Seeing, then, that the question which now excites such painful sensations in the country will, in the end, certainly be settled by the silent effect of causes independent of the action of Congress, I again submit to your wisdom the policy recommended in my annual message, of awaiting the salutary operation of those causes, believing that we shall thus avoid the creation of geographical parties, and secure the harmony of feeling so necessary to the beneficial action of our political system. Connected as the Union is with the remembrance of past happiness, the sense of present blessings, and the hope of future peace and prosperity, every dictate of wisdom, every feeling of duty, and every emotion of patriotism, tend to inspire fidelity and devotion to it, and admonish us cautiously to avoid any unnecessary controversy which can either endanger it or impair its strength, the chief element of which is to be found in the regard and affection of the people for each other.
Z. TAYLOR.
Washington City, D.C., January 21st, 1850.
D.
Executive Department of California,
Monterey, August 30, 1849.
General:—I have the honor to transmit, herewith, copies of civil papers and letters issued by me since my despatch of June 30, and to continue my report on the civil affairs of this country from this date.
Accompanied by Captain Halleck, Secretary of State for California, and Major Canby, Captain Wescott, and Lieutenant Derby, of my military staff, I left this place on the 5th July for the purpose of inspecting the military posts in the interior, and of learning from personal observation the actual state of affairs in the mineral regions, and also of allaying, so far as I could, the hostile feeling which was said to exist between the Americans and foreigners who were working in the gold placers. My report on the state of the troops and a more detailed account of my tour will be forwarded with my military papers.
Passing the mission of San Juan Bautista, we crossed the coast range of mountains near the ranche of Senor Pacheco, and struck the San Joaquin River near the mouth of the Merced; and, after visiting Major Miller's camp on the Stanislaus, we proceeded to examine the principal placers on the tributaries of that river and of the Tuolumne. These washings or diggings have been among the richest and most productive in California.
They are situated within a circuit of some twelve or fifteen miles, and are known as Jamestown, Wood's Creek, Sonoranian Camp, Sullivan's Creek, Curtis's Creek, French Creek, Carson's Creek, and Angelo Creek. Some of these have become places of considerable business, particularly the Sonoranian Camp, which presents the appearance of a city of canvas houses.