The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-07-26
Agents for the Union.
Instructions to Omcers.

We gave in last paper exposition OF the general
principles on which the administration has proceeded in
the regulation of the territory which have conquer
ed We denied the charge which the National Intelligent
Ger" had made of want of sincerity in the Executive and
scarcely had contradiction gone forth, before an article
comes 10 us from St Louis which confirms positions
We copy the following from the est Louis Republican,,
which states the arrival of a mail from Santa Fe at St.
Louis on the 10th The latest dates from Santa Fe to
the 9th of May-the time at which Mr.. Murphy, Col.
RUSSELL and others, left that place.
of the letters which the Republican has SEEM
the 22d May Col Price discovered that there
Instructions from the War Department. which had been
ceved by the last mail brought by Mr. Boggs, directed to
the colonel commanding in Santa Fe, in which it was
nounced that the President refused sanction any OF the
Of Gen. Kearny far they confer any rights upon
the citizens Of the territory of New Mexico us citizens of
the United States and Gen. Kearny the officer com
mandng, directed not to permit TO be carried into ei-
feet such part the organic and statute laws of the territory
coners such rights On the strength of these instruc-
TONS Col Price officially demanded the release and remis-
sion of OF Antonio Maria Trajo, convicted OF
against the government OF the United States The
accused was thereupon set at liberty.
The step be aken says the letter, will necessa-
ry the natives that being citizens oil
United States they elect delegate Congress-
The instructions that the laws for the internal
government of New Mexico received the full sanction
members legislative council and do all other acts and
things that people quite slaves may do This is the
writer's deducton says the Republican, from the instruc-
but if they, citizens elect members OF a
legislative body the distinction be very nice which
will prevent them from eecng delegate to Congress.
Except in the particulars which have stated the let
says all goes before. ome fngitives from the
valley OF Taos combined with guerlas and Cumanches
committing depredatons beyond the Moro. day Or
ago, they off from Santa Clara, or the Wagon
Mounds, with $50 horses killing and woundng two OF
the party in charge.
1t is not surprising therefore, in view of the prnci
pies which set forth in Saturdays Unon," that the
provisions of the laws which established by Gen.
Keamy fer the government of the territory OF New
Mexico should be supposed to co. in few respects
beyond the line designated by the President These laws
propose to confer upon the people of the territory pot
cal rights under the constitution of the United States
but such rights only be acquired by the action OF
Congress So far as the code of laws established in
New Mexico by the authority of Gen. Keany attempts tc
confer such rights they cannot be approved by the Pres
dent and no wonder that instructions given by the
Secretary of War thathey should be carried into eff
feet
We must repeat, that under the law of nations, the
power conquering territory has right to establish
civil government within the same, as of securing
and property of the people 1t is certainly not intended
by the instructions which have gone out to restrict the
commanding officer at Santa Fe in the full exercise OF
this authority Indeed, it became desirable OBJ.
ect to exercise it in such manner as to inspire
confidence in the people that our power is to be
fairly sustained in that country, and to call upon
the people themselves to participate in the civil ad
minstration But the territory in military occu
paon acquired from the enemy by arms, cannot bt
regarded as permanently annexed to the United States
Yet authority to exercise civil government over II
not by that circumstance the least restricted is how
ever, useless for to go the ground which W.
took on Saturday night
We must be permitted to add, that it is rather strange
the St Louis Republican should have fallen into the
error OF confoundng the power of eectng members OF
legislative council to assist in forming laws for them
Selves with the right of eecting delegate to Congress
The two bodies essentially different, and rest upor
very different principles.