The Nevada Democrat., 1859-03-16
Resources, What She Is, and
What She Might be.

What She Might be.
Below we give an extract from the eloquent
speech OF Chas. E. DeLong, delivered in the As
sembly, March 7th, on the bill "to regulate in
terest on money and to prevent usury"
ask the reasoning and impartial mind to reflect, and
with me- the past and present in history. Cali
fOrnia the youngest of all sister States possessing
Of Natures avors than any other known country
with fabled unceasng and Incompatible mineral wealth
-outyying the Biblical account OF 0phir with an
agricultural richness unsurpassed, with climate which
grows the vine from Skiyou to San Diego rvang in its
aud saiubrty, the classic shores of Spain
and Italy with seaboard safe, expansive and commod
ous lying adjacent to the richest mart of Eastern traffic
known in the world with multitude of and
dious harbors which invite, and wond by nature
fitted to command the Ontire commerce Of the Pacific
ocean with beautiful inland rivers and bays its
means Of canal and railway improvement settled at
cent period by the entepsng the speculative and hardy
the informed of all the world possessing all these advan
tages of soil climate commercial mineral and agricultu
raj wealth. together with the skill science and experience
of all our sister States and Of all the civilized and semi
civilized the EARTH brought here by the of all States
and of all nations with all of these, say ii would
that California should indeed at this day, stand fore
most in every point Of view State she should be the
most thcky populated the weahiest, not only in her
Treasury but in her internal improvements in her
mercal relations and all the public institutions of State
industry education and science. Her people should be
generally wealthy less burthened by taxation,
cntcprsng and happy than the people of other State
In the Union land OF the world 10 this sOY Let us
contemplate California as she is
As State, she stands to day the poorest the
with depleted Treasury lowering, but recently upon
the verge of repudaton not canal within her bor
ders with but little small strip of railway built upon
capital borrowed three per cent struggling under
their primary investment; her rivers unimproyed and
daily becoming Obstructed and rendered almost mpasabe
by the flood of debris turned into them by the mining
community covered and controlled by huge monopoes
who defy alike competition and legislation with unm.
proved public highways, also controlled by mOnopees
wearsome to the people and destructive to their
compelled yearly in order to meet the current
Of State Government, to levy and collect her
young people the most exorbitan and oppressive
Of taxes with untold mineral and agricultural wealth
exposed and beyond reach the capital when
daily from shores pours forth, has continued
do from the commencement of our States history tide
Of absolute golden wealth that has served to enrich
werd, whilst State and her people have remained
poor without any but the most tedious dangerous and
expensive means of intercomnuncaton with our sister
States and that controlled BY the most
oppressive and wearsome monopoes that has crush
ed the snews of any States prospery-so hinged in its
moneyed power that its influence is supposed BY many to
be felt in its cOrrupng manner in the halls of our
National legislature. commerce is limited almost
solely to necessities of import and export and
must thus continue so long unimproved harbors
with their attending concomant disadvantages such
attend every seaport Of our State continue their
present position. t.ht
This painted picture of an enthusiast nor darken-
ed picture Of misanthropc mind, but true statement
Of facts What then, is the proper pursueP
When philosopher behods any effect that attracts his
attention and interests his curiosity he Immediately seeks
for the then beholding do this effect let us
in manner becoming legislators, seek for the that
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most likely to cure the disease.
Now sir, shall endeavor to prove in the course of my
remarks that the ruinous rate of interest which meney
commands in this State, is the primary that pro-
duees this effect and If sustain this position trust
to the honesty and intelligence of my fellow Representa-.
tves to assist in tis my proposed application to rem
edy this evil By passing this bill to reduce the rate of
interest to the standard proposed you will then have re-
duced low that thousands of opportunities of invest
ment in all manner of internal improvement now living
touched will be sought after for the investment of capa
men can afford to borrow money for railroad and canal
purposes overowed lands be reclaimed at cost that
will warrant the owner in making the reclamation oppo.
stOn facilities Of travel will spring up wherever nonopo
lies hold sway rivers will be turned from their beds
to seek the placer mne and untold wealth will be deye
oped, enrichng the ditch owner the miner and the com
munity uactories will spring up and all branches of
common industry will feel its immediate beneficial nau
immigration will pour in freely for the reason
that new fields for labor will be opened to the industry of
the laborng man neat home cottages with all of their
comfor able appendages such youth was accusom
ed to- will take the place of discredtabe f,rmhouses
scraggng fences and unornamened yards for the
that the farmer afford to make these improvements
fearless that the rate of interest accumuang upon be
amount OF money thus expended will than counter
balance the profits Of his yearly labor The small trader
the shopkeeper and the mechanic having insufficient
means OF their to enter into business for themselves
who now fear to borrow money at the high rate of inter
est and the high rents required through fear that
will not only prove waste of time but that it will plunge
them in losses that will waste the little capital of their
own which they now possess will fear for the
interest upon the money being less rents must propor
tonatey decrease and thus competition in business of
cry nature will be its direct and Immediate results ASH
said before branch of human industry will feel its
immediate effects and people with strength
VIII spring forward in the Path Of enterprise With bright