1845.] AMERICAN CITIZENS IN CALIFORNIA. 403 



lishments and laws to the country north of that river will be 

 quietly borne by the British ; and it is scarcely possible that the 

 two populations should remain at peace much longer, without some 

 change in the relations of their governments, with regard to that 

 part of, the world. 



In California, the number of Americans is large and is daily in- 

 creasing, particularly in the region north of the Bay of San Francisco, 

 formerly occupied by the Russians, who, in 1841, ceded all their 

 property and claims to a company composed chiefly of citizens of 

 the United States. The Americans seem to live on very good terms 

 with the Mexicans, and to give themselves little concern about the 

 government, of the unfriendly feelings of which towards them, they 

 are occasionally reminded, by a decree for their expulsion. These 

 decrees, the Governor of the Territory contents himself with pro- 

 claiming, as it would be madness in him to attempt to enforce them, 

 whilst he is obliged to depend almost entirely on the Americans, to 

 suppress the incursions of the surrounding Indians. When it is also 

 remembered, that Monterey is as far from the capital, and centre of ef- 

 fective power in Mexico as Washington, it appears very improbable, 

 if not impossible, that California should long remain in the hands of 

 its present owners. Offers have more than once been made by the 

 United States to purchase it, at prices which may be termed liberal ; 

 but they have been always rejected by Mexico ; and similar propo- 

 sitions have, it is said, been presented on the part of Great Britain. 

 That the United States will quietly submit to the transfer of this 

 territory to any other power, is not to be expected ; and the Mexi- 

 can government should be well assured of support, before it ventures 

 to consummate such an act. 



On reviewing dispassionately the agricultural, commercial, and 

 other economical advantages of Oregon, there appears to be no 

 reason founded on such considerations, which should render either 

 of the powers claiming the possession of that country anxious to 

 occupy it immediately, or unwilling to cede its own pretensions to 

 others for a moderate compensation. But political considerations, 

 among which are always to be reckoned not only those proceeding 

 from just, patriotic, and philanthropic views, but also those which 

 are the offspring of national and individual ambition, jealousy and 

 hatred, ever have proved, and doubtless will in this case prove par- 

 amount to the others. It is the unobjectionable, and indeed im- 

 perative policy of the United States, to secure the possession of 

 those territories, in order to provide places of resort and refresh- 



