MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING INFORMATION IN ANSWER TO A RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE OF THE 31st OF DECEMBER, 1849, ON THE SUBJECT OF CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO. JANUARY 24, 1850

Taylor, Zachary

Published by [Government Printing Office], [Washington DC], 1850

Octavo, 9 in. x 5.75 in., pp. 976. Illustrated with five of seven maps (No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7), four of which fold out. Contemporary quarter calf over marbled boards. Gilt title and double bandlines to spine. Rubbing to extremities; bottom corners nudged and showing. Head and tail caps of spine missing, with chips along back gutter. Light spotting to endpapers. Browning to text pages. Maps in Good condition, with an occasional crease or unobtrusive closed tear along edge. Howes P-447; Howes T79, Wheat Maps 79 The maps included with this book are #1: Map of Fort Hill Monterey California reduced by Scale from Lieut. Warner's Field Map made in 1847; #2: Untitled sketch of San Francisco Bay; #3 Untitled map of Lower California; #4: Plan No. 2 Sketch of Port Escondido Lower California; #6: Sketch of General Riley's Route through the Mining Districts July and Aug. 1849, Copied from original sketch by Lt. Derby; and #7: Plan of the Route of the Expedition of Major Beall, 1st Drag's for the Relief of the Wagons of Mr. F. X. Aubrey against the Apache Indians. All maps printed by Ackerman Lithography. Missing is Map #5 (Fremont-Preuss map) and #6 (Sketch of General Riley's Route.) from Page 9: "But, above all, the constitution of the United States, the safeguard of all our civil rights, was extended over California on the 30th May, 1848, the day on which our late treaty with Mexico was finally consummated. From that day its inhabitants became entitled to all the blessings and benefits resulting from the best form of civil government ever established amongst men. That they will prove worthy of this inestimable boon, no doubt is entertained. "Whilst the population of Califoria will be composed chiefly of our own kindred, of a people speaking our own language, and educated for self-government under our own institutions, a considerable portion of them were Mexican citizens before the late treaty of peace. These, our new citizens, ought to be, and, from the justice and generosity of the American character, the President is confident that they will be, treated with respect and kindness, and thus be made to feel that by changing their allegiance they have become more prosperous and happy. Yours, very respectfully, JAMES BUCHANAN." (In 1850, James Buchanan was an ex-Senator (PA 1834-45) who had just stepped down from being Secretary of State under James Polk, where he had negotiated the end of the Mexican-American War. He became president in 1857. Seller Inventory # 87512

Bibliographic Details

Title: MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ...
Publisher: [Government Printing Office], [Washington DC]
Publication Date: 1850
Binding: Leather-bound
Condition: Good
Edition: First Edition.