Part 4 (2/2)

The foundation of the fortunes of many bankers and wealthy capitalists of the East were made in California in the days of the Forty-niners

Mill, the owner of the great building at the corner of Broadway and Wall street, the ground on which it stands costing a , in this State, a poor boy in 1849 Aro, made his first reat fortune, and many others I can recall to mind too numerous to mention

While all did not succeed, as they never do in any hued, others fell by the way and laid down and died from disappointment, yet others more than realized their most fabulous conception of wealth I was told when I was a boy if I here the sun set and dug for gold I would find it When I became a man I went three thousand old It is not a dreaold ring , which has been there for forty-five years It is so fine that it has been wearing away, and it is not more than one-fourth the size it hen I first put it on, and ti onas I do, and ill disappear together, as Shakespeare says, ”besmeared with sluttish time”

THE END

APPENDIX

It was the brains and statesmanshi+p of Wm L Marcy, when he was secretary of war under President Polk, that inaugurated and generaled thepossession of California--by his expeditions, sent by sea and by land, of regular forces, followed by the volunteer regiment of one thousand men, under the co able State paper indicates:

[Confidential]

[Illustration: WL Marcy]

WAR DEPARTMENT, WAshi+NGTON, _June_ 3, 1846

SIR--I herewith send you a copy of overnor of Missouri for an additional force of one thousandto the force under your command is not, as you will perceive, fully set forth in that letter, for the reason that it is deemed prudent that it should not, at this time, become a matter of public notoriety; but to you it is proper and necessary that it should be stated

It has been decided by the president to be of the greatest i ith Mexico to take the earliest possession of Upper California An expedition with that view is hereby ordered, and you are designated to command it To enable you to be in sufficient force to conduct it successfully this additional force of a thousand mounted men has been provided, to follow you in the direction of Santa Fe, to be under your orders or the officer you may leave in command at Santa Fe

It cannot be deternated for the Santa Fe expedition, but it will not probably be more than a feeeks When you arrive at Santa Fe with the force already called, and shall have taken possession of it, you arrison it with a small part of your command (as the additional force will soon be at that place), and with the remainder, press forward to California In that case you willfollowed by the reinforcement may be deemed safe and prudent I need not say to you that in case you conquer Santa Fe (and with it will be included the department of the State of New Mexico), it will be i safe possession of it Should you deem it prudent to have still nated, you will lose no ti that opinion on that point, and all others connected with the enterprise, to this department Indeed you are hereby authorized to overnor of Missouri

It is known that a large body of Morrants are en route to California for the purpose of settling in that country You are desired to use all properwith them, to the end that the United Statespossession of and holding that country It has been suggested here that ly enter into the service of the United States and aid us in our expedition against California You are hereby authorized to muster into service such as can be induced to volunteer; not, however, to a nu one-third of your entire force Should they enter the service they will be paid as other volunteers, and you can allow thenate, so far as it can be properly done, the persons to act as officers thereof It is understood that a considerable number of American citizens are now settled on the Sacramento river, near Sutter's establishment, called ”Nueva Helvetia,”

who are well disposed toward the United States Should you, on your arrival in the country, find this to be the true state of things there, you are authorized to organize and receive into the service of the United States such portion of these citizens as you may think useful to aid you to hold the possession of the country You will in that case allow thee proper, to select their own officers A large discretionary power is invested in you in regard to these matters, as well as to all others, in relation to the expedition confided to your command

The choice of routes by which you will enter California will be left to your better knowledge and a accurate information

We are assured that a southern route (called the Caravan route, by which the wild horses are brought froested as not improbable that it can be passed over in the winter months, or at least late in autumn It is hoped that this inforard to routes; the practicability of procuring needful supplies for e is a point to be well considered Should the president be disappointed in his cherished hope that you will be able to reach the interior of Upper California before winter, you are then desired toyour forces during the winter, and for an early h it is very desirable that the expedition should reach California this season (and the president does not doubt you will make every possible effort to accoment, it cannot be undertaken with a reasonable assurance of success, you will defer it, as above suggested, until spring You are left unembarrassed by any specific directions in the matter

It is expected that the naval forces of the United States which are now, or will soon be in the Pacific, will be in possession of all the towns on the seacoast, and will co-operate with you in the conquest of California Arms, ordnance, munitions of war, and provisions to be used in that country, will be sent by sea to our squadron in the Pacific for the use of the land forces

Should you conquer and take possession of New Mexico and Upper California, or considerable places in either, you will establish te all arbitrary restrictions that may exist, so far as itthis duty, it would be wise and prudent to continue in their e officers as are known to be friendly to the United States, and will take the oath of allegiance to theht, at once, to be reduced to such a rate as may be barely sufficient toany revenue to the government You may assure the people of these provinces that it is the wish and design of the United States to provide for theovernment with the least possible delay, similar to that which exists in our territories They will then be called on to exercise the rights of free their own representatives to the territorial legislature It is foreseen that what relates to the civil government will be a difficult and unpleasant part of your duty, and much must necessarily be left to your own discretion In your whole conduct you will act in such a manner as best to conciliate the inhabitants and render them friendly to the United States

It is desirable that the usual trade between the citizens of the United States and the Mexican provinces should be continued, as far as practicable, under the changed condition of things between the two countries In consequence of extending your expedition into California it oods to be distributed as presents to the Indians The United States superintendent of Indian affairs at St Louis will aid you in procuring these goods You will be furnished with a proclae, to be issued by you and circulated a their country You will use your utes and promises therein contained carried out to the utmost extent

I am directed by the president to say that the rank of brevet brigadier-general will be conferred on you as soon as you commence your movement toward California, and sent round to you by sea or over the country, or to the care of the commandant of our squadron in the Pacific In that way cannon, arms, ammunition and supplies for the land forces will be sent to you

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WL MARCY,

_Secretary of War_