Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-10-08
DAILY WING.
Cover nor-GcncraI Kearncy's rocIa-
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upon the e,traordinary assumption Of power, OF
which 1t shows iha, that officer has been guilty, either upon
his own responsibility, or, Is we are disposed TO beheve'
from I've coincidence with a similar proclamation Issued by
Com. SloAt, in obedience 10 express instructions from
Westinghouse among the mos; striking and alarming
signs NJ the times. When, thirty year. ago, Gen. Jackson.
in the face OF q powerful invading army, and surrounded
by a Unaffected population, suspended the Habeas Corpus,
and proclaimed Msrtial Law in New Orleans, as measures
OF safcty and proeaution in an cIigency demanding = resort
TO the most rigorous measures, there were found many
seuiuols upon the watch-tower-Snd among the most con-
spicuous and influential was tho Richmond Enquirer
which denounced those acts as alike arbitrary and uncon-
rituuonal, destructive OF individual rights, and, if tolera-
ted, dangerous to tbs liberties OF the people. Gratitude 10
a victorious General, who had achieved one OF the most
brilliant and decisive triumphs that ever reflected lustre upon
his country's arms, or rescued from sack and pillagc the great
commercial emporium Of the South, could not 30 dazzle the
eyes Of these vigilant guardians OF the constitution, or mis-
lead their judgments, as to induce them 10 pass by in 81.
lence acts which they truly said might hereafter be quoted
as p%rceodcnts, whereby many great and pernicious evils
would " rush into the State" But now, so callous has
the public mind become, under the repeated usurpadons OF
the Executive, that the most glazing violations of the con
suiuhon seem to have no power to &" stir the blood " Of the
people, or to awaken their npPrehenaons. Nay, worse
than this: for if any one shall be bold enough to utter, in
bated breath. a word OF condemnation OF these high-hand.
cd measures, the champions OF the Executive forthwith de-
nouneo him rs bu, little better than a traitor TO his coun-
uy, who, in time OF war. land such a war y is engaged
IN the Infamous work Of aiding and abeting her enemies!
For one, however, we shall not be deferred from invoking
public attention to the extraordinary proceedings on the
frontier, even to avoid an imputatioa as ridiculous and alb.
surd Us il e false and slanderous.
Passing by the manner in which Texas was annexed to
the union, b. joint resolution OF the two Houses OF Con-
gross.-to justify which mode Of proceeding a provision Of
the constitution was tortured from its true intent and mean
ing, by a process Of construction infinitely more lat,udi.
nous ovea than the famous general welfare" doctrine
what have We witnessed since Acquiring by the COM
pact with Texas a territory with an underlined and disputed
boundary, the President thought proper to assume tia, 1t
extended 10 the Rio Grande and, acting upon this sssump-
ZION, ne ordered It's occupation by the army under General
Taylor. Tins was done IN the teeth Of an admission, BY
the resolution Of annexation itself, that The boundary line
between Texas an5 Mexico was 10 dispute, and that IL wAs
10 be subsequently Defined and rn BY the agents OF the
TO gov,rament-in the teeth OF the additional fact that
he territory thus seized was occupied exclusively b Mex
can eiazszs and uooPs and eivl ofieers. ard WAS, a. II had
Leea from tine imEsozOual, suoeet TO the laws OF that
qovernasat. 10 which is Inhabitants acknowledged ale
-isnes-snd with TIE knowledge also, that ore Of the mos,
powerful snd conclusive arguments urged By Mr.. Benton
and olaers against the rlu6ean0u Of the Tyler treaty O.
anneI,uon. wss the fsetihztit embraced within zoe hmiE
o. Te1us fAG usry ;srrii0-y, uPon which Mr.. Polk did not
hesitate. after \ brief da.iiance With his Conscience, during
which Gen. Tayior remained A. Corpus Christi, 20 seze as
American SOL. This was the hrsts step in the series OF usur-
pansns that have followed and to tbs unnecessary Is well
As improper act is tie war with MEXICO. with all the evil,
that have followed in its train. and the suli more fearful
ones that are IN process Of development, to be traced.
What next Under color OF the law to enlist volunteer.
cor the army. VIC have seen a regiment OF men recently
raised in New York, and, under all the forms OF military
organization, as a mack 10 its true character, despatched to
California. What fort To hghtl No one believes that
they will he xan.-S s., ,-at purpose. California, indeed,
Is-- Ooen already ANSExED To TIE UsIoS by the proclama-
ton Of Commodore Sloat; and we dou5, whether there
are, OF have been, since the commencement; Of hosulities,
u hundred Mexican soldiers within its limits. These men.
then, are not sent TO California 10 fight the Mexicans, bu,
rs TWGEASTs, to occupy the country. True, they are
supplied with arms and ammunition but ;hey also carry
with them the implements Of agriculture and the mechanic
arts. 10 what provision OF the Law, authorizing the PIE.
aidcnt 60 accept the services Of $4,000 volunteers. is IT,.
that the President finds authority to send a colony Of set
tiers to California, and to furnish them with the means OF
culuvating the soil and ombsrking in the other ordinary
avocations Of a colonial establishment Does Jonathan
ID. Stevenson, tho commander Of this hybrid corps Of
armed %emigFants, carry in MS pocket tho commission Of
GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA, an Office unknown Il,
our constitution and laws, as is that OF Governor Of New
Mexico. recently assumed by Gen. Keamey2 And Is he,
100. authorized to absolve the citizens Of that province
from their allegiance TO Mexico, to administer naturalizs.
ton olths by the wholesale, and to denounce As rRAl.
roRsr all who ere found in arms against the invaders Of
their county Is he, too, authorized 10 " claim" the
MeIcaas in California as citizens Of toe United States
and to promise them speedily a territorial government. yit,
the exercise Of the elective franchise IN the selection Of
;be representative TO its Legislative department. But we
forget: This has already been done By Com. Sloai; and
nothing Is lett for Col Stevenson bnt 10 assume The Guber.
nlioral functions on his arrival ia California, and. ike D
Roman proeonsul, to uPportion the country among bis L..
gion Of soldier-colonists
We will not say that the ultimate acquisition Of Cslifo,.
mia aud Of New Mexico may not be desirable but whcth.
or 1t be so or not, let i be effected, If il be done NJ ALL by
those who alone have authority to " extend the area
OF freedom" For our own paris, we incline 70 the opin-
ion that we have territory enough and to spare-and that
by the addition Of a new empire to the Union, we have far
more to dread from the acquisition Of the debased popu.
laion who have been 50 summary manufactured into Am.
orcan citizens, than % hope from the extension Of our ter.
htodai limits. Indeed, we are moi sure that that extension.
even 1t il could be made without the incumbfancc Of tho
ignorant and besoued people who occupy the soil, will not
weaken the bands which now bind US together as one pec.
ple-us the depth and force ri a stream nrc diminished bv
widening is channel. Bot whether ths be the case or not.
we deny Co the President and q, HE subaltoms any night 10
ANNEX rEREIroRy 60 the Union. either by purchase or con.
quest, without tho convent OF Congress. We deny 10 him
the right to make war, o. he has done. by tho invasion Of
a territory in dispute, and which, d ~ occupation by the
adverse parry constitute any evidence Of ruc. did NOT be-.
long 20 ua. We deny hts right, or that ofhts s.baIterls. ID,
ubEo',e Mexican citizens rom allegiance 90 their govern.
mont, or TO punish them " o. ustofs " 1t they prove faith.
Go. 60 tc hrsti-stnct OF 90 good citizens. We deny their
rights 20 cRiau from Acsc people au oath Of ]alcgtauco to
our own government, ord 90 "caim them ss American
citizens" We deny the Presidents right TO create tho
new cbccH Of Governor Of New Mexico and Goyeroo, Of
IalHornia, and % deyoiye upon bic Military commander,
ho functions Of Civil Magistrates. We deny the rgbt O.,
The ffoadentt 60 sold o. band of armed cmigrana to q dis
unt province whether belonging to the q. States or NOT.
90 The drguisc of a military arn,mcrt. Yet all TIM. brs
che President done. Boo open aud Giersut violation Of ts
constitution and laws and, strange o cay, uo prors and Tho
people arc as dumb o. d be- bod ac.od boo stnrf co,ro,nuy
with be oath 90 " protect, defend sud MAINTAIN 20 tho ,,,
ard faithfully 20 execute the o;l-ri Tho only creepror
20 he remark, ore the National ln,,.iecuccr and the So
Louis Rspubican-whoso brief tomark, We subjoin.
Frs- ~ Nsnssai Ep4S0ev
Annexation Of New Uctico.
II the people Of this country hsve not given no oil ,d..
chat he ENocuuso Of the United States be ono ~ limited
funcdons snd powers, nr fihoy have NOT lust tho f4cuIfr Il
being nafoniehcd af any sueich Ut those powera. We thin.