Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-08-13
Correspondence of the Cleveland Herald.
The Position Of California.
sacramonto City, Gale, May %. $50.


have been made in the transpo rtation facili-
ties on this side Of the continent, it is yet
true that our connection with the American
Union Is SO remote that we almost feel the
United States a foreign nation. The great
body of the people know but little of what is
transpiring on the Atlantic side, for when it
takes a month or six weeks for intelligence
10 come from head quarters, the matter is
old, stale, and uninteresting when it does
reach us. If we on this side canHot keep up
a more intimate acquaintance with the moth
er country, it will be perfectly natural for US
to become attached to the land of our adop-
ton. and gradually lose the strength of feel
ing that binds us to the Republic. Especial
ly will this bo the case, il it should be found
that the interests of the country can prosper
without foreign legislation.
Let us examine our position, and see how
we stand A part of the people are digging
gold, and tho rest are employed in furnishing
the diggers food and clothing. Our proyis-
ions and merchandise come to us from abroad
and will be purchased whore the best bargains
are offered. South America, Oregon, and
the Islands on the Pacific. can send us provis-
ions enough, and the importation of most Of
the staple products Of these countries excites
no jealousy among Us; hence we arc only in
terested in getting them cheap. 1t is not at
all agreeable, nor can it be for the interests
/ OF tho country, to have the cost of these arti.
cles OF consumption enhanced by tariff lev
( led by the General Government. We have
no manufactures We cannot have for ma
ny years, at least. Consequently our inter-
ests in this respect will not be influenced eli
ther way by large or small importation
( We only want to purchase to good advantage,
and will seek the best market. Foreign man.
ufactures are cheap, and our trade would be
large with Europe, If trade was not obstruc-
ted by revenue laws. Our position is favora-
BILE forcarrying on large traffic with China
and the East Indies. Here, again, the same
cause is throwing obstacles in the way Of
cultivating commercial intimacy with these
great sources of wealth What advantage
does our connection with the Atlantic States
furnish them? Could they protect US. in
case they should become involved in a war
with Great Britain? II is hardly possible.
While California, as an independent govern
ment, would not be at all likely to get invol-
we'd In such calamity, il must be apparent
to all, that she would be the chief sufferer, in
case OF war between the United States and
any European power great naval strength.
lie.c is the weak point of the Union. Our
exposed condition, of itself, is liable 10 induce
hosiililles, knowing. as she must, how favor
able are her opportunities for concentrating
her naval forces from the Indies, in connee-
ton with her maratime from home, so as 10
destroy the commerce 1f the Pacific, and
creata y fa...;..~ - C~Isr-.--;-.
have written the above, not 10 Justify n
Withdrawal of ofCalifornia from the Union, but
because believe il a true version ofher pres
ent position; and to show that such an event
Is liable to occur, unless government takes
some steps calculated to give more satisfac-
ton mere than there is present prospect of
/ its doing To show that it is not so much
| interest as q fraternal feeling, that is to hold
/ us to the Union. L: will be very bad policy
/ in government not to respect that feeling
/ which makes the American love his country.
Those sectional chickering's between the
| North and the South, operating as they have
done, to our disadvantage, must weaken the
respect Of Californians for the Confederacy:
and if she is TO be regarded only as bone of
contention between them, she will certainly
have somo excuse for settling these difficult
ties by an independent course Of her own.
! have hastily glanced at the state ofthings
hero. | will now as briefly as possible, pro-
ceed TO show some OF the claims CalifOrnians
think they have upon the government ut
home. In the first place, we should be nd-
mtted as State into the Union. We have
done all we can TO attain this object. Con-
gress has yet done nothing, though our rep
resentatives have been long knocking for ad-
mission. The great Railroad should be COM
menced forthwith, SO that we may hope,
some day, to DO OF tho people of the United
States, instead ofbelonging to them. This
is the only work that can eifectualy protect
the country in case of war The safety of
the Pacific coast demands it. 1t is the only
way by which tho Atlantic, and Pacific
| States in prospective, can ever be brought
into such rapid communication with each
other, as will cause them to feel like one fam
| lily. chain of mountains, and vast desert
plains' divide us, and 1t requires months to
pass over them:
"Mountoins intorposed, make enmeies ofnations"
This rule has held good in tho history of
nations. The only way TO avoid it's applica-
ton to u.s. is TO put the iron horse on the
track, and traverse the wastes between us
by steam. We may chain together the Union
by fastening an iron band across tho CONT.
nent. 1t is too widely extended, 20 revolvo
around common center. unless this be done.
Nature makes tho interests OF the two coasts
very different. Art may change tho course
of trade into new channels, and consolidate
the different interests in body. This done.
laws applicable TO your country, will equally
apply to ours. The Importance of the rail-
road, then, is self-eyident. Why is it not
oommencedl
Besides the above important movements
required of government, there are many 9TH |
ers which cannot be neglected, without ne
glecting California. Senator Gwinn has ably |
set forth some of the immediate wants of the /
country. Postal arrangements must be mado
so that tho tens of thousands in tho mines
can have some Intercourse with the civilized
world. The people are able and willing
TO pay for tho transmission Of tho mails
wherever they go. Why should they not
havo the privileged IL has cost many mi
ner hundreds Of dollars to attend to business
IN the cities. which expense would have boen
unnecessary, had there been any way Of OBJ