The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-29

| gressional of the Hon. S, A. DOUGLAS, Uni
ted States Senator from Illinois, has been marked
by deep devotion TO the interest OF our Terrific
| rice and younger States. Hence, California, in
her struggles to relieve herself from the peculiar
position in which she placed before her adnis
sion into the Union, engaged his attention, enlisted
his sympathy, and secured the exercise OF his beat
| energies. For the services which he rendered
California was grateful, and her young and ardent
citizens resolved TO present to him a memorial OF
| their gratitude.
The design was conceived, but its execution was
at first embarrassed by the beralty Of the conri-
butors. Ultimately, however, limitation was
happily imposed, which. while 1t accomplished the
object of providing token Of their esteem, made
it more valuable as the gift of many. No subscri-
Der 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 pur-
chased
On the one side of the outer case is beautifully
engraved the armoral bearings Of the State of Cal
iiornia, with her motto, ''EUREKA;'' and on the
other, the coat of Of the State of Illinois, with
her expressive motto, STATE SovEREIGsTY--NA
TIoNAL UNIoS." Within the case is inscribed
his name, and the source whence the watch was
derived;
'The Hon. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS"
Presented by the young men of California
To which is added sentence, laconic, it is true,
but it is forciblc and expressive as his own elo-
1uence: California knows her friends" To the
watch is appended magnificent, beautifully
worked, and highly -ornamented chain.
On Friday evening, the 7th of March, the pre-
sentaton took place at the honorable Senator q
apartments, in the presence Of Senators, members
OF the House of Representatives, army and naval
officers, gentlemen in the civil service Of the Gov
eminent, and large number of private citizens.
The Hon. G. w. WRIGHr, of California, on max
ing the presentation on behalf of the young men OF
California, said:
SENATOR have been delegated by the young
| men OF California to present to you this watch
and beg, In their name and in their behalf, that
| you will accept it very feeble expression OF
| their respect for you as gentleman, their conf
dence in you n statesman and their devotion TO
you as 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
tins token OF their confidence and friendship with
pride and gratitude. 1t is, indeed, brilliant, mas
sive, and magnificent gift. lie great value to me,
however, does not consist in its beauty, utility or
| richness II is the motive which induced it, and
the circumstances under which it is presented, that
render it peculiarly acceptable to my feelings.
| You do me no more than justice when you say
that ! have been the early, constant, and un-
wavering friend Of California. have, indeed, been
her friend, but not her exclusive friend. She could
at all times have numbered among her friends the
great majority of both houses Of Congress- while
Capitol. The difficulty in providing the necessary
legislation for the protection Of the people of Cali
| fornia did not proceed from indifference-much
less aversion or hostility to that country 1t re-
suited from the unfortunate agitation in Congress-
OF a vexcd question which the people Of California
| alone were competent to decide for themselves.
II is natural and honorable to the young men Of
California that they should feel grateful to those
who were instrumental in devisng, proposing, and
passing the measures which they believe essential
to the prosperity and happiness of their adopted
land. Nor is it singular that my position as chair
man of the Committee Territories and the or
gan of the 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
an enthusiasm, which seemed to others wild and
romantic, In regard to the growth, expansion. and
destiny of this Republic. The great West and the
Pacific coast presented a theatre for new and won
derful events studied carefully every thing that
pertained to them-every mountain and valley
plain, and river was the subject of peculiar inter
est and inquiry, until felt that understood the
geography and topography Of the country between
rately ns of the old States of the Union. When en-
tered Congress my interest in the subject soon
became obvious, and doubtless led to my appoint
ment as chairman Of the Committee on Territories,
first in the House OF Representatives, and subse-
quenuy in the Senate. The preparation of the va
rious bills necessary to give government to the
people OF the Territories and prepare them for adj
mission into the Union as States, required labor
and investigation. But it was a work of lovc--a
labor in which duty and inclination ran in tho
same channel Among the duties pertaining to
my position, wrote and introduced the bill which
al ~, Gt,ko ~ l. a 4
in Iowa-the bill which introduced Wise onsin into
the Union; and also the bill that created the Terri
tory Of Minnesota, and of Oregon, and of Utah and
New Mexico. have done no more for California
than duty and inclination prompted me to do for
each of the States and Territories to which have
referred. All this entities me to peculiar claim
of merit, for doubt not that any and every Sena-
tor would have done the same thing checrfully,
had the Senate awarded him my position upon the
committee.
My interest in California as a country which was
destined to become OF the brightest stars in the
American constellation, does not date from the dis
covery Of the gold mines, nor from the conclusion
of the treaty acquiring the territory, nor from the
commencement of the Mexican war. My eye had
for years been fixed upon the Bay of San Fran
cisco as the probable point at which the commerce
of the West must concentrate, and from which il
would be made tributary to the wealth of this Re-
public by means of a railroad across the continent
In pamphlet published in 1S45 in favor of rail.
road from the Atlantic to the Pacific mark ed mi
the route through the South Pass of the Rocky
mountains to the mouth of the Columbia in Ore.
gon, that being the only territory then claimed by
the Pacific coast. In that pamphlet you will
find the following passage:
'sBut am inclined 10 the opinion that the Bau of
San Francisco in Cai ,pH be found preferable
as the ,oestern terminus of the road, in THE EVENT
THAT COUNTRY CAN BE ANNEXED IN TIME"
Wclb California has been annexed in time and
rust 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 Taylor's army | called on
the President the day the war was recognised by
Congress-I think it was the 18th of May Is46-
and insisted that no treaty of peace should be made
which did not recognise the right of Texas to the
Rio Grande, and secure to us New Mexico and the
CALIFORNIA;. The line which urged Mr. Polk to
insist upon was the 32d parallel of north latitude
from the Rio Grande to the Gulf Of California
thence through the centre of the gulf to the ocean
30 as TO include Lower as we'll as Upper California
and the whole Of the valley of the CHA river instead
of making that stream the boundary between the
two countries. I rewarded the acuui.ition of The