Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-10-08
Capture Of Santa Fc.-Occupa-
ton Of New Mexico.


Since our last publication we have re-
ceived authentic, and, within few days
past, official information, of the capture
of Santa Fe, the principal city in New
Mexico, by the United States forces un-
der General Kearney, which entered that
place, it seems without opposition, on
the 18th of August. The Mexican army
under General Armijo, with view to
cover the city and province, occupied a
very favorable position for defence in the
neighboring passes, but from some cause
not easily apprehended or explained,
abandoned the ground, they had deliber-
ately selected, and retreated in the direc-
ton of c chihuahua. General Kcarney OIL
entering the city, installed himself in the
Government Mansion of Santa Fe, ap-
pointed Alcades and other civil officers,
administered the oath of allegiance to the
citizens, and by his proclamation and
sundry acts Of authority laid claim for
the United States to the whole Province
of New Mexico, which includes not only
a great extent of country on this side the
Rio Grande, but one or two degrees of
latitude OH the other. In this extraordi-
nary Proclamation or manifesto, he un-
dertakes to deal with New Mexico, and
to provide for its future annexation and
government in strain Of assumption and
high-handed authority, which even the
Congress of the United States, the only
competent power known to the Constitu-
ton, which can decide these questions,
would hesitate to adopt.
lie says cit is the wish and intention
of the United States to provide for New
Mexico free government with the least
possible delay, similar to those in the
United States, and the people of New
Mexico will then be called upon to en-
ercisc the rights of irccmcn in electing
their own Representative to the Terri
toral Legislature, but until this can be
done the laws hitherto in exercise will
be continued until changed or modified
by competent authority ; and those per-
sons holding offices will continue in the
same for the present, provided they will
consider themselves good citizens and
willing to take the oath of allegiance to
the United States"
He states also his intention "to hold
the Department New Mexico with its
original boundaries on both sides Of the
Del Norte, rs part of the United States,
and under the name of the Territory of
New Mexico"
And Commodore Sloat also, in his late
address to the inhabitants of California,
after seizing some of the ports in that re-
mote peninsula, declares, that he "comcs
as their best friend, as hence forward
California will be Il portion Of the United
States, and its peaceable inhabitants will
enjoy the same rights and privileges as
the citizens of any other portion of that
nation, with all the rights and privileges
they now enjoy and the same protcc-
tion will be extended to them as amy 9TH
er State in the Union"
If any assumption ofpower in these ex-
traordinary times, could create surprise
and Indignation in the friends ofthe Con-
stitution, one would suppose that acts
like these on the part of subordinate Off
GERS, even if believed to be acting under
the orders of the President, would AVA
ken in every State of the Union feel
ing of condemnation and pointed rebuke,
which it would be unsafe to disregard.
If any act of authority be a sovereign act,
and solely within the competency of Con-
grcss, SO far as the Constitution author-
ses its action, it is an act for the enlarg-
ing the acknowle dyed limits Of the Uni
on and providing for the government Of
the territory SO annexed. And yet two
subordinate officers, under the direction
perhaps of the President Of the United
States, undertake in the instances we
have cited to add, by the mere force of a
proclamation, territory to the United
States equal in extent to one third Of the
original States, and to declare what shall
be the nature of its connexon with this
Union, and how it shall be governed in
all future time. This is the day. is said,
of experiments in government, and the
era of progressive dcmocracy,-but if
these wanton violations of the Constitu-
tion of the United States are to be tole-
rated and applauded, where will that De-
mocracy lead us!