North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-04-05
From the National InseIligencerl


A COMPLAINANT TO SENATOR DOUGLAS.
The pressure of Congressional proceedings has pre
vented giving fitting notice Of pleasing incl
dent in the life of public man. The Congression-
al career Of the Hon. S. A. Douglass United States
Senator from illinois, has been marked by deep de-
votion to the neresof our Territories and younger
States. Hence California, in her struggles to re-
eve herself from the peculiar position In which she
was placed before her admission into the Union.
gagged his attention. enlisted his sympathy and secur
ed exercise of bis best energies For the services
which he rendered, California was grateful, and her
young and ardent citizens resolved to present to him
memorial of their gratitude.
The design was conceived, but its execution was
at first embarrassed by the liberaity of the contri-
butors. Ultimately, however, Limitation was hap
PLY imposed. which, while it accomplished the OBJ
ject of providing token of their esteem, made it
more valuable as the gift of many. No subscriber
was permitted to give more than half dime, and
with funds thus collected, large, massive richly
chased watch, of California gold studded with jewels
and suitably inscribed, was purchased.
On the one side of the outer case is beautifully
engraved the armoral bearings Of the State of Cali
fornia, with her motto, EUREKA ;" and the
other, the coat of arms of the State of Illinois, with
her expressive motto, estate SovEREIGNTY--NA-
TIoNAL UNION" Within the case is inscribed his
name, and the source whence the watch was derived
IS The Hon. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS"
"Presented by the young men of California"
To which is added sentence laconc, Is true. but
it is as orcbe and expressive as his own eloquence
I" California knows her friends" To the watch is
appended magnificent. beautiful y-worked, and
high y-ornamented chain.
On Friday evening, the 18th of March, the presen-
ation took place the honorable Senator's apartments,
in the presence of Senators, members of the House
of Representatives, army and naval officers, gentle
men in the civil service of the Government, and a
large number of private citizens.
The Hon. G. w. WRIGHT, of California, on max
ing the presentation behalf of the young men of
California, said:
SRH 7 houa hoeD Ialo he unnr
men of California to present to you this watch and
beg, in their name and in their behalf that you
will accept 1t as very feeble expression of their
respect for you as gentleman, their confidence in
you statesman, and their devotion to you as a
jealous, constant and faithful friend of California.
The Hon. S. A. DOUGLAS responded to this brief
but expressive address in the following terms:
SIR: accept from the young men of California
this token of their confidence and friendship with
pride and gratitude. 1t is, indeed, brilliant, mas
sive, and magnificent gift. Its great value to me,
however, does not consist in its beauty, utility or
richness. 1t is the motive which induced it. and the
circumstances under which it is presented that
der it peculiarly acceptable to my feelings.
You do me more than justice when you say
that have been the early, constant. and unwavering
friend of California. lhave, indeed, been her friend.
bnt not her exclusive friend. She could at all times
have numbered among her friends the great majority
of both houses of Congress; while she never had
enemy within the walls of the Capitol. The diff
Guilty in providing the necessary Legislation for the
from indference-much less aversion or hostility to
that country. 1t resulted from the unfortunate agita-
ton in Congress of vexed question which the
people of California alone were competent to decide
for themselves.
1t is natural and honorable to the young men of
California that they should feel grateful to those who
were instrumental in devlsng, proposing, and pass
ing the which they believe essential to the
prosperity and happiness of their adopted land.
Nor is it singular that my position chairman of
fho ffoon nm ToFrlf0 n
Senate in all territorial business, should have fixed
their eyes upon me one whose action would have
an important bearing upon their rights and interests.
From early youth | have INDUCED enthusiasm,
which seemed to others wild and romantic, in regard
to the growth expansion, and destiny of this Repub-
lie. The great West and the Pacific coast presented
theatre for and wonderful events. l studied
carefully every thing that Peralned to them-every
mountain and valley, plain, and river, was the sub
lect of peculiar interest and inquiry, until felt that
I understood the geography and topography of the
country between the Mississippi and the Pacific ocean
quite accurately of the old States of the Union
When entered Congress my interest in the subject
soon became obvious, and doubtless led to my APP
pointment as chairman of the Committee on Terrific
ries first in the House of Representatives and sub
sequentIy in the Senate. The preparation of the va
rious bills necessary give governments to the Peo-
PIE of the Territories. and prepare them for admis-
sion into the Union States, required labor and In
vestgation. But it was work OF Iowa labor In
which duty and inclination ran IN the same channel.
and introduced the bill which admitted Texas as a
State-the bill which brought in Iowa-the bill
which introduced Wisconsin into the Union; and
also the bill that created the Territory of Minnesota
and of Oregon and of Utah, and New Mexico. l
have done no more for California than duty and in
cIinaon prompted do for each of the States and
Territories which have referred. All this entit-
les to'no peculiar claim OF merit, for doubt not
that any and every Senator would have done the same
thing cheerfully, had the Senate awarded him my po-
sition upon the committee.
NV interest in California as a country which was
destined become of the brightest stars in the
American constellation, does not dale from the dis
covery of the gold mines, from the conclusion of
the treaty acquiring the territory, from the COM
mencement of the Mexican My eye had for
years been fixed upon the Bay of San Francisco as
the probable point at which the commerce of the
West mu st concentrate, and from which it would be
made tributary to the wealth of this Republic by
means OF railroad across the continent. In pam
phlet published in l945 in favor of railroad from
the Atlantic 10 the Pacific, l marked out the route
through the South Pass of the Rocky mountains to
the mouth of the Columbia in Oregon, that being
the only territory then claimed by the Pacific
coast. In that pamphlet you will find the following
passage:
But am inclined to the opinion that the Bay Of
San Francisco an California aviU be found preferable
as The ,uestern terminus Of the road, in THE EVENT
THAT COUNTRY CAN ANNEXED IN TIME"
Well, California has been annexed in time, and l
trust that the Bay of San Francisco will soon be the
western terminus of railroad from the Atlantic to
the Pacific.
When the Mexican forces invaded our territory
and attacked General Taylors army. called on the
President the day the war recognised by Con-
gress-I think it was the 18th of May, 1946-and
insisted that treaty of peace should be made which
et,a - & H.