The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-21
CONGRESSIONAL
OEFENkED DEBATE.
THURSDAY. JANUARY 49, 1854.
SENATE.
THE SONORA EXPEDITION.

ed 10 conn of
war of California Oregon, and Washington
whether in active service lying in port unemployed
South Americas and their cruising grounds also whether
his opinion the naval force OF The United States The
departure by foreign territory Of any 'nnawful
erped on that migh be hastily formed from the advena
mercal pcyi,y apd enterprise. either 10 the United States
or Europe also Ihe number OF shipsofwar tho Atlantic
coast their Cruising grounds, whether in active Ser
vice or lying in port unemployed; also, the number Of
troops in California, Oregon, and Washington.
MIR GWIN Mr.. President, am induced to offer The
resolution from seeing in the morning papers proclana
ton which wish the Secretary 10 read
The Secretary read II, as ioOws
A PROCLAMATION,
By the President Of the Uaited States.
Whereas inormalion has been received by that an
unla expedition has been fitted the State OF Cal
ing friendly relations with the Uni'ed Siutes-and that
other expeditions organizing within the United States
and inhabitants Of this country, unmndln their
obgations and duties and Of The rights Of friendly
these enterprises. dsrogaory national character,
and threatening TO our uanqui and are thereby in
curing the penalties imposed by law against such
Now therefore l. Fraokn Pierce, President of the Uni
ed,Staes, have Issued this my procamaon, warning all
persons who shall themselves with any such enter
prse or expedition that the penalties of the law enounced
against such crlmna conduct will be rigdy enforced
and exhor all good cit'zens as they regard national
as they value blessings peace and welfare
country, dscoun,enance. and by all lawful pre-
vent, such criminal enterprises; and call upon all officers
Of this government civil and military, any efforts
which may their po and punish
ment every such offender
Given under my hand and the seal of the United States
at Washington, this eighteenth day OF January,
H. 81 in the year oi our Lord thousand eight hum
dred and fsty-tonr, and the seventy-eIghth Of
the independence Of hs ERaNkiN uG;iSd S,aifei feirRcr
W. l.. Nancy, Secretary OF State.
MI. GWiN. MIR. President, this proclamation is.
sued against persons who said 10 be citizens of the
State OF California wish 10 bring 10 The notice of the
Senate and the country fact which think Is proper
should 90 the country with that proclamation and
it ths that at the time this expedition is said 10 have
been gotten up in the State OF California, the United
States had no force there TO prevent the sailing OF such
expeditions wish 10 bring TO The notice OF the Senate
and The country that al the very time the first expedition
went from California, single steamship of-wa, with
single gum could have prevented it. And. sir, is there
no allowance be made for The stale oil the country
which was its dssnaon-Lower ds California and Sonora
Sir, here expedition OF forty-6ve men that
passed out without obstruction from The Golden Gaie
less than mile wids and which any one gun can com-
mand. against ship without Cannon; and they
went 10 county large bali dozen States of this
confedeacy took possession OF IL and Issued proca-
nation prociaiming republic. a4og .H@
II The President Of The United States intends 10 pre-
vent such expeditions there elsewhere he should have
force OF the United States prevent their departure
AL the time that this vessel left barbos OF San Fran
cisco, there but Two ships war in active service
the whole Pacific coast of South and North America
al the Sandwich Islands, having been ordered there
for the purpose oil preventing the consummatGa Of one OF
the expeditions referred to in lhs proclaim aon the other
We all supposed, was cruising at the monih OF ibe
that il had been ordered 10 the coast OF Peru to look
after some difficulties which government has had
with that republic
Now. on coast OF over FIVE thousand miles we bad
but two ships Of TO protect commerce and main
tain neutrality obligations Is 1t not farce 10 say
that such force accomplish these Objects
There was aiso second expedition reported TO have
sailed from San Francisco, vessel with two hundred
and fifty board which was towed oul OF the bar
Dor by steamship without the slightest obstacle on the
part OF The government Of the United States. And why
because bad force there. When we ask for steam
ship in the revenue service to prevent smuggling on that
coast we told that Costs too much and when ask
that appropriations shall be made to put tha, coast IN
state OF defence, almost secuted al, because It costs
30 much money This miserable system OF economy has
left us without government power, either to defend
from enemy or prevent The sailing OF unlawful expe-
dtions from our ports
Here, now, we proclaimed 10 the world going TO
and disturbing the peace OF other nations, by expeditions
got up that coast, when we are given enris bance 10
90 where please and violate any law we please so lar
the power OF the government is concerned for the
only law IigdIy executed there s the Law OF taxing
and collecting the revenue from us
Now, Mr.. President. am opposed to all unlawful ex-
peditons OF this soft but II must be known that IN
new country like California, where there are many
adventurous spirits, and where The countries adjoining
usae offered to simply Tor the gong and las ing them
properly executed, il such expeditions are not to be car
ried out tt
country that when there of the richest mi6ea al
countries in the world adjoining the State OF California,
with population utterly unable 10 defend them against
the Indian tribes in their neighbohood, expeditions OF
this kind will proceed from California unless The force
Of the United States there ia sufficient to prevent them
Wherever people 20 they carry wealth, power, and
prosperity with them and never forget The principles OF
liberty they have inherited from our forealhers; aud, al
though such expeditions should not be encouraged or al
loved il they succeed, the present inhabitants will be
more powerful and prosperous through the change OF
governmentr than they are now or can expect to be
without change. .
What the condition OF our army on the Pacific coast
II not has BEEN Efficient from local causes
that have failed remedy by e1slalion although
urged to do go These expeditions can 90 by land TO
Sonora and in my opinion, have gone. viii 20 and
this paper proclamation OF the President will have no e
feet stopping any such expedition because we have no
force there 10 enforce H. .
tis useless for the Chief Magistrate OF these United
States TO attempt BY proclamation, TO stop any such eK
edioa AZ long the principle at territorial expansion
~ recognised and such countries lay on our border AS
Lower California, Sonora, and the Sandwich Islands
loa for the taking, and the government OF the United
s'ales opposes effective preventive force, you VIII
Ind citizens of the United States engaged m such ener-
Wises; and they will be successful.
Pfocamaiions without efficient force wiz not STOP
them.
Why have we not had steamship-of war on the Pa
chic coast Because !, is said to be too expensive on
sea coas OF sixteen hundred mesl Coal there cosi-
huy OF forty dollars per ton, when here we can get y
of about six. Here again that misef able system o
economy penny wise and pound foolish, that destroys all
o. The efficiency OF government, and my constituents are
ODE branded with inisny for violating laws that there
sno power to enforce.
warn the country that unless the power of the gov
eminent is exercised efficiently that coast they cam
aol Expect 10 stand sill when invited into
ese magnificent countries which lie around and zee
Ind. IL