Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-01-13
Admission of California into the Union.

MIR. DoueLAss. Mr.. President: | now
ask leave to introduce bill, of which mo-
lice was given last Monday, for the adms-
sion of California as a State of this I'm
ion, desire to submit few considerations
why think this course should be adopted.
Leave beng given
Mr. ID. proceeded. The reason why |
take this step in reference 10 the territorial
government of California, bill for which
was proposed at the last session of Congress,
is this: great revolution has taken place
in the prospects and condition of that coun-
try since the adjournment of the last sess-
ion of Congress. The discovery Of vast
mineral wealth and the completion of the
line OF steamers connecting thar country
with the United States, furnishing the
means of transportation between the two
countries, have invited into that country n
tide OF emigration so great, and constantly
increasing, that we find that, although we
did not anticipate, for many years, u popu-
lation sufficiently large TO entitle that coun-
try To admission into our Union as "A State,
we now have reason to believe that the time
is close at hand when California will pos
sess population Ear exceeding the number
requisite To entitle her to admission as a
State into this confederacy. Another rea-
son is, despair of any hope of passing a
territorial bill at this session of Congress,
tor reasons which may be apparent to all of
us, as three different bills, presented for
that purpose, have been already rejected.
Another reason is, If we have to wait till
the next session of Congress before we
shall legiSlate, apprehend that all idea of
territorial government will be NJ an end, us
there will be population as ! have before
said, in California sufficient to entitle her
to admission as n State into this Union.
My bill provides that all the territory ac-
qured from Mexico by the treaty Of peace
shall constitute one State in this Union
Congress reServing the right AT any tme it
may choose TO exercise IL, of forming new
States out of any portion of said territory
which lies east of the Sierra Nevada noun
tains, so that there will be permanent
State of California upon the coast and the
territory lying east of that range of noun
tains, including the valleys of San Francis
co and Sacramento, would form State of
about the size of the State of Virginia.
also propose To divide this State into two
judicial districts, To be known as the east
district, the Judges of which shall reside in
their respective districts.
These are the outlines of the bill. lLhring
them forward merely as suggestion, with
the hope that out of it we may get some
thhg that will be law to the people of
that country. If il be the wish OF the Sem
ate that territorial bill shall lac introduced
in the place of this. am ready now, with
great pleasure, to support the bill of the
Senator from Delaware. (Mr. CLAyToE,)
chairman Of the special committee appoint
ed at the last session, or, with still greater
pleasure, support bill presenting and car
rying out the Missouri compromise, ms !
proposed myself at the last session. But
If we cannot get this, am in favor Of Civ
ing law to the people of that country by
bringing il into the Union AT once, that we
may give qnietness and harmony TO the
country, and that we may be able to settle.