Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-06-17

o. We have always considered progress
i've Democracy" as it is called, such mere
absurdity in theory, so harmless from its very
radicalism, and so evidently containing with
in itself, It's own antidote, from the very ex-
travagance of the positions TO which it is
driven, that ii has appeared to US but an anus
ing eccentrcty of Locofocoism. Any doubt.
however, in regard to its true nature, and tie
meaning of the mystic word Progressive, !"
has been fully dispelled by the proceedings
of our Army in New Mexico acting under the
instructions of the Government.
Our readers will remember that Gen. Kear-
ney with both sword and pen, and the cere-
mony OF proclamation, has maaered the ter
ritory Of New Mexico, and established terri
torial government there. His first proceeding
was TO issue what he styles the organic law of
the territory, from which we extract the fol-
lowing:
article Sec /. The country hnretofere
known as New Mexico shall be known aud here
after designated a, the Territory Of New Mexico.
IN the United States Of America; and the tempo
iary Government Of said Territory shall be organ.
lied and administered in the manner hereinafter
prescribed"
Thereupon Courts are established, Judges
and District Attorneys appointed, oaths of al
egance forced down Mexican threats, indict-
ments for high crimes and misdemeanors,
trials, and as crowning evidence of the es-
tohES htpopt of fhic torr,tOrial
t,celue .Me1ieans are erecuted
This, however, may be justified on the
score OF necessity let US quote another
part Of the organic law
can free male citizens of the Territory Of New
Mexico, no then and for three moaths next pre-
cedng the election sbaI! have been sdtnts OF he
county district in which they shall appear TO vote
shall be entitled to vote for a Delegate to the
Congress OF the United Staies," sc.
This election is fixed for August next, and
if IT take place as the 'organic law requires,
will the Delegate elect take his seat in Con-
gress? VIII he, elected from territory never
in our possession, and governed by laws
which Congress never dreamed OF, be recog-
nized as a Delegate from territory of the
United States, chosen as he must be, by a
mongrel crowd Of NIexcans, Indians and
Half breeds Well for the Country is it, that
the next House Of Representatives will be
Wing.
To US the whole proceeding in New Mexi-
co seems like some stupendous farce, but it is
in truth a matter Of grave import to the nation.
If the Constitution be already dead letter, if
isative as well as the Executive power, if
thousands of semi barbarians are brought into
the bosom Of the confederacy by a ceremony,
no more protracted, than the dash Of pen
and the hoistingo of flag, where are veto stop2
What is illegal7 What unconstitutional
Are the iron days of the one man power to
be revived in mattersas grave and important as
;hese' 81 will take the responsibility" SEEM
ed bad enough principle, in the removal of the
deposites, but when the annexation of an i'm
mense territory (of but little value, by the way)
and the wholesale naturalization of thousands
of people of every hue end color, ignorant of
our laws, our institutions and our character
istics, are ali explained and reconciled by the
same King like principle, we must drop the
scales from our eyes For, where will it end2
Who is to say to fast encroaching and all as
Stunning Executive Power thus far shalt thou
go and no farther2' Is the Senate to be mere
passive tool? Are the Representatives of the
People, to be stigmatized as 'aders and com
forers' of an enemy because they dare to
question the constitutional right Of President
thus TO act2 Is venal press TO re-echo the
cry, and proclaim to the world that they are
and yet pass unrebuked?
In the brilliant successes of our arms in
Mexico, we seem to have lost sight of these
grave questions, butthe day will come, when
they must be answered. The next Congress
will have much TO do, if it but act worthy Of
The Republic, and obey the high behests Of du-
y, and we are free to say, that the nation
viii sustain 1t,