Weekly Trinity journal., 1861-01-12
fCoNMUMcATED.
A Pacific COnfederncy.

vour last issue you deem revival of this subject
not only highly probable, but possible, desire
as one of vonr humble readers, to ask the space
to address the thinking, dspassionate citizens of
Trinity county, and wherever your excellent pa
per is read, to pause and cautiously consider some
of the necessary consequences of so fearful ca
lamity. say cqlqmay sir, for though confess
the Federal Government has been exceeding tar
dy in encouraging the positive necessities of the
Pacific interests, STILL it has done much in the
aggregate But will not stop here TO enumer
ate. as am anxious to present some Of the most
prominent features of our isolation.
Conjontly with Oregon and adjoining terrific
res there is not exceeding a million of inbab
tants. What proportion of these million people
will consent to be taxed with direct tax Of at
least sir times the amount Of their already heavy
tax burden, in order to form and maintain for
single year. Federal Government? If, accord
ing to the estimate Of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, sxty-two millions of dollars is required to
pay the annual expenses of the present Federal
Government, then, sir, your "six millions" will
be but a moiety of the amount absolutely required
to sustain an independent government The
mail service alone for the Pacific coast costs one
million, two hundred and twenty eight thousand,
two hundred and forty-one dollars (Sl,22S 241)
The receipts were S296,469, leaving a balance
from the public treasury Of $93l,772.
In your last weeks article, you say: "She
would have to create navy, and build forts and
= I
board to say nothing of interior provisions to
keep the savages in check" This last clause
helps exceedingly to make out our argument ;
that though we bad the population-which we
have not, and the disposi ton which is also over
whelmingly minus, we have not from any and all
our resources enough to do 1.-THE of what ex-
penditures would be imperatlvely requisite. If,
sir with the Federal Government to back US, we
have been for years groanng about paying lit
tie Indian War Debt, what should we do when
our pro rata of the National debt, the Light
House, Fertilization, and Navy Yard improve
ments with Custom Houses, barracks, &c, &c,
&C. and an hundred millions Of hard cash, on
credit would all stare US full in the face
Where in Christendom," you most eloquently
ask, could her bonds find purchaser, and that
too, in the face of the stubborn fact that notwth
standing, as Territory or State, she has expend-
ed little or nothing on improvements, and has
failed to support herself Does any one say that
the three hundred and ten thousand white popu-
lation would be immensely increased If this was
an independent Republic? This ] know. Con-
gressman Burch hints at; bnt look at it a moment.
Will people leave comfortable, sure homes Of
ease and plenty to go where taxation would fairly
rob them? Say not a word about the hazards
and danger to life and property in crossing the
Plains Savage maSsacreS would be a certainty,
for then there would be no home government to
partially protect migrants hitter. In the event
Of a general disunOn movement, war by sea and
land is inevitable, and who would become so in
fauaed as to embark his hearts treasureS-hs !
famiIy-in ship, liable at any hour to become a
Legitimate prize And moreover, think you that |
the Vanderbilts and Aspinwalls, Roberts and
others, are going to become suddenly converted |
TO Howards? ! trow not. Well nigh prohibitory |
has been the hitherto enormous charges of trans
portation, and instead Of improving in this re-
spcct, it would retrograde at a fearful per cent
But not only the small and extremely sparse
nonulation, the lack of full treasury, and the
want of credit sufficient to enable us to make a
start towards Pacific Confederacy, but we should
suddenly find our almost entire dependency of
imports fail US. What New York, Philade phia,
Baltimore or Boston merchant will export his
goods on creditor this is really the case wit
nearly all commission goods, and a large part OF
the seaport business is commission. Few if any,
fear. would risk their property where prosperity
was altogether probIematical. Where would the
revenue come from to support this new govern
ment, since most Of the impOrtatiOns would cease,
and what did arrive could not possibly come un-
der bond Coming from foreign nation, too
formerly our own loved home heavy duties must
necessarily be imposed to furnish revenue for
look once more. Add Washington Territory,
Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and all
other territory on the Pacific slope, and set up
the Pacific Union, and except Oregon, you only
increase the responsible ty and expenses of the
new government without dime of revenue. AS
a practical illustration of this, very recently an
Indian attack was made north of us, causing the
usual amount of destruction to life and property
and in their CONSERVATION and distress, they call
ed loudly on the home government for protection.
Here then is an expense of at least million a
year to keep military posts. In Carson Valley
there is similar state of affairs the tcr0nged
and outraged Indians thirst for revenge and
bloodshed. Says the Secretary of War, in his
annual report:
"The Pah Utes, a powerful tribe of warlike
Indians about the region of Carson Valley, in
the Territory of Utah, broke out into hostility
to the whites very suddenly this summer, and
committed many atrocious murders. A party Of
volunteers from the vicinity of WashOe silver
mines was organized under the command Of Maj
Ormsby, for pursuit. The Indians, who were
very numerous, succeeded in drawing this party
into an ambuscade, driving them back with con-
siderable loss. Among the killed in that unfor-
tunate affair was the leader, Maj. Ormsby, him
self. This incident created great excitement and
alarm throughout all the mining country Of
Carson Valley, then rapidly filling up from the
aattering reports of rich silver deposits there,
and it became necessary to send a sufficient force
there promptly to chastse the Indians and
restore quiet and confidence among the inhab-
tants The interest and numbers of our citizens
in that region were deemed by the commanding
officer of that Department of sufficient Importance
to require the establishment of military post
there, which has accordingly been done.
The Snake Indians in Washington Territory,
on the road recently opened from Fort Bridger
to Fort Walla Walla, have been hostile during
the past season and, although a campaign was
undertaken and prosecuted whith vgor against
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