The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-21

has possessed such deposites OF gold, that it has
proved rather than blessing Sir II we had
the disposition. could not protect it, Ii were
authorize State government to be formed there to-day;
if establish efficient and energetic terri.
main from general pilIage and distribution No, air
send your armies there; and though you might RELY
upon The fidelity of the officers OF the army, sir, you
could not pay the soiery enough to prevent them from
disbanding. Ii is not In human nature. Your handful
of civil employees armed only with the moral force of
law, would have no power al distance of three thou.
sand miles What force could they have sir. None at
ALL Your military you could not keep IN array unless
YOU authorize them TO become partners in the general
pillage Nothing but the,srong moral which ex-
sts in the Oldest and bes,-se communities could
avail; and there, Mr.. President what temptation
would be spread ont before them Why, sir. the riches
the exceeding riches of these gold deposies of Cali
fona some forty or fifty miles in direction, and some
three to four or five hundred miles IN another-why SIR
it is prize too tempting. II is like bringing 10 light a
great treasure too large, too abundant to be carried off
by the first discoyerer, when all that choose permit
ted to and get portion OF it, Why sir, IL if
hundred old Spanish galleons had been wrecked upon
"A barbarous coast too far remote from the established
authority OF government to protect property tor the
ers SIR it is too great temptation for human nature
these riches are open, sui to the faie Of the world
an additional portion; for young men--aye, and Old men,
too-wl go there and pick up as much gold will
satisfy their passions, and return home They add
that to the public treasure Ii will stimulate commerce
| greatly, doubt, whatever other effect II may have
on industry, to unsettle the pursuits OF industry in
Caforni, in this country. 1t cannot be reme-
| died by any government which enact Even
if had the desire to that region, We should be
obliged in order to do So to change the policy OF this
said that those found in California must under
the circumstances be regarded belonging to all ma
TONS gather and bear away whatever they get peace
fully without violence, as the country now stands
This is the worlds possession. We have only part
and proportion of it, far constitute portion of
the civilized mercial world There is doubt whether
should not keep this for the government; but say
nothing to that. That could be accomplished. in
all probability, were the control Of government
there But sir, | have said should have to
change the policy Of the government if to attempt
this gold from every conner, and refuse to let
every bear away portion OF It, The policy OF the
has been to denude ITSELF speedily pos
s!be, only OF the fairness OF our land but OF It's
surcs, for almost nominal consideration Is that not
so We are great eleemosynary nation. This whole
Sir the poor and oppressed of all nations OF the world
| free to come here We invite them. We distribute
freely and almost gratuitcusy among them whatever
have OF our public domain We invite them to share
industry II they unable TO maintain themselves,
contribute of substance to maintain them and when
shall have distributed all that we possess, when
shall have quoted Consciences before the world
have not OF land, containing lead or gold,
what not, but posterity must be content to be
better off with regard to it than the people Of the
old world. Sir, do not quarrel with this policy.
am not arralgning i'll am only stating what It Is. 1t
embraces all the world-aIl the of the world
the Hiuoo. the Malay the African, is invited there the
people of South America the inhabitants of the islands,
all invited by our policy as It stands nowall that
choose to come and dig. Why. sir, We have no lawio
Of naturalization. from sharing with US the gold lead,
"copper" silver, whatever the lands may contain. He
is as much entitled to 1t as our own citizens. Therefore,
say there is protection to public property existing in
the gold regions OF California, and do not base by
argument upon that.
Now sir. with regard to the formation of States,
is there fair probability OF that! 1t is relied on
upon the other side. as a ground OF delay. sir; that,
if this measure is delayed great whileand have
already stated that there is weight in the argument
the people OF California, knowing the difficulties
at home, at the Congress III Washington, the Oh.
stacles to the establishment Of Territorial! government
may, for the protection of themselves, relieve us
from the formation OF State government But, Sir, that
is conjecture. 1t is merely speculative. Why,
those twenty-five thousand, who will be there in sixty
sections of the world, OF thirty forty thousand,
who 60 there with no national attachments, great
numbers of them not recognised by each other by
their language, who differ in habits and prejudices,
with jealousies of race, and with the determination
TO satlae the passions for which they went there.
Sir, it may be question whether State gov
eminent may not be the very thing which they
may feel that they have cause to apprehend, as dan,
gerous to their interest 1t might restrain the universal
license That is the greatest danger the greatest lmpel.
men to the establishment of provisional government
there, even temporary one, that 1t may restrain Their
license, and that majority Of the physical force OF the
straning influences of law. A State government may
become the very thing which they most apprehend and
have cause to dread Sir with large portion oil them
am sure it would not
But, Mr.. President, suppose California should
tabish State government and bring constitution
here, whether with or without objection, however
that may be decided is it likely that New Mexico
would do so at the same tIme' think it is proba.
Bile that she would not because, regards the people
OF New Mexico, instead of accession of inhabitants
she is now losing her inhabitants by emigration to the
western coast They leaving Mexico, and the effect
OF that would be, Mr. President that you would be
tam to have two States of that territory, whether
slave States or free States If California should choose
to adopt constitution, which would probably be a free
one, would admit her into the Union, and would de-
eide the question then; and if YOU delay, you decide
Iuesr
to consider that, whether from the North or South.
What is the other result! This pesenal question IS
still left open TO tester and grow in magnitude tor an IN
definite number OF years, probably You will have the
main question still open and unsettled.
Sir, IN my Judgment. nothing should be adopted at TINS
session which not final and rrevocabe with regard to
the disposition OF that territory and of that people and as
obligations to the people of California by treaty, BY
the ties OF kindred aud OF blooi, ana many of them oil
common States and language Bat prefer The pressrva
ton and safety of the old States of the Unionl mean
the old States including the States of the valley OF the
Mississippi regard their interests far beyond those Oh
California, because they few They have gone there
and taken their risk voluntarily freely under no re-
straint.
My opinion is, that should adopt no measure, them
which is final and rrevocable Sir, prefer almost
that all the elements of volcanoes that gentlemen
suppose to exist there has been remarked TO me IN
conversation that all this volcanic fire collecting in Cal,
ornia would still continue to collect, accumulate anu
shoulder on, before | would be instrumental, voluhm'
ry, in creating the materials for disastrous con-
vulson at hone. No, sir. whatever we do should W
rrevocable Close up this breach forever if we can
Cut of this head OF the hydra 1t may be that we cafno
cure all the evils; but crush this head OF 1ne
hydra, and them direct all energies to alacA