Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-18
THE ENQUIRER:
RICHMOND, VA.
Thursday Morning, December IL. ls4
MR.. GARRETT DAVIS CALL FOR IN
FORMATION.

Mr.. GARRETT DAVIS CALL FoR IN
FORMATION.
The course of the Wings in the House OF Re-
personalities is a sublime farce, and VIII DC 81
recognised by the nation. Every Gay VIC
meet staunch Wits, who deprecale and de-
nounce the FOLLY OF The Wing leaders IN Con-
eress, lha, have committed SO solemn taaz pas
in their attempt 10 injure The Democratic Pai'y'
The movement is eminenlly rash, and must re-
coil upon the heads OF The parry, who is repre-
sen,ed BIZ su1h leaders. Mr.. Davis "uller'or
measures" (eyidenly limiting a, an "impeach-
menl" of the PresdenD would but cap lhe climax
Of folly and parly-madness. Such STEP at this
time in particular would rouse The whole nation
Indignantly against the schemes OF The Polilica'
mad.caps. Sick as the party already is oil The
precipiae movements of their leaders, they must
have common sense enough 10 desist from SO SUI
cdal step.
Upon this question Of the temporary govern
IN MS thrown over the Mexican territory cap
ured by our inns, most unnecessary ciam"t ana
complaint have been founded. Mr.. Webster, 1t IS
rue, proclaimed the solemn absurdity, that Inc
Constitution forbade our Government from push
ing The war into foreign territory; even should
its object be TO punish the wrongs done US, and 10
secure our just claims and secure a permanent
peace. With The exception Of The "GodlIke"
and his devoted followers, there are few, we pre-
sumo who will deny the right and The propriey
of sending our armies into the territory oil
Mexico, TO capture her provinces, and force her TO
come TO terms OF negotiation. Under the laws OF
war this has been DONE Our armies have taken
military possession ofCalilornia and NewMexico
What, then, was TO be done with these captured
provinces7 It was the plain duty Of The Govern
mrnt 10 secure their possession, as guarantee OF
our demands, and 10 expedite negotiation for
peace. To do so, The law OF nations recognizes
the right 10 exercise absolute power over these
provinces, and rule them BY martial lars. This
the Wings admit, but they say thai The President
has committed gross usurpa,ion OF the Constl-
tuition, because instead Of the iron rule OF military
laws, he has thought proper TO mitigate the hor-
rors of war, and has treated the captured people
of Mexico with leniency, in modifying The
government so as 10 make il somewhat
analogous TO that Of our own ,errilores.-
In spiri, of humanity and orbearance, he has
sought 10 give 10 these captured provinces more
liberal form of government Than military rule;
and The effect has been 10 ccncliale The inhabi-
tants into more willing submission 10 our au-
thory. In other words, The President has relay
ed the vgor OF martial law. He has failed 10
exercise The absolute military power which the
law of nations conferred upon him-and for This
moderate exercise OF legitimate power, he is 10
be denounced as guilty OF "usurpalions OF the
Constitution, !" and is TO be impeached in the face
OF the world and 10 The encouragement Of Next
CO, with whom we are al open war According
TO the Wing logic, we might with impuniIy have
ruled these provinces with all The severity and
balbarily Of a military yrani; but in falling Short
ofthe mark, and in inlusing little liberalily and
leniency into The regulations 10 secure these pro-
vinces, be is guilty oil high handed despotism, and
deserves 10 be degraded by impeachment! Here's
Wing justice and consistency with vengeance
But, say The Wings, The President has violated
The Constitution BY "annexing" foreign territory
This is reiued by The very terms Of The Message
itself, which expressly refers 10 The "temporarv
governments" thrown over The captured pfovin-
ces. Whatever may be the loose phraseology Of
The proclamalions Of our commanders abroad, we
have no doubt that il will appear that the Presi-
dent never intended 10 regard these Mexican pro-
vnces as annexed 10 the Union, but only meant
to establish temporary governments, subject 10
The action Of Congress or treaty OF peace-and
that, throughout, he has acted in sTict accord
ance with the Constitution and The law Of ma.
But The Wing press cry out, with holy horror,
against the Pfoclamaiions Of Gen. kearney and
Commodore Stockton. There is, however pro-
camalion on record, analogous TO those in cues
lion issued By Two distinguished officers, the au-
lhorily OF one Of whom Qhe late President Harri-
sony The Wings will not dare 10 gansay. Ii is
furnished 10 the Philadelphia Ledger by lis
Washington correspondent, and is 10 be found in
Niles Register Nov. 9th, 1873 We transcribe
il in full
Proclamation, BY William Henry Harrison,
Major General in The service oil The u. s., Com
mander-in-C Chief CT The Northwestern Army, and
Oliver Hazard Perry, Captain in the Navy, and
commanding the fee; OF The U. 5. on Lake Erie.
Whereas, by The combined operations of the
land and naval forces under our command, those
of The enemies within The upper district OF Upper
Canada have been captured III destroyed, ard The
said district is now in The quiet possession Of our
troops il becomes necessary 10 provide lur lis 60
veinment; therefore, we do hereby proclaim and
make known, that The rights and privileges ot the
inhabitants, and the laws an customs OF The
country, as they existed or were in force al he
period If our arrival, shat continue 10 prevail
AA ngistrai.s and o.sS cirlt oGcers 10 resume
tie ererclse Of Msu ltnctons pferlGastg taking an
oalh 10 be fatatul 10 Ms government NJ The U,l..4
States, as long as they shall be in possession OF
the county.
"The authority OF all militia commissions is
SUSPENDED in said districts and The officers requiI
ed 10 give their parole in such way as he oficos
rho mar be appointed BY III; Commanding Gene-
raj 10 administer The government shall direct.
"Tbe inhabitants Of said District are promised
protection for their persons and properly with
The exception of those cases embraced by The
Proclamation Of General Proctor, Of the - nj.
limo which is declared 10 be in force, and The
powers therein transferred 10 The o6secrs appointed
10 administer The government. Given under our
hands and seals, at Sandwich. This l7th October,
1913
(Signed) WILLIAM q. HARRISON,
OLIVER II. PERRY"
P. Son Tuesday, The House Of Representa-
lives, on motion OF MIR. Hopkins of Virginia,
adopted Mr. Davis resolution, modified so as 10
request, instead Of require, the President 10 furnish
the information about these temporary govern
menls, il compatible with The public Interest,"
We cannot say what may be the course OF The
President, but we doub, moi that it will be made
manifest that he has acled in exact conformity 10
the Constitution and the laws, and thatihe Wings
will rue The day that they commenced lnis fac
lious movement, when The country was involved
in war.
The remains OF Major Ringgold reached
Charleston on Sunday afternoon. A, - o'clock
on Monday, the body was escorted from the