The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-12-29

aud primary object with every legislator
No CIyIl government having been provided Ol |
Congress for California, the people oI that le'n |
tory lmpred by the nec,s ,s,Ilra uI Their poiIdcal
condition, recently met ~ rouErnuoh, i"T ihe
purpose Of forming constitution ana state govern
mcnt, which. tie latest adyres give me reason 10
suppose, has been accomplished and II Is believed
they will shortly apply or the admission OF Can
lornil into the Union as a sovereign State. Should
such be the case; and should hcr constitution be
coniormable 10 the acquisitions ol the Constitution
Of the United States, recommend their apPIlca'
tion to the favorable consideration Of Congress.
The people Of New Mexico will also, II IS be-
lieyed, at no very distant period, present them
| selves for admission into the Union, Preparatory
| 10 the admission OF California and New Mexico
the people Of each Will have Instituted ir lhelh'
selves a republican form Of government, "layhg
its foundations IN such prlnclpIes,and organizing
It's powers in such form, as them shall seem most
likely to effect their safety and happiness"
By awaiting their action, all causes ot uneasl'
ness may be avoided, aud confdedce and KIND
| feeling preserved With view o! maintaining
the harmony and tranquility so dear to all, we
should abstain from the introduction OF those eH'
citing topics of a sectional character which nave
hitherto produced painful apprehensIOns IN lhe
public mind and repeat The solemn warning
VI the first and most illustrUus OF my predecess'
ors against furnishing "any ground ior charac'
lerzng parties by geographical dlscrlmlhtliohS'
A Collector has been appointed al San Frah'
cisco, under the act OF Congress extending lhe
revenue laws over California; and measures nave
been taken to organize the lom.houseS at mat
and the other ports mentioned IN that act, at tie
earliest period practicable. the collector pro-
ceeded over land, and advises have not yet been
received OF his arrival at San Francisco. Mean
while, It is understood that the customs have con-
tinued to be collected there by officers acting un'
der the military authority, as they were curing
the administration OF my predecessor. II VIII, !
think, be eXpedlent to confirm the COLLECTIONS
thus made, and direct the ayalls (aller such al.
lowances as Congress may think fit TO authorlzeO
to be expended within the Territory, or to OF
paid into the Treasury, for the purpose oi meeting
appropriations for the Improvement OF It's rivers
and harbors.
party, engaged on the coast survey, was des'
patched to Oregon in January last. According
to the latest adylces, they had not left Calionla
and directions have been gwen to them, as soon
as they shall have fixed on the sites OF the l"t
light houses and the buOys authorized TO be con
structed and placed in Oregon, TO proceed win
out delay to make Reconnaissance OF the most
important points on the coast OF California, ant
especially to examine aud determine on sites lo
lighthouses on that coast the speedy erection
which is urgently demanded by our rapidly ~
| creaSlng commerce.
| have transferred the Indian Agencies from
Upper Missouri aud Council Bluffs to Santa r.
and Salt Lake; and have caused TO be APPOINTED
sub-agents in the valleys OF the GIla the Sacra
menlo, and San Joaquin rivers Slill iurlher Ie
gal provisions will be necessary for the effective
and successful extension OF our system OF lhdlaI
intercourse over the new Territories
! recommend The establishment OF a oIaHcl
mint in California, as it will, IN my opinion, al
tord important facilities to those engaged III mi
mining, as well as to the GUveTmeht III the uis
position uI the mineral lands.
also recommend tha, commissions he organl
zed by Congress, to examine and decide upon Tn
} validity of the present subsslIng land titles Il
= California and New Mexico; and that provision
be made for the establishment Of ottices'ot sur
, vryor General in New Mexico, California, am
, Oregon, and for the surveying and hrIIglng mt
, market the public lands IN these Territories
, Those lands, remote N position ana dihcnlt o
access, ought to be disposed Of un ttlms llhrra
to all, but especially favorable TO he early em
y, grams
u In order that the situation and character OF the
princpal mineral depOslirs IN California may o
asceGtantd, recommend that geological ant
mineraIogCal exploration be connected win lht
% linear surveys and that the mineral lands be DE
u vided into small lots suitable lor Mining, and bI
disposed off, by sale or lease, so as to give our cl
i, izens an opportunity Of procurI a germanen
" right otproperty in the soil.
Il This would seem to be as important to tie sue
=, cess Of mining as of agricultural pursuits. Tn
II great mppra wealth ol California, and the adyan
- - nd hgIhDTs and those
, Oregon, afford to commerce, especially with IN
Il Islands of the Pacific and Indian oceans, and IN
: populous regions Of EasleIn Asia, make II certain
; that there will arise, in a lew years, large AM
y prosperous con munltes on our western cuasi.-
= II, therefore, bPcCmCs important that line Q
" communication, the best and most expedition
b which the nature ct the country will admit shGu'
he opened, within the territory Of the Unet
. States, from ihe naygable Yates Of the Atlanta
) or the Gulf Of Mexico, TO the Pacific Opinion
as elicled and expressed by two large and res
ppCtabIe conventions, lately assembled at 81
y Louis and Memphis, points 10 railroad as ,ha
y which, if practicable, will best meet the wlshe
and wants Of the country. But while ms. II II
- successful operation, would Ie "olk OF Elea
;, national importance, and Of value TO me couh
=, try which it would he difficult TO estimate,
>, ought also TO be regarded as an undertaking o
>, vast magnitude and expense, and enc 'i "hlCl
r must, il it be, pracllcaoIe, thC'uh'ea many oil
II, hCutips in its construction ard use,
u Therefore 10 avoid failure and Disappointment
TO enable Congress to Judge whether, IN thI
condition of the country through winch 1t mus
> mass the work he feasible, and if 1t be found so
whether il should be undertaken a. national en-
iprprisp and in the latter alternative, what ad,I
; anv, ought TO be extended 10 1t by the Govern
. mPTt. | recon mend as preliminary measure