Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-24

theron not we would annex to the United States
courries which not even Conquest can make right
fully ours, until Mexico SHALL by treaty Of peace
and ession, have given us title.
Tie President has, says this new rescript, de-
volvel" upon Mr.. kEARNy the civil government of
California. Is this new phrase some ingenious in
ventiol of Strict Construction, meant to avoid the
Constitution, which says that the President may,
6y AMI nth the advice and consent Of the Senate,
aPpoir! Mr.. Polk has not appointed Mr.. KEAR-
N.Y. h has 9 devolved' him!
Is MT the new civilian still Brigadier General
in the Regular Army of the United States And
can thre be any thing more contrary to all the
spirit Of our institutions, or to every thing republi-
can, tim this uniting in the same person the civil
and tn, military functions But Mr.. Viceroy Gu
mulates even upon these he is supreme legislator,
and, if he likes Chief Justice of California, our
eternal territory He may give these perpetual
citizens of the United States as much or as little of
their new birhright, the Constitution, as he shall
Judge wholesome for their young stomachs babes
are moi fed with meat.
of heir joint skill in such interpretation we are
already favored with an exquisite sample the Con-
stitutioa says that :. Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment Of religion or abridg-
ing the free exercise thereof" and the very first
thing which the potentate and subpotentate do is,
to make lar respecting an establishment of re-
Hgion, and abolish the established church of Cali
lorna These profound and cautious iuriss have
evidently construed the Federal Constitution as
comforting on Congress the power actively TO bring
about religious equality; whereas the whole OBJ
Ject was TO prevent their meddng at all with reli-
gous matters. One would think that the President
OF the United States at least might know that reli-
gious disabilities against the Catholics existed until
of late, in the State from which he draws his ORR
gin, North Carolina; or that they still exist in the
superlalvely Democratic State of New Hampshire.
:. 1t IS the desire and intention of the United
States (these new freemen are condescendnglv in
iormed) ITO procure for California as speedily as
possible free Government, like that of their own
Territories; and they will very soon invite the in
habtants to exercise the rights of free citizens in
The cholce OF their own representatives, who may
enact such laws as they deem best adapted to their
interests and well-beng." Happy freemen! that
shall be free some day or other Happy citizens
OF the United States-in prospect! Fortunate
territory, that shall have free Government like
one Of our o,cn IerritorieS,' at some future time
But by what hocuspocus has all this been found
out? 1t is the desire and intention of the United
States" Who has any authority to say so ?-un-
less ego Ell rec meus are the United States
The Californian magistrates are to remain in al-
thority, prorided they swear to be faithful to the
Constitution of the United States. This is better
and better That they are not capable Of under
standing what they are to administer is certain
enough: but no matter.
The cooperation by which the New Mexicans were
through Gen. X. ericted (he called it " absolved'N
from their allegiance to their own native and volun
tary Government, is now, by virtue of proclama-
ton, repeated upon the Caliiornians the President
and the Governor-who are the United States
take the Caliornians to themselves.
The Calfornians will be regarded as citizens
OF the United States :" that is 10 say, regarded as
citizens in every thing but the rights of citizens
as citizens who may be hung, shot, or whipped, at
the pleasure of courts martial or a grand Jury of
foreign sodiery!
But "as long as the sun shall shed its light the
stars and stripes shall wave over California ~ So
royal and viceroyal wills pronounced The Uni
ted States have no voice, Mexico no rights, in the
natter This is, indeed throwing off the mask ell.
hrely, and dismissing all pretences of Justice or
peace, or settlement. Nor is it less perfdous than
UNJUST nor less foolish than either At this instant
the Executive is pressing upon Mexico for ne
gotation, terms of fair and honorable peace for both
Sides while here its envoy, Mr.. TRIsr, is con-
fronted with its proclamation that it means to keep
subject 10 no negotiation near one-haf of the Mexi-
can territory!
thing more monstrous in the eye of National
Law or Justice has not been done for centuries Even
in Aighanstan and China, Britain took as hers no.
thing but as momentary advantage, subject to
treaty and restitution. And, finally, we raise our
voice once more in warning to the country, that the
President is making no real conquests IN MeEico
IS only the Constitution Of his orn country that
he Is conquering.
ALABAMA.-Governor MARTIN who was elected
Governor of the State of Alabama in lS45, in OPP
position 10 the regular Democratic candidate, has
withdrawn from the canvass this year, and left
clear dcld to Mr.. REUBEN Chaplain, the nominee