The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-08-06

ned, as Hccessary here, no such necess.
iIy can be pleaded: a military possess
ion was the only one which could be pre-.
tended or has been effected. But had it
been otherwise, il wasthe inevitable duty
Of the Executive I o terminate, at the ear.
Hest day, that illegal stale Of things, by
coming 10 Congress for the legal enact
ments which were wanted. MI. Polk
has suffered an entire session Of Congress
to pass away, not only without taking that
necessary step, but has not even deigned
to refer to Congress the great and para.
mount question which they alone were
.competentto decide-the question wheth.
er or not we would annex to the United
States countries which not even Con.
quest can make rightfully ours. until
Mexico shall, by atreaty Of peace and
c%ession. have given us a title.
The President has, says this receipt.
"devolved' upon MI. Kearney the civil
government of California. Is this new
phrase some ingenious invention Of Strict
Construction, meant to avoid the Consti-
tuition. which says thatthe President may,
By and Nth the adcicc and consent Of the
Senate appoint Mr.. Polk has o APP
pointed Mr.. Kearney: he has "devolved"
him.
Is not the new civilian still q Brigadier
General in the Regular Army Of the
United States2 Aud can there be any
thing more contrary to all the spirit Of
Gus institutions, or to every thing repub-
%lican, than this uniting in the same per-
son the civil and the military functionsl
But Mr.. Viceroy cumulates even upon
these: he is supreme legislator. and, if he
likes. Chief Justice of California. our e.
ternal territory! He may give these per-
petual citizens Of the United States as
much or as little of their new birthright,
the Constitution. as he shall judge whole
some for their young stomachs: babes are
not fed with meat.
or their joint skill in such ~interpreta-
ton, we are already favored with an ex
quisite sample: the Constitution says that
Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment Of religion or abridging
the free exercises thereof" and the very
first thing which the potentate and sub
potentate do is, to make a lao respecting
an establishment Of religion, and abolish
the established church of California;
These profound and cautious %jurists have
evidently construed the Federal Consti-
tuition as comforting on Congress the
power actiUely to bring about religious
equality; whereas the whole object wa:
to prevent their meddling at all with re-
lig;ous matters. One would think that
the President Of the United States al
least might know that religious disabili-
ties against the Catholics existed init
late, in the state from which he draws his
origin, North Carolina; or that they exist
in the superlatively Democratic State Of
New Hampshire.
at is the desire and intention of the
United States" these new freemen are
condesccndingly informed) "to procure
for California as speedily as possible
free Government. like that of their owl
Territories; and they will very soon in
vite the inhabitants to exercise the right
of free citizens in the choice of their owl
representatives, who may enact such law
as they deem best adapted to their inter
ests and well-being." Happy freemen
that shall be free some day or other!-
Happy citizens of the United States-ir
prospect! Fortunate territory. that shall
have "a free Government Ike one Of on
Territories" at some future time! Blu
by what hocuspocus has all this beer
found QUIZ 'Is it the desire and inten
ton of the United Statesi" Who ha
any authority to say so?-u unless ego c
rer mcus are the United States?
The California magistrate are to re
main in authority, prortded they sweart t.
be faithful to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States. This is better and BETTER
That they are not capable Of understan
ding what they are 10 administer is eel
tain: but no matter.
The operation by which the Nev
Mexicans were through Gen. K. ericte
(he called it "absolved") from their a
legience to their own native and volur
tary Government, is now, by virtue of
proclamation, repeated upon the Cal
fornians: the President and the Cover
or-who are the United States-takt
the Californians to themselves.
The Californians Twill be regarded
citizens of the United States" that is
saw, regarded as citizens in everything
but the rights of citizens: as citizens WI
may be hung, shot, or whipped, at tn
pleasure of courts martial or of a gran
Jury of foreign soldiery!
But "as long as the sun shall shed i
light, the stars and stripes shall wa,
over California;" So have royal and vic,
royal wills pronounced. The Unite
States have no voice, Mexico no right
in the matter! This is, indeed, THROWN
off the mask entirely. aud dismissing a
pretences of justice, or peace, or Sc
{ lie ment. Nor is it less per6dious tina
unjust. nor less foolish than either. A
this instant, the Executive is pressing W
on Mexico fer a negotiation, terms of ia
and honorable peace for buth sides; Will
, here its envoy, Mr.. Trist, is confronte
S with its proclamation that it means
keep, subject to no negotiation, near on
, half of the Mexican territory!
A thing more INDUSTRIOUS in the eye
National Law or Justice has not bee
done for centuries. Even in Afghan
: tan and China, Britain took as hers not
: inc but as n momentary advantage, SUI