with
the intention Of proceeding thence in one of our
vessels OF war 10 their destination. The governor
was fully advised Of the great importance of his
early arrival m the country, and ii is confidently
believed he may reach Oregon in the latter part of
the present month"; or early in the next The O.
Their officers of the Territory have proceeded by sea
In the month OF May last ] communicated in
formation TO Congress that an Indian war had bro
Ken out IN Oregon, and recommended that author
ity be given to raise adequate number Of volun-
teeTs TO proceed without delay TO the assistance of
our fellow citizens in that Territory The author
ny To raise such force not having been granted by