The Placer herald., 1859-03-12

tions of the Union; which must be the
wish Of every patriot, who is n friend to the
government and its institutions. 1t is obvi-
Gus that great empire is sprung up on the
Pacific with the rapid growth of youthful
giant. There is now little community of in
terests between it and the rest of the Union
1t must shortly possess great foreign COM
merce of its own. 1t will presently inquire
"What interests have we with government
5000 miles away, which will do nothing to-
ward giving us a tolerable means of communi
cation!' 1t will come to understand that with
genial climate and soil capable of every
product, and mineral wealth embracing.
nearly the whole mineral kingdom, it has
no necessary dependence on the American
Union; that its vast and growing commerce
is hampered with the American tariff, with
out any adequate return, and that seperate
national existence would cost little more
than the present system of State government;
that with absolute free trade, exempt from
all imports, it could monopoize the COM
merce of the Pacific, China, Japan aud the
Islands.
Tie people on the Pacific are not so blind
as not to perceive that their peace and Sc
curity are constantly jeopardised by the for
eign policy and ambition of the States east
of the mountains. They understand that
England would fall at once and mainly up
on them; that their ports would be seized or
blockaded their commerce broken up, their
seacoast invaded, and the richest mines fall
into tho hands of the enemy. They have,
therefore, a just right to look for the inaug-
uration of work which will connect them
with the more populous States, and give them
the means of defence and protection, especi
ally when that work is to advantage every
section of the Union as much rs the Pacific
The people on the Pacific are national
and conservative in all their tendencies.
They are neither sectional nor narrow mind
ed. They feel an utter contempt for this
miserable struggle, the object Of which is to
convert African wool into the fair hair of the
Saxon, and have eyinced it recently 10y their
political action in a manner not to be mis-
taken. Southern politicians ought to rcmem-
Der this, and not ALLEVIATE a country that will
shortly have half dozen potent conserva-
tive States in the contedcracy, if not driven
out of the Union or into the arms of their
enemies.
All that the Pacific requires to become
formidable rival to the Atlantic slope in
commerce, agricultural, and manufactures is
cheap labor and that lies at her door ready
made to Eer hands. She has only to reach
out and gather it in. The Chinese mandar
ins have at this moment a system of foreign
slavery in California. They bring their
conntrymen to the mines under contracts
for labor, and force it specifically according
to the laws of China, and without any ref
erence to the government, laws or tribunals
of California. The legislature of California
has only to legaize this actual condition of
things, as to contract for Asiatic and Indian
labor; give a law requiring their specific
performance, on the ground that their VIC
lation is fraud, and which the constitution of
California will authorize, and thereby extend
its advantages to its own citizens; and for
one e-fourth of the annual interest on an Afri-
can slave the Californian may have a laborer
who will answer all the purposes of The ne
gro. The subject is now agitated in California
and, if the people of the Pacific are thrown
upon their own resources, mast commend it.
self to their favorable consideration. This
cheap labor would enable them to open vast
mines now unproductive, to embark protita-
bly, in the growth Of the great staples, inclu-
ding tea, and to establish manufactures which
would supply the whole Asiatic demand, to
the exclusion of eastern and British fabrics
The Pacific is no poor province dependent
upon this government and Union. Ii it is
not wanted by these States, it can provide
fol itself separate existence upon the shores
of the great ocean that will be felt by the
nations of the earth. How long it will sub
nit to be snubbed and buffetel like a step
child, remains to be seen. The attachment
of its people to the American name, govern
ment and flag is very strong-the affection
of the daughter for the mother-but in the
nature of things there is limit even to this.
With the plains Of Mexico all before her,
crying out come and take me, with great
separate interests of her own, and absolute
neglect by the federal government, it is
somewhat hazardous game that our states
men are playing with the Pacific.
There is class of politicians in this coun
try with whom nothing but the dyspepsia is
With them it is vain to reas
on. There are others, like Jefferson Davis,
alive to their constitutional obligations, and
at The same time not unmndful of the vas.
wants and great destiny Of this country. At
this time the people turn theiT eyes on them
as alone worthy to conduct our foreign and
national policy on q basis at once within the
powers of the constitution, and adequate to
the grandeur Of the position to which the
American people and government have ar
rived.
Senator Gwin deserves the gratitude of
California for the able and mastery support
he has given to his great measure, with tai
ent. energy. and will that deserve and should