The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-11

CALIFORNIA EMIGRATION AND CALIFORNIA PRos-
PEcTs.-One of the most interesting and significant
features of the times in connection with our inter.
nal affairs, is the immense number Of people who
are leaving the cid settled parts of the country for
the new State on the Paciic. The emigration
thither is not to be estimated by hundreds but by
thousands. Every arrival, to be sure, brings
number from there's but these do not bear any pro-
portion to the swarms that leaving for the land
Of gold with their wives and families. The rapid
settlement of that State is without parallel in the
history Of the world. 1t but yesterday, We may
say, that it was conquered by our arms and ceded
to US by treaty, and it boast of large sized
cities, and number of towns and villages, which
contain thous ands of inhabitants. When We were
negotiating with Mexico for this territory the only
value attached to it the harbor of San Francis
co, which is one of the finest in the world. Little
was it dreamed then that it contained gold in such
inexhaustible quantities, it does, that, in the
short space oftwo or three years, it would be sove
reign State Of the American confederacy, and the
nucleus of an empire on the shores of the Pacifc,
destined, according to all probability, to outstrip,
in population and in all other elements Of wealth,
most Of the older States on the Atlantic side of tho
continent.
The progress Of California is, indeed astonishing;
and the continued emigration thither comprising as
it does the most valuable portion of our people
from all parts, and from every State in the Union,
augurs that, before quarter of century shall have
elapsed, there will be empire established on the
shores Of the Pacific, which, by ITSELF would be
titled to rank among the nations Of the world as
power of consequence. As general thing, the
emigrants who 60 thither are Of the best descrip-
~
would not 60 there; and they must have some
means, otherwise they could not afford to pay the
expenses of such long voyage. 1t is men Of energy
and men Of means, small or large, which California
requires for the full Development Of her extrae.di
nary resources. With large population Of this
kind, she must, in the nature Of things, become
important State before long.
We perceive by the journals of California that the
people generally believe that Congress has not done
its duty towards them-that it has been neglected.
of their interests. The complaint is, we think,
well founded. The national Legislature, t,
be sure, has done something for that new
State, but not enough. It wants a mint, and
a mint it must have; and the wonder is that one
has not been established there before this. Unit.
it is old enough to take of ITSELF the protect
ing arm of the federal government should be ex-
tended over it. AS it is California has grown and
propered Independently of the general government,
and without any assistance from it. Indeed, it's ad-
mission State was granted more in the light
of favor, than accorded as a matter of right aud
justice. She was dragged into the abolition quar-
rels between the North and South, and might veil
have exclaimed, GA plague on both your houses"
for she had nothing to do with them. This neglect
should not be continued California has within her
self all the elements of sovereignty distinct and Sc
parate from the United States, and were she to set
up on her account tomorrow as a separate nation,
no power that the United States possesses could
bring her within the union, if she pleased to remain
out of it. This is evident. California, therefore,
should receive more attention than has hitherto
been bestowed upon her, as what she might do,
che, perhaps, will do, aud such calamity ought by
all me ans to be avoided.