The Shasta courier., 1854-06-24
Speech Of Hon. Milton =. Latham, of thi IL
Sfafe. on the Civil Fund.

State, the Civil Fund.
We are indebted to the author for pamphlet
copy of this speech. II seems 10 have been pre-
pared with care and embodies all the facts and
arguments which could be brought TO bear in ia
vor of the claim. They SO marshaled by
Mr.. Latham as to present formidable appear
ance-so much so, that we hope Congress will
surrender at discretion. and pay the money over
to the State. Mr.. Latham shows beyond ques-
ton that the money collected from the people of
the State, before her admission, was done with
out authority of law, and by means OF threats by
United States ships of war, 10 sink all vessels
that refused to pay duties on their foreign car
goes. This money, thus illegally collected, II is
contended should be paid back to the people of
California.
Mr.. Latham proves by facts and figures taken
from United States records, that California never
as territory, cost the United States dollar
while the other territories have cost the Union
millions of dollars. We give the concluding
portion OF the speech Il Sac Union.
Now sir, we have none OF these advantages
and encouragements you built for us no court
houses and public edifices, nor sustained any of
the munimenis of government. Is it right, then,
when you denied these, your common gifts, TO
us, to still compel us TO pay and keep from our
people duties SO illegally and unjustifably ex-
tor'ed? Mr.. Chairman, under the kind admin
istration of The general government, with the
energy and intelligence of her people, there is
no prediction too wild for The future brilliancy
OF the youngest star in the American GALAXY
With a coast of go miles; geographical area
lSS,9Sl square miles, nearly four times as large
as the Stale OF New york population in her
fourth year of near $50, 900; a climate unsur-
passed on the face of the globe an exuberance
Of soil that admits of little competition: her
markets teeming with the products of all climes;
her mineral wealth without parallel in the his
tory of the world California sits the queen of a
great western empire, waving her golden wand
over the Pacific.
In 1851 the shipment of gold dust to the At
lantic States amounted to $34 592, 900; in 1852,
S45,779, 900; and in 1858, S54,9O5 900. If you
add to this the gold carried away by private in
dividuals it will be found that California has
added near $780, 600 to the gold products of
the world From: 10Th November 1S49 to Both
September, 1850, the duties collected by the
general government in that State amounted to
s. SOB SCI 0S; from LIST October 1880 to June
Both. 1851, 81 1885, "a 90: from lst July, 1851
to Both June, 1852 50, ,13439S 81 aud from
July |, 1852, to 30'h June, 1853, 81, ,40S720 %
making the neat little sum that we have con-
tributed i'll the way OF tares to the support OF
the general government, Independent OF this
civil fund " during these youthful years, OF
$S0 1868 76.
Sir, San Francisco to-day is the third CONNER
cal city in the Union. The tax to-day upon each
man, woman, and child in California Judging
from the revenue collected in the fiscal year
1853, by the general government is eleven dol
lars and thirty-tour cents while Ill all the other
States in the Unun it amounts to two dollars and
thirteen cents to each man, woman and child.
Again, the total amount of exports of the Uni
ted States for the year 1858 was $3.50, 452 $50 ;
while the amount of gold exported for the same
year from California alone, was, as near as can
be ascertained from all sources, $50, 300 ,399 70
| call the attention of the committee to these
facts, to show that while Congress has been kind
to my State, she has not undeserved it. and that
when | ask i'll her name the repayment of this
Z" civil fund.- she has done more than her part
tn support your government, and deserves espe-
cial consideration in this claim. There is debt
of over three millions resting my State; and
always having regarded these duties as belong
ing legitimately TO her, she has pledged them t.,
her creditors in part payment, and The obliga-
ton is thus doubly binding on her to use all
honorable means TO secure this claim 1t re-
mains now to be seen whether the General Gov
ernment, the Alma Mater of States. will decide
that California, with her youth her prodiea dis
position and dangerous gifts of nature, shall be
fostered like wayward child, advised and
watched over with anxious solicitude or left to
the mercies OF the whole commercial world
despolled by all nations of her wealth in turn
robbed OF her fair fame, and finally to meet old
age without credit, improvement or internal
protection, but impoverished, paralyzed. pitt
full monument of ingratitude ;-whether sur our
republican principle combines that forethought
and wisdom OF experience, that conservative ell
ement OF protection, which had Spain in her
similar career felt the influence of. she would
not now, after having been the envy. be the
compassion of nations; but rather an example
of the attaining that height of national as well
personal greatness the clearing of prosperity
with equanimity and dignity. 1t remains finally
to be seen whether. with true appreciation of
her position, of the influence of her discovery
upon the great course of human events" you
shall not only grant her the small justice she
sues for but take advantage of her coming, la
den with such rich gifts and tribute, standing as
she does upon the shores of the great Pacific
commanding the commerce of the whole glow
ing East and the far off isles of the sea- calling
aloud to the nations of just awakened Asia, and
pointing, with proud confidence, towards Free
dom in her strength.