The Placer herald., 1858-08-14
From the Washington Union.
Our Inter-Continental Affairs,

California and the rapid advancement of the
Pacific States, of the overwhelming import
ance, in political and material point of
view, OF our inter-continenta territories. 1t
was to have been expected that the great
country lying between the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers, and stretching to the north,
south, and west to the settlements recently
sprung into existence on the Pacific coast,
would sooner or later, be inhabited. The
acquisition of Texas and New Mexico on this
side, and California land we may say Ore
gon) on the other-for Oregon as a politi-
cal community, is an outbirth of the settle
ments to the south of it-have undoubted-
ly opened the whole interior country to the
movement of population. 1t is but few
years since it was the settled policy of the
United States governmental policy concur
red in by the whole American peope-that
the territories lying west of the Mississippi
should be set apart as the permanent resi-
dences OF the Indian tribes. 1t is now seen
how utterly impossible it is, even under the
operation of federal laws and the covenants
OF treaties, to set limits to the progress of a
superior over an inferior race; for no sooner
were the tribes sent to their allotted homes
than an overwhelming necessity, which no
power Of the government could control, de
manded the extinction of their new titles and
their removal to more distant parts. All the
territories west of the Mississippi up to the
desert lines of the interior are not only oc-
cuped by our own people, but Congress has
established, or is about to establish, a GOV
ernment over them.
Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Utah and
New Mexico, to the east of the Mountains,
and Washington and Oregon on the west,
have been constituted separate governments.
one of which has already been admitted in
to the Union as sovereign State and the
Others are in quick preparation for the same
destiny. Applications are also before Con-
gress for the extension of the laws of the
United States, and the organization of gov
ernments over Dacotah and Arizona. We
aInde to these facts in support of the theory
that the whole interior of the continent is
destined at an early day to command its
share Of our rapidly increasing population.
1t is now little more than ten years since
California was acquired and settled. That
State has now not Only large population,
but is one OF the most productive, wealthy,
and powerful members of the confederacy
combining within the range Of her indus
try as great variety of labor, skill, and
profit, as any other in the confederacy.
With an extended sea coast and commo.
dious harbors, and looking out upon the COM
merce Of the Pacific, from which it is able
to command perpetual tribute, she is des-
tined to become ore of the first commercial
nations Of the world. There is, too. in her
condition, such peculiar combination of ad-
vantages for an independent State as to af-
ford continual temptation to withdraw
from the federal Union. We do not imar-
inc that the fountains of national patriotism
III California, up to the present time, have
been poisoned by serious reflections upon
the benefits which might result to its people
from their position as an Independent nation.
1t is well, however, to consider these things
in connection with the rapid growth of that
country, and the still more rapid advance
ment Of Atlantic population to the westward
of the Mississippi. Without desiring to en-
ter into details, or to do more than take a
mere glance Of the true condition of the
whole country, and, especially, to refer to the
great laws of population, which are seen to
have been sufficient to abrogate nearly all
our treaties with the Indian tribes, and to
have outstripped all human calculation, we
think 1t due to ourselves as a nation that
these considerations should be made the sub
ject of deep reflection by the American peo
pie. They point with irresistible force to
the necessity Of so shaping the policy of the
country as to effect consolidation of all
its social, Industrial, and producing interests
BY the rapid extension Of population, pro-
ductlon, and commerce in California the
spectacle is in fact exhibited of the apparen,
existence there of an independent govern
ment. This may be of little consequence
unless such course shall be pursued on this
side of the continent, by negiecting proper
means to bring the two regions together
as to substitute real for what is now only
an imaginary danger.
The present administration have determin
ed to establish an overand-mal route across
the continent. This step one of great i'm
portance calling for the adoption of meas
ures to protect the line; thus opening the
interior to settlement. The chief obstacle
it is well known, to the movement of peo
pie to the centre of the continent is to be
found in the hostile attitude of the tribe who
are little more than banditti, acting under
immunites extended to them in consequence
of their barbarous character We entertain
in reference to these tribes no morbid senti
mentalism. We would apply to them mean.
of reform; but if those means fail, and theil
reduction from savage states is found to b(
impossible, regarding their extinction as seal
ed by the laws of mind, we would adopt fol
the purposes of their government precisely
such remedies as may be necessary to Sc
cure protection to our own people, and with
out any regard to their peculiar welfare
We do not in the administration of our owl
laws, to our own people, exempt ignorance
from the penalties of crime, nor even admit
it in mitigation Of such penalties. Drunken