The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-29

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objection TO the admission Of California;
Then there are other objections He saws thar
the boundaries are wrong; that they are ex.rava-
ganily large; that they are unnatiraI and that
| they are impohtc. Now, sir, this is question
which must very much depend upon the nature Of
| the country. AT an early period Of the session
expressed an opinion that still hold. though do
not say that are not grounds of different opinions;
and that u.s. tie thing before now we could
not make better boundary for California than is
mnde in her constitution. formed that opinion from
my notion of the conformation ofthe country, ofthe
nature Of its soil, and of the circumstances con-
nected with it. The gentleman says u is three
times the amount Of the average extent OF Stles in
The Union. Well, what follows from that That
there are more than three times us many desert
mountains-more than three times as many mac
cesslblc and rocky hills than in any other State Of
the Union. The question is, how much land is
useful how much can be made 20 contri-
butte to the subject Of men and society, With re-
4 spect 20 that, sir, am sure every gentleman that
looks at il must be of the opinion that although
! California must have very great seaport and a
large city or two, yet, for agricultural, products,
/, the whole State Of California, M il now is, can
never be made equal To n quarter rart the State
of Illinois.
In the first place, the grca, angle Of the line
steering off from the eastern bottom of the Sierra
Nevada, running to the Gila. is a desert Of sand.
absolute and entire, taking off 10000 or 900
miles ofhc territory and that is pretty important
reduction. Then, look again ut the mountains
There is along the valleys Of the Sacramento and
the Joaquin undoubtedly good land. There may
be some good land between the mountains and the
sea; but on the whole, nobody can shy that OF the
quantity of tocrablc and good land there IL any
excess. On the contrary, there Is much less than
| belongs to many of the States of the Union.
Then, there is another consideration. With
what would you connect South California If you
! disconnected her with North California I and what
is the value of South California disconnected with
North California Look upon the map. Sup
pose you run the line 36 deg. 30 min. from the
| sea down to New Mexico. What Jiave you:
! You have the mountains-you have this ynst
tract of sand; and from the best information can
obtan-and l have looked at the matter pretty
thoroughly, and think from sources that every
body will regard us the BEST think there can be.
at most, in what would constitute this Territory
of South California, not more than 5,OOO square
miles Of practicable land that could be titled. The
country is good grazing country, and the noun
tains are very well adapted 10 that but We speak
Of the country that can be titled and cultivated.
We must look at the climate as well as the sur
f,ce; for gentlemen will please to remember TINT
in this. part of California eight months OF the year
roll on without drop Of rain from the clouds,
and there is not in the whole Of it any land that
can be cultivated without irrigation So small
| are the streams when you depart from the two
! riyers-Sacramento and San JOuquin--that they
do not supply water enough for the cultivation of
very small portion of the land that might other
wise be made fit for cultivation. What, then,
would be the value of this countryi The Senator
from Louisiana contends for it as the right of the
South. Is there any value in il more than nomi-
nal right Could the South make any use of that
territory, if it were territory fee from restraint?
think not How is it possible for Southern
slavery, such as we have it here, TO he employed
in such region as that? IL it not, therefore, q
mere dispute without having substantial value
| at stake, whichever way the result may be?
| think the case should be considered in its sub
| s.sntal aspect. We ought oil to look at il, ard
see what is the most practical good We can do.
The honorable member from Louisiana proposes
to make the line OF 36 deg. 80 min.-the line com
monty called the Missouri Compromises line-a
boundary. Now, is that prn 'tcabe' Does the
honorable gentleman and his friends suppose that
| either now or hereafter by this Congress, or by
the next Congress, any such thing can be dome
looking to the fact that this Southern California is
part of California, within her established boundn-
ries? have yet to learn, though have heard it
suggested TO the contrary, that there is any dispo-
sition or wish on the part OF the people, from
Monterey down to San Diego, TO he by themselves,
! and constitute State by themselves. find that
n member Of this constitutional convention Of Cali
forna, Mr. -, from San Angeles, in the early
part of the debate, having got into some warmth
| Of discussion with Northern member, suggested
such an idea. He, however, took it back, subse-
qucntly, as will be upon page 446 Of tho
debates. ] see no evidence that the people south
|
or to have any other government thnn this, or be
associated otherwise than they now arc. II is to
be remembered, Mr.. President, that this Lower
California is the old part Of California, which has
been settled $50 or 900 years. Its habits are
| fixed; and though it is subject do not wish TO
dwell upon, it may be fit to refer to it, and say
that so far as Sec in tho course Of the debates in
! this convention, any thing OF IL fixed purpose is
exclude slavery, that sentiment IS certainly most
strongly expressed by pers ms, members OF the
| old nUhS
part Of California. think, therefore, it is not 4
thing worth the contest, il it could be accom-
| plished, which do not think can be done. IL 1t
not therefore, better to take this bill as stands,
with what has been done for the Terrtories'
And taking it as it stands under the constitution
OF California with regard to the boundaries. and
looking at the practical operation, may not say
certain operation of things, IL il not our bOundcn
duty to receive California into the Union as a
| State, and immediately
The idea pressing upon my mind in oil this matter
| is this that il is our duty to accomplish some
thing the subject OF these Territories without
further delay, and to accomplish something that
shall be us satisfactory TO all parts OF the country
! an we can. had no hand in introducing these
Territories into the Union. / am no prophet but
i, required no prophecy to fercsee
that might spring out Of this acquisition. Here
they are upon us. | wish to deal with this sub
ect in all frness in the justest and most expcdient
manner. And as, according TO my fixed opinion,
tnere IL no necessity
or rejecting, this vexed question OF slavery in all
these Territories, wish for my part, as an Anne
rcan, one who desires to carr yon the Govern
ment--to maintain the Governmental see course
adopted, with respect to these TERRITORIES, that
shall give all the satisfaction that can be given. and
shall accomplish something for the quiet Of the
Il country, without further decay.
! 1t he's already been suggested, Mr.. President.
and il is known to us, that we have been here SIX
or seven months, and we called upon to make
some disposition ofthis matter. think the clear
est point of duty open before us is the admission
Of California and hope we shall have to-day,
or whenever the question is taken, such a vote
upon the proposition Of the honorable member
! from Louisiana as will convince him and his friends
that it is the general judgment ofthe Senate, ofthe
Government, and ofthc whole country, that Cali
fornia should be admitted without further delay,
and the necessary legislation entered upon--which
; liz no light work-fir the establishment of the
proper authority Of the United States in the Ter
r rtories. .H