The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-13

Inc results OF the gold discovery In California.
put to flight all the fables of romance. The rapid
settlement of the territory itselfis one of the
ders OF the age. The extraordinary impulse given
to commercial steam navigation is of even greater
Importance TO the advancement of our prosperity,
the diffusion OF republican principles, and the gene
raj benefit OF mankind. 1t is fastening the time
when the great object of Columbus-a western
route from Europe to the vast commerce of Asia
will be realized. That magnificent conception, for
all practical purposes, has lain dormant since the
discovery of our continent, But at length the day
is at hand when the trade of Asia, which has
changed its route to market with the fate of en-
plres, from the time of Abraham, will be firmly and
permanently established from Canton to the Pac-
hc coast, and across our continent and the Allan
tic, to Europe. The annexation Of Texas, the
Mexican war, the treaty of Guadalupe IIidalgo,
the acquisition of California, the gold discovery,
the crusades to the mines, and the impulse gwen
to steam navigation, are the chain of causes which
will have produced this great achievement
The position of California and her splendid har-
Dor of San Francisco, will secure to her, Ultimate
ly, on the completion the great central railroad,
the profits of the depot of the trade of ASIA and the
islands of the East. In the interval, the Isthmus
routes of Panama, Nicaragua, and Tehuantepec,
will command the transit of this prodigous COM
merce. But the road cannot be completed under
ten or fifteen years. The gold washngs, in year
or two, must be exhausted, and the process of
mining will be too expensive for the mass of ad-
venturers. What, then, are the prospects of Calf
fornia, with the Pacific commerce diverted to the
Isthmus routes, and her gold washings exhausted!
The floating mass of her population will be dis
persed, the fleets of ships in her harbor will disap-
pear, speculation will work out destructive ex-
poson, and the dream of her prosperity will vanish
like fog.
Not at all. The gold washings may be drained
of the dus-the spectators may be ruined-the
mass of the diggers may disperse-but the steady
prosperity of the new State cannot be arrested.
There Is large slice of fine agricultural territory
on the Upper Sacramento, and swarth of forty or
fifty miles along the west flank of the Sierra Ne.
vada, for five hundred miles, with productive
soil, good water, elegant timber, and, fine healthy
climate, which will be located and settled by a
permanent population. On the eastern flank of
the Sierra Nevada, within the Great Basin, there
is another slr OF territory, with lakes and rivers
timber, and fine soil, which will be settled, and
must also contribute to the advantage of its only
outlet at San Francisco. But in the event of the
failure of the gold washings, the territory of Ore
goD, with Its immense agricultural capacities, and
It's timber, surprising in size and excellence all
the forests of the world, will be rapidly populated
and its supplies Of lumber, provisions, and COAL
will still increase the steady prosperity of the trade
and growth of California With the completion of
the central railroad crossing the Great Basin by
the Mormon settlement and the future salt works
Of the Great Salt Lake, and terminating at the Bay
of San Francisco, the State of California and her
seaport will become second in commercial impor-
lance only to the State and port of New York.
Already the emigration from China to San Fran
CISCO and the receipts of tea in that direction, from
the port of Canton, significant OF what is to fol-
low when the routes across the Isthmus and great
railway shall be finished, with lines of steamers
direct TO Canton and other Asiatc ports.
A feature in the recent news from California, of
the highest importance, is The position which the
Convention has assumed on the slavery question.
1t solves the perpexity of the Wilmo, proviso
with respect to California. Certain extreme
politicians Of the South will doubtless attempt
TO make 1t a question of difficulty, on the
plea that large portion ofthe State lies south
of the compromise line of SO 30, and should conse-
quenty be conceded to the institutions of the
South. But though there may be protracted and
exciting discussion upon the subject, we apprehend
real difficulty to the admission of California on
account of her constitution, which is of genu-
inc republican form, according to the terms of the
federal compact. Besides, the people Of California
have acted precisely according to the doctrine of
Gen. Cas-, which is generally acceptable to the
South that IL, that 1t is competent for the people
Of territory, in forming State constitution to de-
eide upon the question of slavery for themselves
We would advise all the genuine friends of the
South, anxious 10 sllay this abolition excitement
by all reasonable compromises, to suffer the ques-
lion OF slavery in the Great Basin aud in California /
TO be settled by the people thereof They are intel
hgent Americans, and entirely competent for all 4
the duties Of self government
The case is different in New Mexico. The MAS
Of the people there are Of the lowest castles Of the
mixed Mexican varieties. They know nothing Of
our institutions and our language. They must first
be framed under the of Congress, or OF Texas
to our laws, customs, and language, before they
can be competent to assume the sovereignty of
State. Let the south, then, direct all Its energies
to the support of the claim OF Texas TO the territory
OF New Mexico, which, according to the terms of
Ration, is good and valid clalm-the claim of
a contrsct-equaIy as good at all events, as the
original claim Of Massachusetts, TO the territory of
Maine, which, for many years, was held good and
valid. New Mexico Is to be the field for the final
struggle on the proviso Let the South prepare for
il. Their best ground Of defence IL the claim of
Texas. Upon that they may secure at least a
compromise. On the other hand. all opposition to
the admission Of Calfona, according to the wishes
Of her intelligent population, can only weaken the
South, and strengthen the designs of the abo-
tionlsts.
Wa amy, bend tlercfnr. NO real d;nicpi,v IN The
admission of California. And though the wild
and nordinate speculatious which have sprung up
the basis of the gold duet, may end in terrible
explosion, prudent men will avoid the bait, and
the steady prosperity of the new State will not
be STOPPED. Individuals may fail, but such a
community, in such country, must always go
ahead. The sensation of the gold discovery has
been fet all over Europe. aud has created spirit