American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-24

and Judge Bayly, of Virginia, which may lead
to som ethng still more serious.
PRETDEXr's MEssAsE. In reply to a re,
solution passed by the House Of Representa-
tiyes on the 18th instant, requesting him to
communicate copies of ell the "Olders or in
struetions in relation to the establishment or
organization of civil government in any por-
ton of the territory of Mexico, which has or
might be taken possession of by tho army or
navy of the United States" the President has
transmitted sundry letters from the war and
navy departments, &c. Among the documents
communicated is the "form of government es-
tablistod and organized" by General Ksarney.
In relation to this document, tho President
says:
at is declared on its face to be Temporary
government ofthe said territory bat there re-
portions of it which purport to establish and
organize permanent territorial government
Of the United States over the territory, and to
impart to its inhabitants political rights which
under the constitution ct the United States,
can he enjoyed permanently only by citizens of
NJ
proved and recognised by me. Such organ
lied regulations as have been established in
any of the conquered territories for tho security
OF our conquest, for the preservation Of order,
for the protection OF tho rights of the inhablt-
ants, and for depriving the enemy of the ad
vantagos of these territories while the military
possession ofthem by the forces of the United
States continue, will be recognised and an.
proved"
We are glad that the President has thus dis
approved the attempt of Gsneral Kearney to
permanently annex New Mexico to the United
States Against this annexation we have uni
iormIy protested, as violation of the consitu-
ton; nut we have as Invariably admitted the
night TO organize temporary government over
the conquered province, for the security of per-
son and property, and the preservation Of or
der. The orders to the commanding officers
amounted to this and no more and it will thus
be seen, that the censure which has been at
taehad to Tho administration for the supposed
SANCTION OF most unjIstiiiable act, must fall ,
on the heads of the commanders, who have
undertaken to make annexations of territory
ly wholesale.
In reference to the ''orders and instructionsn
issued by government, the message says:
"Those orders and instructions were given
TO regulate the exercise of the rights of a bel
ligsront, engaged in actual war, over such por-
tons Of the territory OF our enemy as, by mill
tary conquest, might be taken possession Of
and be occupied by, our armed torces-Ights
necessarily resulting from a state of war, and
clearly recognised by the laws Of natons.- I
THIS was all the authority which could be
delegated to our military and naval command |
ers, and its exercise was indispensable to the
secure occupation and possession Of territory
oftho enemy which might be conquered. The
regulations authorized were temporary, and
dependent on the rights acquired by conquest.
They were authorized as belhgeront rights, and
were to be carried into effect by military Or
naval officers. They were but the amelora-
ton OF martial law, which modern civilization
requires, and were due as well TO the security
OF the conquest, as to the inhabitants of the
conquered territory
We have not considered it necessary to pub
lish the documents which accompany the mes.
sage as the material desired to be disclosed
was, the agency which the government had, (if
any, in the illegal proceedings of General
Kearey and Captain Stockton. The dis
avowal o. the President having settled that
point, the documents are of little Importance
to the public.