The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-28

sss OF our Territories anu younger States Hence, Sal
lorna IN her struggles TO relieve herself from the peeu-
liar position N which she placed before her admls-
SION INTO The Ution engaged his attention, enlisted his
sympathy and secured The exercise of his best energies
For the services which he rendered California CRATE
iI and her young and ardent citizens resolved 10 pre-
sent TO hun amemorial OF their gratitude
The design was conceived, but It's execution was al
first embarrassed by The besIiy OF the contributors
Ultimately however, Irritation was happily imposed
winch, while il accomplished the object Of providing
token OF their esteem made il more valuable as the gut
OF many. No subscriber waf permitted to give more
than halt dime; and with funds thus collected. large
massive richly chased watch, OF California gold, stud
ded with Jewels and suitably inscribed, was purchased
| On The side ofthe Otter case is beautifully en-
gayet the almoral bearings OF the State Of California
OF arms Of The State OF Illinois, with her expressive
motto. estate SoyERElGNTY-NATIoaAL UNION" With.
IN the is inscribed his name, and the source whence
the watch was derived;
| "The Hon SrrpnEN A. DOUGLAS"
" Presented by The young nen oil Calii5Thl..'
To which is added sentence laconc is tTue but
| is forcble and expressive his eoquence
"Callornia knows her friends" To the watch is APP
pended magnificent, beautifully worked, and highly.
oInamented chain.
On Friday evening, the 7th Of March, the presentation
look place at the honorable senator's apartment 10 The
presence OF seuaoFs, members of the House OF Repre-
scnatiyes army and naval officers gentlemen ia the civil
service OF the government, and large number OF private
Citizens
The Hon, G. w. Wright, OF California on making
the presentation on behalf OF the young men OF Caiior
MA said
SENATOR have been delegated by the young men OF
California TO present to you this watch and beg, in
their and in their behalf that you will accept
very feeble expression OF their respect for you gen.
uehan their confidence IN you as statesman, AMI their
devotion 10 you as Jealous ccnsian IND faithful friend
OF California
The Hon 5. A. Douglas responded to this brief bu,
pressve address in the following terms
u SIR: accept from the young men Of California this
token oidhelr confidence aad friendship with pride and
gratitude i s, indeEd, brilliant f!assitei ard magniH
cent gilt lis great value to me- however, does not con
sis It's beauty utility, richness Il is the motive
which induced IT, and the number and character Of the
contributors, and the circumstances under which il is
presented that render It peculiarly acceptable 10 10y feel
ihgs
You do me no more than justice when you say that !
have been the carly constant, and unwaVerng friend Of
Gallo have, adeed, been her friend, but not her
exclusive friend ehe could al I'll times have nu'nbereI
among her friends the great majority OF both houses Of
Congress, while she never had an enemy within The
walls oil the Capitol The dmculty in providing the ne
cessary legislation for The protection Of the people Of Cal
fotnia did pct proceed from Ddlhe reD-e4-rnnch less
aversion or hostility 10 that country II resulted from
the unfortunate agitation in Congress of yexed ques
ton which the people Of California alone were colnpe
tent 10 decide Tor themselves.
II is natural and honorable 10 the young men of Cali
tosni0 that heS sho"d feel gfasiul IN those who wete
instrumental in dessng, PROPOSING, and passing the
ind Happiness Of their adopted land Nor is j, sing uar
that my position as chaIrua OF the Committee OF Ter.
business should have fixed their eyes upon me as one
whose action would have an important bearing upon
! their rights and Interests. From early youth |
have INDUCED an Enthusiasm, which seemed 10 9th
ers Wild and romantic, IN regard TO the growth,
pansion, and destiny Of this republic The great
West and the Pacific coast presented theatre for
new aud wonderful events studied carefully
everything that pertaned to them-every mountain and
valley plain and river was the subj OF peculiar in.
leresi and inquiry, until fell that understood the ge.
ogaphy and photography Of the cotiuty between the
Mis- lssippl and The Pacific ocean quite accurately
as OF the Old States OF the Union When entered Con.
gfess my interest IN the subject became obvious,
nUl imrn rhatrfp at The
Committee on Territories, first in the House OF Repre-
sentatves and subsequently in the Senate The prepa.
ration OF the various bills necessary to give government
% the people OF the Territories and prepare them for ad
mission into the Union States required labor and In
vestgaton. But 1t was work OF oye-a labor in
which duty aud inclination ran in the same channel.
Among the duties pertaining TO my position wrote and
introduced The bill which admitted Texas As Stae-lhe
bill which brought in lowa-the bill which INTRODUCED
Wisconsin INTO The Unionand also the bills that created
the Territory Of Minnesota and OF Oregon and OF Utah.
and New Mexico, have done more for California
than duty and inclination prompted 10 do Tor each Of
the States and Territories 10 which have referred All
this entities me to peculiar claim OF merit; for
doubt not that any and every senator would have done
the same thing cheefuy, had the Senate awarded him
my position upon the committee.
My interest IN California, country which des-
tined to beeone one OF the brightest stars 10 the Amer-
can constellation, does not date from the discovery OF the
gold mines, nor from the conclusion Of the treaty &C.
CURING the territory from the commencement OF the
Mexican war My eyb had for yeats been fixed upon
the bay of San Francisco the probable point which
the commerce OF the West must concentrate and from
which would be made tributary 10 the wealth OF this
republic by means OF railroad across the ntncn In
pamphlet published in 1916 in favor OF a railroad from
the Atlantic 10 the Pacific marked out the route through
the South Pass OF The Rocky mountains to the mouth OF
the Columbia in Oregon, that being tie only territory then
claimed by us on the Pachc coast In that pamphlet you
will find the following passage: But am inclined TO
the opinion that the bay OF San Francisco in California,
will be found preferable the western terminus OF the
road ~ tie eUtrt that country can be onnrred an time
We'll, California has been annexed time, and trust
that the bay OF San Francisco will be the western
terminus oil a railroad from the Atlantic TO The Pacific.
When the Mexican forces invaded territory and
attacked General Taylors army called on The Pfesi-
dent the day the recognised by Congres-I
think was the 18th OF May, ls46-and insisted that no
treaty OF peace should be made which did recognise
the right Of Texas 10 the Rio Grande and secure TO
, New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;. The line which /
urged Mr.. Polk to insist upon The 32J parallel Of
north latitude from The Rio Grande TO the gulf OF Cali
forna thence through the centre of the gulf TO the
ocean, a 10 include Lower as we'll as Upper Calfor
mia, and The whole OF the valley Of the ella river instead
OF making that stream the boundary between the two
countries. regarded the acquisition OF The CALIFORNIA;
and the maintenance oil our title 10 the whole OF Oregon
as essential TO the iulhment OF destiny as the first
maritime nation upon the globe II is singular there
fore, tina, the moment California acquired shoull
have been prompt to bring forward the necessary meas
ures TO protect the rights OF the inhabitants develop
the OF the country and 10 prepare her
her appropriate position OF the States OF this
Union. repeat only did my duty in this respect, and
doubt not any other senator would gladly have performed
that duty, had his position afforded him the opportunity
the eyes OF the young of California have been fixed
upon me in consequence OF these events, only say
that ii is decidedly the most agreeable mode in which
public man has ever been WATCHED BY any portion of the
American people.