Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-12-28
new Mexico and California.

New Mexico and California.
when we received the Proolnmahons issued by Gen.
k~srney and Commodore Stockton. organizing civil GO
In New Mexico and California, during the
temporary military occupation OF those provinces by the
corqucrors, but permanently, territories Of the u
Sfais'" we denounced the proceeding fragrant
patton II anthoriiy-not Unprecedented I've sure, be-
Mr. Polk had previously wrtsed from Congress the
'vsr-mOkng powerbut the that account, to Dc
deprecated aud rsbuked. since it only served show the
rapidly progressive" steps OF public funconarics IN
the conversion OF the limited and responsible Executive,
for whch the Constitution provides, into Imperial des
pousm Wcte right IN taking this position The
Presidents Message IN TO the resolution OF the
House of Representatives, IN which he expressly dsclams
oil responsibility for these hgh-hnnded proceedings, and
tributes them TO the patriotic desire" OF the commanding
officers those points confer upon the MeIicans the
blessings Of free governmont-as fernando Coez compel.
their embrace the religion by the sharp
argument 4 the swcrd-thnt Message say, admits, IN
express terms the validity OF objections the
pursued by Gen kearney and Com. Stockton aud admin
singing Tebuke those especial guardians Of the
Constitution, who silently recorded those who
have since, the floor OF Congress- indiscrecty de-
Tended them. With what poprciy then, do the friends Of
the Administration refer that Message and the Docu-
mcnfs hy which it accompanied a Triumphant re-
pie the objections OF the Wings, the justice and force
which the President himself Substantially admits He II is
But why this disclaimer. II themselves usti-
fable propcri Why does he attempt even to excuse
what he has the eontory, like OF his overhead
champions in Congress, defend Manifesty, be-
he Is that Gen Koarney and Com. Stockton
Ind assumed powers with which he had right clolho
them, those powers had been nowhere, by the Cons-
the exclusive his authority, delegated
10 himself.
1t was tho and its author, OF which we complained
and embraced the President our censures II was
b'caso, the Proclamation issued by Gen Kearncy. he
ruvs, PErNG AUTHORIZED THE President or TINS
JSITrD STATES or AMERICA, HEREBY FOLLOWING
trFoIvrvrvTs TIM CONVENIENT New MESico, TIN
Erosy ruE UNrED STATES" The President, however
that he gave such ins,ucuonsond ii he did not
Them while objections to the act itself remain in all
tr force, they do Of course apply that unctonary
Blu must be permitted say, nevertheless that 1t is
somewhat extraordinary that the commanders in New
Mexico aud California, without the possibility of counsel
and with each Other should both have made pre-
csoy the mistake the Interpretation Of the nsuc
gwen them especvely-that one should have de-
car-d New Mexico and the other California territory
OF the United States" sd of Mexican province held
by right Of cnnqucsand that both should have proceeded
bclg mp this idea of the powers which they had
been invested appoint officers for the several branches
of complete Government enact execute and admniste
law Yet the Presden declares that he did not in
Send coho these officers with the power annex territory
United States by proclamation and to establish civil
ernmcnls lhorrna power winch they have undenisb,v
Kercisei-he relieves himself from the force Of the OBJ
'c,.onr which justly applicable to the act i,se-nnd
those officers deserve miugateG degree the condem-
nation which, had the President assumed the responsible
hts, would have been Justly visited upon his Administra
ZION. We say, IN mugsJed degree"-b,cansc il il
obvious ibst their conduct grew out Of an erroneous con-
strEcuon OF their instructions, and misc0nceotion o. the
Discretionary powers with which theJ had been really
clothed.
Nor i TAIL 10 be remarked that the Presidents
friends IN Congress, ignorant of his true relation to The
subject and pesumiug from the face the prccatnatons
OF Kearny and Stockton. had DONE that they had
under positive instructions from head-euarters ye
rc-iy defend aud did defend those acts
which the President himself, by dscaiming all responsible
ly therefor, emphaucoIy condemns even while he seeks
cErnuac their e1ormy, by referring IN terms Of com
mcndau9n 90 the patriotic and philanthropc motives by
which commanders in New Mexico and California
Influenced Those learned eEp1unders Of the Laws
Of Nations" we'll those acute Commentators upon
the consi,uton-Hh no justified and out the acts Of
kc1'ney and Stockton-thc class finding annie an.
th1ry for them Vatol and tao oaer taxing their i,,
90 o11ge the powers OF the Executive by a forced con.
Errrc'inn obscure clause Of the organic la-mp.,
koculy feel tho aUkvardness Of che position IN which
rho President has placed Them by himself admitting the
improperly OF those all the responsibility for which he
C1gery throws from his shoulders Some Of Them
vet live To wish. with Cardinal Woscy tot they had
served their coBnry with half zeal they havo exhibited
in defending The Chef Ma2siraio
Oac raHark. The President aware that there i,
some lccpaucy between he laz Message and that r-r
lion OF Annual Message having reference 60 the same
subject explains by SITTING that Kearncy's prorla.
nation although received the Department Of War IN
The as port" bf November, had not been brought 10 hi.
uru aiier the Annual Message had been coDnuri
c1ci 20 Congress. the sh inst 1t is certainly very
strange that oas,si documents from he SEAT Of fyay
for tas spaco og three wc.ks and especially when
ra.5 working" members OF tho present. Cabinet excel al
hcr predecessors IN digen and prompt attention to the
dIrs lhlt doyol,e upon them. But Of the rue character
Of H1t 7clamahon which he'd been published in almost
every newspaper IN the country including the Union wh,
presume read by Mr.. Polk 90 regularly as he ,akes
his coffee Hc morning. be could not hayo been ignorant
And indeed the failure Of the Secretary Of War 10 s1
anime for the space Of or three veeks document.
received tom military commander occupying an irrp4.
tauf p,uon in the midst Of a csmpagn can only b.. are
counted i'r the alpposinon that he was othcruec %
a2nHz of their contents. IL was probably deemed con,
rsnt Co refer 90 Cen Keafn,ys conduct only In general
f.ms'rd hence lne failure oI ihr Secretary "a fine tr
s. tun PRECEDENT. .uuor on,iaUu O., fc ror,r OF
o.r1mrH- which would have rcrjc-cd u noc,zs5r, if-,
Do. .'n'I hos. been explicit upon that branch Of ,
fu 90 boo br. tnara Ncs.agc as fhc resolution of is
h's "p.u d uim in bo in hs spcc.ll Communication
The Finance.
sssrery walker. ln Boo late rtoa.ur, Report r,rg,o,.
.fl Congress rhc brilliant pryeprc, of an ausfrea,i
revenue ICON. tI. ... tariff. ,...........