Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-01-04

When we received the Proclamation issued by Gen
keamy and Commodore Stockton, organizing civil go
vernmeuts in New Mexico and California not during
the temporary military occupation Of these provinces by
the conquerors but permanently "terrioies ofMe L.
Siaes" we denounced the proceeding as fragrant usr
patton of authontynot unprecedented, % he sure, he
Mr. Polk had previously wres cd IRON Congress the
war making power-but the more, on that account, 10
be deprecated and ebuked since it only served TO show
the rapidly progressive steps ofour public unctonarcs
the conversion of the limited and resi- slbc EAecut i've
fl which the Constitution provide, into an Imperial
Gcspo,ism Were we not right in taking this position I!
The Presidents Message, III response to the resolution
Of the House OF Representatives which he expressly
disclaims all responsibility FOR the high handed proceed
ngs, and attributes them TO the patrioc desire OF the
commanding officers at those points 10 confer upon the
Mexicans the blessings Of free governments fernando
Cortez compelled Their 10 embrace the true re
gion by the sharp agument of the sWordhat Message,
we saw admits express terms, the validity OF our oh
econS to the pursued by Gen. keany and Com.
Stockton, and administers singing rebuke To those ospe
cia guardians Of the Constitution, who seuiy recorded
those acts, who have sincc the Il OF Congress,
more indiscreetly defended them With what proprety
then, do the friends If the Administration refer 10 the
Documents by which it accompanied, as a fr11nn
phant reply tothe oheconsof the Wings the justice ard
force of which the President himself substantially admits
He it is true dscans all of the acts compG ned Of But
ny this disclaimer if the themselves justif-
able or proper? Why does he attempt even to ercusc
what he has not the efrontey like some OF his over
jealous champion Congress, to defend! Nlanitestly,
because he is awa, It Gen kcarny and Com. Stock.
ton had assumed powers with which he had no right to
colhe Them since those powers had been nowhere, by
the Constitution the exclusive of hsown authority
delegated to himself
1t was the act and It's authors Of which we complained;
and if we embraced the President in 1t was
because in the Proclamation issued by Gen kearny, he
says, 'BEING DULY AUTHORIZED BY THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HEREBY MAKE
THE FOLLOWING APPOINTMENTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT
OF New MENIco, ATERRIToRY OF THE u. STATES -
The President, however, says that he gave no such
instrucons-and if he did not them while our objections
to The itself remain in all their force they do not OF
course apply that functionay But we must be per-
mtted say, nevertheless that it is somewhat extraor
binary that the commanders in New Mexico and CnlIfor
mia, without the possibility Of counsel and concert with
each other should both have made precisely the same
mistake in the Interpretation of the instructions given to
them rcspec,vey-that one should have declared New
Mexico and the other California, ga terrt Try Of the L.
Safes" instead Of Mexican province held by right of
conquest-and that both should have proceeded acting
upon this idea of the powers with which tn had been
inverted appoint ocere or the several hsnchss ef