, 1854-03-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsHINGToN, Jan. 10.
SENATE.
SENATE


OUR NAVAL FoRcE-cALL FOR INFORMATION.
Mr.. Gwin offered resolution calling up
on the President to inform the Senate the
number Of ships Of war on the coast of Cal
ifornia, and Of the territories OF Oregon and
Washington, in active service, or in poit
also, the whole number on the Pacific coast,
employed or otherwise; also, whether the
naval force there in 1858, was sufficient to
prevent the departure to foreign territor,
Of any unlawful expedition. Also, the
number Of ships on the Atlantic coast, en-
ployed actively or otherwise also, the mum
Der Of troops in California, Oregon, and
Washington.
SPEECH OF Mr.. GwIN.
Mr.. Gwin read the Presidents proclama
lion, and said it was issued against persons
said to be citizens of California. He desired
TO call the attention of the country to mat
ter connected with the procamation-it was
that at the time the expedition was got up
in California, the United States had no force
there TO prevent its sailing. He wished it
to be known, that al that very time, when
= the first expedition sailed, single vessel of
war with single gun could have stopped
il. Was there no allowance 10 be made for
the condition of Lower California and So
noral Here was an expedition of forly.fye
men passing out of the Golden Gate, which
any one gun could command against ship
without cannon, and they went to large
country, took possession of it, and declared
It republic. If the President intended to
prevent such expeditions, he should have
force 10 prevent their departure. At the
time the vessel left San Francisco, there
were but two ships of war in active service
on the whole Pacific coast-one at the Sand.
wich Islands to prevent the consumation of
a similar expedition the other was sup.
poscdto be at the gulf of California, but it
turned oui, had been ordered to the Coast OF
Peru. On the whole coast, over 5,C0JI
miles, there were but two ships of war 10
protect our commerce, and maintain neu-
trality Obligations. Was il not farce to
say i could accomplish those objects ? L.
was reported that second expedition had
sailed, and that The vessel was lowed ont of
the harbor by a steamship without any in
terruplion BY the United State Government.
Why soi Because the Uuited States, when
a steamship for revenue service was asked
for 10 prevent smuggling, said that it cost
too much; and when he asked for appro
priations TO put the coast in state Of de-
fence, be was secuted, because il required
50 much money, This miserable economy
had lett them without government power ei-
ther 10 defend themselves from an enemy,
or to prevent the sailing Of unlawful expe-
ditions. Here was a paper proelaiming
them 10 the world as going to, and disturb.
ing The peace Of other nations, when, in fact,
they Were given carte blanche 10 20 where
they pleased, and violate any law lhey
pleased, 80 far as the power of government
was concerned. The only law rigldly exc.
cuted in California was the one taxing and
collecting revenue from them. While he
was opposed 10 all unlawful expeditions of
this sort, il ought 10 be known that in new
country like California, where there were so
many adventurous spirits and where the
adjoining founIries were ofsped simply for
the going dnd taking them, the power Of the
United States ought 10 be visilantly and
properly executed. II must bo known that
where there arc some of the richest miner
Al countries in the world, adjoining Califo--
MIA, with population utterly unable 10 de-
fend them against the Indians, expeditions
OF this kind will proceed from California.
unless the force Of the United there suffi
cieht 10 prevent Them. Wherever our peo-
Plo go, they carry wealth, power and pros
perliy with them, and never forget the prin-
ciPles Of liberty they have inherited. And.
though such expeditions are unlawful, i'll
they succeed, they result in benefit 10 the
inhabitants, because of the change they pro.
duce. The army in California has never
been ciicient, in consequence Of the evils
Congress has failed 10 remedy. They can
90 by land 10 Sonora, and in his opTnion.
have gone ror will 60. The proclamation
will not stop them because there is no force
there to execute IT,. Il was useless for the
President 70 attempt BY proclamation 10 stop
'hem' As long asterritorial expansion is en-
couraged in such countries as Lower Cali
fornia, Sonora, andibe. Sandwich Islands
can be had just for The taking, and the Uni.
ted States opposes no preventative force.
citizens Of the United States will be found
engaged in such expeditions, and they win
DO successful. There was nv steamship on
that coast because coal was high there
1here was penny wise and pound foolish
economy, which destroyed the efficiency Of
government and caused his constituents 10
be branded with infamy for violating laws
that there was no power to enforce. He
warned the country thai unless the power
OF government was efficiently exercised,
They could not expect tile citizens Of Cali
fOrnia 10 stand still when they were invited
into those magnificent countries, and when
they could get them with the will of the in
habilants- BY taking them. The proclama-
ton wes loo late. He was anxious to OBJ
serve the neutrality laws, and if it was true