HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 273 



number to lower the price of travel and decrease the 

 delay. 



The facilities of intercourse between California and 

 the States east of the Rocky Mountains will tend to 

 cement her to the Union by all the ties of trade and 

 mutual interest. The people of that State, being at 

 so great a distance from the rest of the States, would 

 seem to be alien to them in interest, and, therefore, 

 that an independent government would contribute 

 most to their prosperity. But mechanical influences 

 — the telegraph — the railroad and the steam vessel — 

 annihilate distance, and will be the means of attaching 

 the Californians to the confederacy. In her union 

 with the other States, there is her strength. She will 

 add much to their wealth and power, but her free 

 institutions — entirely American, require the support 

 of the confederacy which produced them — at least, 

 until the State has reached her maturity. 



What will be the future California is a question 

 which admits of a ready answer. If she retains her 

 present boundaries, with her extensive sea coast, and 

 her progress bears any proportion to that since the 

 conquest, in fifty years — it is a warranted conclusion — 

 the State will surpass any of those upon the Atlantic 

 coast. For, what State has such united commercial 

 facilities and vast resources ? Where are such in- 

 ternal wealth and such splendid harbors to be found* 

 united ? It is probable, however, that the State may 

 be divided, after the population has reached a suffi- 

 cient number. It is the opinion of some of the mem- 

 bers of the present Congress, that there is too much 

 sea coast for one State to possess, and that has been 

 made an objection to her admission into the Union, with 

 her present boundaries. But it is of little weight at 



