The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-14


panent peace, is to prosecute ii with vigor avail our
selves OF our superiority in to take possession OF
her ports and 10 nyads her country We have conquered
the CALIFORNIA;, New Mexico, chihuahua, New Leon,
and parts OF Tamaulipas We maintain military posses
SION OF them, either the basis of future military opera
lions guarantees for a satisfactory treaty of peace
The question has up, and il is now running to
serious debate in the House OF Representatives What is
to become of these territories And the opposition are
asserting that the President intends them to
the United States by the act Of conquest itself They
deny that such annexation be accomplished by
any such process in which last position we heartily
concur with them We also deny that the President
construed conquest into annexation; and his mes
sage conradcis any such supposition The President
maintains in his message the following doctrine:
"The war has not been waged with view oonquesti
but having been commenced by Mexico has been car
ried into the enemys country and will be vigorously pros
thereby ample indemnity for the expenses OF
war as well as 10 our mucl-innTed citzens who hold
large pecuniary demands against Mexico
By the laws of nations conquered territory is subject
be governed by the conqueroi during has military pos
shall voluntarily Withdraw from IT, The old civil govern
being necessarily superseded IL is the right and duty
the OF civil order and the rights of the inhab
ants This right has been exercised, and this duty per
formed, by military and naval commanders, by the
adjustment of temporary governments in some of the
conquered provinces in Mexico, assimatng them
practicable TO the free institutions OF our own county In
the provinces Of New Mexico and of the Calfomias little
If any further resistance is unprecedented from the inhab
the nseesaty OF the cace, and according 10 the aps of
been established 1t may be proper To provide 70
the security of these important conQuests by making
adequate appropriation for the purpose Of erecting Ttca
lions and demyng the expenses necessarily incident 10 the
maintenance of our possession and authority them.
How idle, then, is the charge brought by the National
ntellgencer that the President TO hold perma-
nent possession of that territory by his own authority
And how absurd to attribute him an intention to hold
his conques because he asks for means to forfy some
strong posts in them. He may wish to maintain them
orthe present the basis OF further operations, OF
guarantee OF peace.
In the opinions of the Executive we heartily concur
and really did not suppose there could be impair
tial in the nation who would differ with him. True
however 10 its vocation the National Intelligencer not
only dstos the Presidents message but stoops garbe
passages from the Unon and charge us with doctrines
which we have expressly contradicted.
We pass for the present the indignant rbuke which
gave the "London Times in May, ls45. That paper
cheered on the Mexcans to with u.s. and absurdly
told them not to be afraid OF that had not regu
lar soldier to spare for nvason and asked where we
were TO obtain any troops, to which replied in de-
cded tems-but enthusiastic they were, they have
been oustrp by realty-hat let the United States
but raise their flag the banks OF the Mississippi and
10000 or 10000 volunteers would at rush to the
standard Instead OF 10000 volunteers at least 100000
have offered TO take the field
The National Inellgencer also quotes the following
passage from the Union of the 26th OF last September
We assigned against agreeing to any ams-
tice, and added what the Intelligencer quotes:
TheTe Is every reason 10 believe that General Kearny
is now, viii be in few day. at Monterey aud perhaps
Saltilo and that General Wool will be Mt chihuahua
aud renqush OF the advantages which may have
obtained On the contrary shall zoe mot prosecute oar Uco
tourards the capital Of Mezico itseiff"
But the lntegencer pleases garble the article, and
to suppress the object assign for making these
quests, in the following passage:
Son the contrary, shall prosecute victories
and make additional towards California and
owards the capital Of Mexico itself! BY the that this
iaory diplomacy be assumed by the constituent Con-
whole country. 50 far from frucrng away the means
which are in our hands, should turn them to the best
account and open the negotiation nth al the advantages
can commando"
We never have maintained (any more than the admin
sraton that we could annex territory TO confed-
eracy by the force OF Far from it. In announcing
the conquest OF Santa Fe, and referring coueousy
as could to General Kearnys proclamation we sad
on the 9Th of October
"The expedition under General Kearny TO Mexico has
been cmneny successful The gratifying intelligence that
Without bloodshed to have been received by the
country with delight; but by the National Inteigencer of
ceiling What General kearnys Instructions are WE dc
not know is be expected that such orders should
military operations We presume hn he ns esaed inc me-
light which does not belong bcllgeYnts. General Kea
Justified but required that the Mexican government should
be superseded The continued dschargs of these functions
by Mexican authorities, unfriendly the United States
nder such circumstances would be something new in the
prosecution Of war The prorson gorrnmem substituted
necessarily temporary limited the military occupation of
the country; and the desinuon of tic eoaatynsf dependent
on the ntinats settlement 70 be eonsnn,mad treaty Of
Dea to be duly ratified the constitutional authority of this
country The infusion of democratic principles in the Sc
lection of the agents administer this provisional govern
ent is wisely adopted but seems TO be very dstasei
This doctrine set forth at greater length on the 18th
of October, as follows
sTle wing journals have of late been greatly troubled
about the transactions of this officer and the Infeuencer
Of this morning blnnders and waddes through three col
nmn with me patriotic purpose of showing that General
keany, in taking military possession Of New Mexico and
making arrangements hold il without farther shedding
Of blood Pending the c1r and subject the orders of his
government has violated the constitution OF the United
States"
'Bu the whole case lies in a nutshell General Kearny
in due prosecution OF lawful war; invades portion OF the
enemy country compels the hostile army abandon it, and
takes military possession of its capital and territory in the
nane of his government BY the simplest and nines
Of is his right aud his duty hold the possession of
what he has conquered begarcnt subject the orders
treaty For the which he has adopted that are me-
cessary to secure his military occupancy during the war;
he is Officer responsible TO the authority under which
he acts .. ...
SIN support of these propositions ~ to the beigcren
rights of the commanding officer of invading American
army, do not deem necessary quote either Yael
tons need only be stated No will dispute them
less it be the pubcs Of the Diario Mexico the
Intelligencer at Washington.
As 10 the fnai disposition of the territory thus occupied
and held by the i1o of Uart belongs very different ju
rsdiction. belongs exclusively 10 the auhor
ties Of conHy7t 10 say, the teatyuaking and the
done relation them except by these authorities The
ultimate disposition OF the tcrrofys annexation, govern