The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-10
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

The journal having been read
ESTABLISHMENT CIVIL GOVERNMENTS IN THE NEWLY
ACQUIRED MEXICAN TERRITORY.
The SPEAKER stated the pending business to be the
resolution submitted by the gentleman from Kentucky,
Mr. DARRAtiH rose to address the House, but yield
Mr. DAVIS, who asked the floor for moment in Or
der to offer the following modification OF his resolutions
Resolved That the President of the United States be
quested communicate this House copies of all orders
Kearny Captain sloa or Captain Stockton touching the
establishment of civil government in any portions OF exl-
Wy OF the United States also copies of all Instruments
forms of government procamaons, or other papers, that
lshed by said officers either Of them also that the Pres
ident inform this House whether he had approved and re-
and doing of the officer establishing 1t relating thereto
that he further inform this House whether any such govern
limits State of Texas that the President also inform
this House whether he intends prosecute the existing
ton Of New Mexico, Chihuahua New Leon, Tauauipas,
San Louis Potosi any other part OF the Mexican states
and for what specific objects he intends to prosecute said
and that the President communicate such parts Of the
information herein asked of him as he shall deem excdeni
to this House, with closed doors.
Mr. DARRAGH then proceeded He had nothing to
say of the resolution now before the House. 1t was on
that before offered he wished to make remarks As
the right of the TO establish government in
the territories in question: he had only to say that the mil
itary commanders had right only to protect themselves
They had no right to establish civil government, If
governor and appointed civil officers he had done what
he had no right to do and what the President Of the
United States had no right to authorize. The only right
in case was that sprnging from the law Of self defence
That inaienabe right was congregated in the army.
Beyond the exercise Of that right the military com
manders had no right to go. The gentleman from llli-
nos Mr. DOUGLASS had spoken Of the right Of conquest
These were TO be used under the constitution
of the United States He (Mr. DARRAGH) thought was
the democratic doctrine that of conquest could not
be waged and that territory could not be acquired by
conquest In connexion with the resolution, he wished
to call the attention of the House to the message which
was in his opinion cunningly devised instrument, in
tended to blink the whole question. Every man who
doubted the propety of the was to be denounced as
traitor Such was the liberty of speech and Of the
press allowed by democratic PRESIDENT The President
had alluded to the gallany Of the army Who doubted
III But did the heroism OF the forces in the feddd the
eagerness Of the volunteers prove the popularity of this
war; Assuredy not Why was that in the elections
in the great States the general result has proved the deep
convictions of the people that this was not worthy
of their approbaonl That there was cause of war he
admitted but he held that the grievances of American
citizens and of the government might have been long
since redressed So far as Texas and Mexico
cerned he believed that the administration of Mr. Polk
was identical with that of John Tyler. The drift Of
these two administrations to delay the settlement of
all these questions Of boundary for political purposes Had