The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-12
MEXICO AND LOWER CALEDONIA.


tracts from city of Mexico papers to the 17tl
of December.
The most important item Of intelligence i
said to be "the acceptance Of the act of Qua
dalsjara by Santa Anna the meaning o
which is represented to be, {" that he will con
tinue invested with his preeent powers as Ions
as he shall judge necessary, that he shall havt
power to- elect his successor, and that the Pres
ident shall in future bear the title of Most Sc
rene Highness."
We, however, can see nothing either move
or important in this. Oar limited acquaint
ance with that dignitary has always been sui
ficient to convince us that he would not refus,
such conditions as these; and that should b.
demand them in a sufficiently imperious man
ner, we have never doubted the assent Of tht
Mexican people to the demand.
The Diario Official contains the announce
ment that the President, DESTROYS of putting ar
end to the public curiosity on the subject O
the boundary with the United States, has ap
pointed special commission composed of Srs
Diaz de Bonilla, Salazac Harreguy and Gen
Palacio, to treat with our Minister, Mr.. Gads
den, and settle this delicate question. Sr. 30
nilla is invested for this purpose with full and
plenipotentiary powers, and the conferences
have already commenced.
The Sonora incursion has sgitated the ma
ton, and an array Of resistance is being made
From the San Diego California; Herald, of the
al of naoar,ha,. n,,ofnJ rrOoIa M f;<v, q 4
the people of the United States" of one VIM
Walker, who styles himself ZIP resident Of Low
er California" We deem it proper to place
before our readers this important document in
eItenSo:
To the People of the United States.
In declaring the Republic of Lower Califor-
mia Free sovereign, and independent, deem i:
proper to give the people of the United States
the reasons for the step have taken.
1t is due to the nationality which has most
jealousy guarded the Independence of the
American States to declare why another rep
resentative ia created on the immediate con-
fines of the Union
The Mexican Government has for O. long
time failed to perform its duties to the province
of Lower California. Cut off as the territory
was, by the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo, from
all direct communication with the rest of
Mexico the central authorities have manifest
ed little or 10 interest In the affairs of the Cal
ifornia peninsula. The geographical position
OF the provinces is such as to make it certain
ly separate and distinct in its interest from the
other portion Of the Mexican Republic. Bat
the moral and social ties which bound it to
Mexico hare BEEN even weaker and more de-
piorable than the physical. Hence, to deveore
the resources of Lower California, and to effect
q proper social organization therein, it was
necessary to make it independent
Tie mineral and pastoral wealth of Lower
California is naturally very great; but to prop
erly developo it, there must be coed Govern
ment and sure protection to labor and proper
Sy. Mexico is unable to furnish these REQUISITES
for the growth and prosperity of the peninsula.
The territory, under Mexican rule, would for
ever remain wild, half savage, and uncultiya.
ted, covered with an indolent and half civilized
people DESTROYS of keeping all foreigners from
entering the limits C the State.
When the people Of territory fail almost
entirely to develope the resources that nature
has placed at their command, the interest of
civilization requires others to go in and possess
the land. They cannot, nor should they be al
lowed to play the "dog in the manger," and
keep others from possessing what they have
failed to occupy and appropriate.
Mexico has not performed any Of the ordi-
nary duties of Government towards the people
of Lower California She has established no
sure and ready means of communication for
the people among them or the rest of the world,
nor has she ever undertaken to protect them
from the wandering. robbers who infect the
territory. Thus abandoning the peninsula. and
leaving it as it was, "a waif on the waters
Mexico cannot complain if others take it and
make it valuable.
On such considerations have / and nv com
panions in arms acted in the course we have
pursued. And for the success of our enter
prise, we put our trust in Him who controls
the destinies of nations, and guides them in the
ways of improvement and progress
VIM WALKER,
President Of Lo,Oer California.
The acts of MIR. Walker and his "compan-
ions in arms" are too important to be lightly
Were it otherwise, we might greatly
enjoy the hunor of this formal annunciation
of the birth of a nation, together with the as
tute and profound moral considerations that
have prompted Mr.. Walker and his "compsn-
ions in arms" to drive the dog out of the
manger, and to rescue the "waif on the wa
ters." We would not, however, relish the
adoption of the morality of Mr. Walker by
such idle and out-at-elbows gentlemen, as are
occasionally seen prowhng about our cities and
adjacent highways. Bat he is no doubt cor
rect in his estimate of the mineral and pas
toral wealth of Lower California and it NAV
be profitable for the people of tho United
States, whom ne addresses to apply themselves
to the study of the geography of Lower Cali
fornia, and TO an examination of the authority
under which title deeds may there be held.
One way or other, the movements of Mr..
Walker and his companions in arms will un-
doubtedly prove of practical Importance to
our Government and people.
A RELIC OF PAST AGE-There is now re-
siding on the place Of ]. Dudley Davis, ESQ,
in Scott county, Ky, a free woman Of color.
whose age, from reliable sources, is 100 years.
She was grown at the time of Braddock's de-
feat, 1855, which she well remembers. She
frequently washed the clothes of the Father
of his Country" prior to her emigratiDg from
the " Old Dominion " to this State
II may crafty the curiosity of the curious
TO see this relic of the Ssh century and one
whose age equals that Of the great iawg;ver of
Israel, though, unlike him, her eyesight is dim,
aud her natural force abated.-Frankfort Com
monreaith
THE ERIE RAILROAD TRouBLEs-The New
York Daily Times thus conc;sely sets forth the
grounds of the recent conflicts at Erie which
may be received as the New York statement Of
the case:
The Borough of Erie desires that the rail
road running through its limits shall be com.
nelled to ohonpe cars there and tho .cau data--