The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-05

cial area OF the State Of Californs, according TO
the boundaries prescribed in her Constitution,
is $50 square miles or 49, $50 600 square acres
exclusive Of the islands adjacent to her coast. A
glance at the map prepared by order of the United
States Senate, from the surveys Of John Charles
Fremont, and other authorities, upon which the
above calculation is based, will at once satisfy all
that the Typographical characteristics Of that coun
try are peculiar and novel. Two great chains of
mountains, the Sierra Nevada and the coast range
traverse il in nearly its whole extent from north
TO south. The large valleys that lie between those
two ranges and the small lateral valleys that pierce
their rugged sides in every direction are the valua
learable portion ofthe land of California Assum-
ing then that two-fourths of the whole superficial
-. 80 sae Stais -.iyo-~S b. --------.~ -
suUiner fourth is a desert waste, and ws have
10 sa'.-'h nssfoI fnr aorir,,l,DrsI nDy,.as-
es; that is 3s,ss7n square miles, or q, SIS, 900
square acres Of arabic and productive land. This
estimate in the opinion Of the undersigned is full
ly borne out by the typographical surveys of the
country but, anxious they Are>ts Np~il ssi<-1
statement they do not hesitate to assert their be-
lief that IL is quite apparent, after al due aowan-
ces, that three fths Of the whole territory embra-
ced in the State or California will never be sus-
ceptible of cultivation or useful to man. This,
then, would give, as the remaining two-ffths,
62,22O square miles, or 80, S20, 800 square acres
which would constitute the sum total Of valuable
arabic and grazing land embraced within the
boundary fixed by the Constitution of the State
ofCalfornia and distributed at intervals over the
whole surface Of the country, from it's extreme
northern to its extreme southern limits. The fore
going are believed to be substantially the reasons
which led to the establishment of the present
boundary Of California;
To the full and candid exposition of the mo-
tives and reasons that governed the convention
in 81 49,.
in the foregoing extract deem il unnecessary TO
add single word. They ought to be satisfactory
TO every unprejudiced mind e~@ - osSmit |
myself to doubt they will be- IL this is a valid |
objection, and would justify us in driving Califor-
gie from our doors when she respectfully asks for
admission, and refusing her application to become
member Of the Union, great outrage was per-
pertrated which has not yet been atoned for, by
the admission Of Texas with territory nearly
three times ms large The friends of Texas will
surely not withhold their votes on this account
Another objection TO California rests upon the
assumption of Presidential interference with the
people of the territory, to persuade them to form
a State Government. IL this be true, it IL not
perceived how it could impair the constitutional
rights Of the new States, and prevent her admis-
sion into the Union The alleged ntermeddling
Of the President with the people of the territory
might be a just cause of complaint against him, If
extended beyond the scope Of his appropriate du-
ties but il could work no injury to the just rights
Of California. Let US inquire into the facts how
ever, and ascertain whether the charge has any
foundation in truth or is not the offspring merely
Of hatred and i'll will to the Executive; for In my
efforts to obviate objections to the admission of
California il is only the naked truth which seek,
and intend to present to the Committee Soon
after the Inauguration Of the present Chief Msgis
trate, an accusation was put in circulation against
him in the Western and Northern States for
mischievous purposes as many believed at the time
that he had exerted, and would continue to exert
the influence which his official position gave him,
to the extension Of slavery into the newly
acquired territories, and especially in California
| And after the failure of the Walker amendment,
which he was charged with persuading members Of
Congress to support he had sent was asserted an
emissary from slave State to secure that object.
! This story. l am aware was considered by many
and denounced, as fabrication. 1t was urverths-
less repeated and not without success, by the orr
gina inventors and all others who could be enlist
ed in the enterprise, and ndustriously circulated
through all the channels Of communication open to
the public ear during the and up to the close
Of the fall elections This was done, no doubt,
| upon the principle which il Is said governs a GER
tain class OF politicians when In straitened circum-
stanees--that a fasehood, however ridiculous and
absurd, perseveringly adhered TO, and constantly
reiterated, is as good as the truth The public
mind, then in n state of feverish excitement was
easily inhamed In the non slaveholdng States on
| this subject. II was known that the Mexican
war had been provoked and prosecuted for the
purpose of adding new realms to the domains Of
slavery and 1t was easy to make the people be-
lieve that everything would be done to consummate
| the original iniquitous design.
But when California had adopted free Con-
stitution, by which the hopes Of the slavery ex-
tensionsts were blasted and was about to apply
for admission rs O member of the Federal Union
the President was accused by adversaresin another
quarter, who were vexed with disappointment
and not willing to be outdone In the business of
SANDER and detractiou of prostituting the powers
of his high office for the nexcusable and nefarious
purpose of excluding slavery from the new State
And to this end, IL was said he had sent his agent,
clothed with an official character, and armed with
secret instructions, TO overawe and intimidate
the people on the Pacific coast, and worry them
into compliance with his wishes. This grave and
imposing charge, directly conflicting with the
former one, and branding II in fact with fasehood
was manufactured for Southern circulation, and |
put forth with an air Of confidence and assurance |
that could have been inspired only by the sue
cess which attended it's predecessor In the North
ern States
And TO give color and character TO this Device
II has been repeated in debate on this floor, and
resolutions at an early day, were offered In both
branches OF Congress, of q most commanding and
formidable length, calling ON the President for the
proof TO work his conviction. With characteristic
and prsiseworthy promptness, the call was obeyed.
And, as a response to the resolutions, we have an
imposing volume Of one thousand pages laid on
our desks. From this immense mass Of printed
matter not the least particle Of proof be gath
cred or CLEANED TO convict the President Of any
interference whatever In regard TO the domestic
institutions of California.
But this Is not all The President himself de-
MES In the most emphatic manner, the alleged In
reference; and In the absence Of any proof, this
certainly ought to be satisfactory TO oil candid and
unprejudiced minds. The Government agent,
Mr.. KING, who was accused Of being the instru-
meat Of tho Executive in oonsumma,ips his do
signs In California, has denied II and the men,
bers Of Congress elect from that State, In their |
memorial to this House, have also denied II and |
newspapers recently received from San Francisco
Indignantly deny II and surely the enemies Of
California will not be so uncandid and unjust as TO
insist upon an objection that we have shown has
no foundation whatever In fact.
Mr.. Chairman, | have thus given an inventory, |
and briefly noticed the principal objections brought
forward against the admission Of California, and
have endeavored TO remove them-with what
success let others dsiermne--by such consdera-
tons as my own reflections have suggested, and
my information supplied And here, IL yielded
TO my own inclination, aud consulted my own
wishes, | should dismiss the subject and resume
my seat. But the occasion has been seized upon
by Southern gentlemen to 20 into general dis
cusson OF American slavery, and It's connection
with the Federal Government Claims have been |
advanced for the institution by It's advocates that
are not only new and startling, but wholly mad. |
Missile and highly dangerous From these
claims take this, the only occasion which have
had, to express my dissent and adherence, and
against these audacious novelties here enter my
protest. And, sir, should fail to discharge the