Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-07-13

Mr.. WEBSTER 1.-THE Senator will allow me- was speak
ing, when made that remark of that portion of California
that would be embraced south Of the proposed line.
Mr.. SOuLE. had understood the Senator asserting
that the boundaries restricted by my substitute would not
leave to California sufficient agricultural lands sustain her
population
Mr.. WEBSTER What said was exactly this The
gentleman had argued that California with her present boun-
diaries, contained 1853, 900 square miles, and that So 600
square miles the average for State, and that Cali
ionia, therefore, had three times the average said IN re-
gard that two things. The FIRST was that that part OF Inc
country which lies east Of the Sierra Nevada from the foot
the side of that mountain range the line making
thirty forty thousand square miles, but mere
sandy desert and then saidthat taking from the mountains
those portions which useful for agriculture the result
would be that California would much less than the other
States to which referred
Mr.. SOULE. bad entirely misconceiyed the position
taken by the honorable Senator beg his pardon, and VIII
proceed to consider how far where he stands, he Is sup
ported by the geography of the country The double valley
waered by the San Joaquin and the rivers alone
embraces an of the choicest agricultural lands extending
upwards of 500 miles in length and from fifty sixty miles
in BREADTH This of ITSELF gives fully 600 square miles OF
arabic SOIL The intervening plains between the coast noun
tans add greatly to the country lands susceptible OF cuva-
iion There are besides and rich pastures, immense
forests, within the embrace of the Sierra and thus Is con-
cenated in the basin which gdes extent of territory
than amply sufficient to maintain and support Popua-
ton twice large that of the State Of New York But
the main advantages Of California those which she derives
from her position and from her mineral wealth. Through the
first she has the command Of all the OF China, OF
Hndosan, Of Polynesia of Japan; through the second she
holds the scale where is be poised the momenous problem
Of the relation which shall stand hereafter all the articles of
trade all descriptions Of exchangeabe property with the signs
Of value that have heretofore rated their respective prices and
Of which she fate have the almost exclusive
monopoly Why go beyond the Sierra for her limits We
told that the country and south of that boundary
but waste and barren desert. Why take when you
might by leaving out satisfy the South and quiet the whole
country ?
Such is the fact. The country south Of SO deg 80
min has all the conditions of climate, of SOIL of productive
that render slave labor valuable it has its mnes its
tobacco district its cotton and sugar lands What talk you
5000 square miles of agricultural region The valley Of
San Juan alone the most fertile and uxuan spot in all this
continent embraces than 600 square miles, and the
Colorado its ferlzng country equal in d
mansions and in poducveness to the most exuberan coun
ties in Louisiana ! .. ..ss r.:
But advised to be in haste urged to let the
Caornans matter how, lest they should set
for themselves and forever separate from the Union Is that
danger real What Now, when they have hardly reach
ed population Of $50, 600 when nothing attaches them to
the country except the faes when they still
bound by all the recoectons of the past by all the
hopes of the future when they leave without rend
ing asunder all those associations that endear life and make
happy, they dream of secession, Of independence What
will it be when they have grown to millions when habit,
interest, affections shall have reconced them to per-
manent settlement there , -.
And here let urge upon you again the fearful dilemma
with which closed Of my arguments the other day.
Look ahead Look ahead A monster State in the Union,
gigantic Empire out OF it, The dssnies OF the Repub
lie at the mercy of the supendoEs weight which, through the
power Of numbers the State will cast in your councils
your Influence in the Pacific, in the
Of China. and in the Indian Archipelago, crushed under
the heel Of powerful and hardy rival Are you prepared
for this ~.. ...
Then will not the South clear into all this How long
do you expect deude her by the decsu offerings of
BILL Do not underrae her discernment She will not be
caught in the She will detect the vile. She will find
NV If
the agency Of California, the very wrong the of
which brought this conederacy TO the brink of dissolution
and in what that very proriso which you affect to
denounce in your reports your speeches. in your letters
brought in and by this bill solemn and irrepeaable
sanctop through the admission Of California with coDsitu
ton which, in reality and in fact, extends upwards
OF 100, 600 square miles beyond its natural jurisdiction.
am done. .,. ~. ......
[i'he remarks of Mr. DOUGLAS and Mr.. WEBSTER
in reply to the above Speech published in this paper
July s .,.' ...-.