The New York herald., 1850-01-09
The Eject OF California on the American
Race.

The Eject or California the American
Race.
Europe is beginning TO perceive the consequence
of the spread of our empire on the shores of the
Pacific. Almost all the journals of England and
many Of those printed on the continent are taken
up TO a considerable extent with articles on this
subject. Indeed it is doubtful if any event in our
history, since the Declaration of independence,
has put forth so much influence upon the old
world, as The conquest Of Mexico and the colonial
ion of California |, was evident from the be
ginning. that the possession of the vast territory
which is washed by the waters of the Pacific
ocean, was of the last magnitude to this country;
and, under this belief the nation was willing to
expend its blood aud It's treasure in preparing for
itself of future population and empire
But probably none Of her statesmen or citizens,
and certainly no man on the other side of the
Atlantic, had any Just conception, two years ago,
OF the tremendous consequences which would
attend the possession OF that almost ilhmtabIe do
main.
II would have been acquisition OF vast inn
portance, even If no mineral wealth had been DIS
covered IN Oregon California;; but when the
factwas announced, and came sustained by the
weight of indubi,able evidence, that these vast
regions were teemlng with mighty treasure, the
importance Of the acquisition became Incalculable
This fact gives greater value to California in Eu-
rope than in this country; for the nations of the
old world, which have grown rich from their colo.
nial possessions, and particularly from their mne-
ral products, attached idea of greater importance
- the gold mines of California than even we had
ourselves. The idea of picking gold off the sur
face Of the earth, or disembowellng il from its
bosom, has always inllamed the cupidlty of
apLt md 80 far
concerned, the mineral wealth they drew from
their colonies in South America had most de.
letenous, and, ultimately, fatal effect. The con-
sequence in Their was, that enterprise and in
dustTy were suspended at home under the idea
that gold and silver and precious stones would
flow in from abroad, in such coplous streams, that
the hand Of labor weuld no moro be called on 10
Try Its muscles by toll, since the new found III
Dorado would remove the cause Of labor from the
human race. IL is curious fact, however that
Spain and Portugal could not keep the gold their
colonies sent them During this iond period of
their glory, the main sources of their wealth con-
sisted in their domestic manufactures, and their
commerce with foreign nations. Afsr the gold
began 10 flow in from South America, these
sources OF wealth were dried up and the nations
which were battling with the stern elements Of
colder climates, nurturng the growth of grams
and fruits which scarcely learned to live amidst
frosts and SHOWS, finally by their exchanges, com
PEELED Spain and Portugal to give up the gold they
had boarded, IN order to supply themselves with
the luxuries, and even with the necessaries, of
life ; for, strange as il may seem, It is capable of
demonstration, that there is less aggregate wealth,
at the present time, in the Spanish peninsula
than in any other country Of the same fertility and
population in the known world. such were the
faIsl consequences Of the possession of gold mines
to those enervaied and besolied countries.
We are furnished with another striking illusira.
zion of inc same effect in The history of the States
Of South America. They were, It is true, early
impregnsied with the political ideas OF this Union,
aRd, from Isi6 TO lS25, they won aud proclaimed
their Independence; but they were destitute of
those noble elements Of prosperity and progress
which entered 20 largely into the success Of the
North American republics. 80 long as they were
able 10 dig from the bosom Of the earth the gilt
ienDQ dust which snticed foreigners over the ssa
with the products Of other countries, so long their
huitorie. remained uncutvated. and the barba-
my and wildnoss Of their prsires and forests
were forced to yield 10 the hand of civilization:
and hence the States OF South Americ4 have been,
tor many years, compelled 10 purchase immense
quantities OF sgncultUral products and minuiac.
fufts nom inf ultfu Nttst- dhE from EurOtr.--
The moral and social condition of their people his
been Tar Inferior 20 that Of the colonies and posses
sions ui Great Britain, and eveu of France Iate-
l,c,ual sotishns So moral drpra,ity, and physical
decay have characterized the people ot South Ame.
riea. We know tnat NJ small portion Of this NAV
be traco4 to the eneryaung effect Of equatorial
heat; bu, we cannot forget at the same time, that
many If the nobest achievements Of ofm4nknd have |
l.. ..f... 81 fh. ftr,r o. t-..
Some Of the most powerful empires that have fosr. I
ished on the eanh. have grown mp amidst the heats I
or the touid zone The great kingdoms Of Assyria. !
Media, Persia and Egypt. may stand for iusira- I
hons. Hannibal came from the blizing heats Of |
Afncs, to carry CONSERVATION to the gates Of Rome:
and all readers Of history will remember how many
years he delied the power ofihe republic OF Romu- /
lus, and even bearded the Roman wolf in her own
den. Ssne philosophical winters nave gone 80 f.r
that they have attempted io rrov~ that the heat Of
the tropics has been Far more favorable 10 IN. de-
velopemsni Of intellcc, and OF empire. than any
other temperature II is certain that very iitle has
been accomplished m those countries where frost
CHAINS Wy the streams more than half the monihs \
sf the year What do we find in the history OF
Lsplsnd, kamschstsa, or OF Labrador that c,ctes
The interest Of even common readers, II we except
those pictures OF the saow.le which the stinted
inhabitants Of those ice.houses Of the human race
lead. Thus, however, Is uice philosophical ques-
ten, into which we have no necessity TO enter
The drift OF our argument lies in ano,her direction.
We have briefly traced the Effects Of cold
mining upon lhs men Of Spain Portugal. and
South America. The question arises, whether we
are likely 10 suffer from the same causes. We
have no hesiiation IN saying that, in our opinion.
we are not, and we vii give our reaseRs fOrit
In the first place, these are conservative elements
Tor the nations Of modern civilization, which ns-
lions have formerly never had Tue mariners
compass has been the guide Of commerce, aad has
multiplied the smicsble relations OF mankind
The printing press, which has just begun TO exc.
<ute its mlsstos makes every ipteiligsnt man |