The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-02-24

q Nore. That movement wac an ect Of wal
Il II was at oil events an oct tending TO chang
. the relations Of the two countries froi
!, peace to war; and an act which the Pres
I, den, could not lawfully or constitutional
U perform.
e The next proposition which lay dow
{ 10, that this war thus resulting from an &C
J. Of the President, has been prosecuted b.
{. him from the commencement With q viev
10 the conqnes,--ihe permanent conques
I -of at least Ns1 Mexico and Upper an
/ Lower California. ! beg tho attention 0
! the Sensis while I shall aitemp, TO demon
! sirate this proposition from public docu
men,s. FIRST, sir, viii eallthe attention
of the Senate 10 the instructions given By
the Secretary Of War on the 81 Of June, '46
TO Geo. kearncy:
"Shoud you conquer and take posses
zion Of New Mexico and Upper Cali.orn's
or considerable places 10 either. you will e.
tublish temporary civil government there
Establishing oil arbitrary restriction,
that may exist, 90 far % il may be done
with safety. 10 performing this duty II
would be wise and prudent 10 continue IN
their employment, all such OF the existing
oilicers are known TO be friendly 10 the u.
! States, and will take the oath Of allegiance
TO them. The duties nj ,hs custom house.
ought, al once, 10 be reduced TO such rate
as may be barely suflieicn, TO MAINTAIN the
necessary officers without yielding any rev.
enue 10 tho government. You may assure
the people of those p,oyInces tha, It 10 the
wish and design OF the u. States tc pro.
vide for them q free government, With the
least possible delay, similar TO that which
exi,, 10 our Territories. They will then
be called on to exercise the rights OF free
men IN electing :a:c'- s-c representative.
TO the territorial legislature. iss fofe,csn
that ~hii relates to the civil government,
vii be difficult and unpleasant part OF
your duty, aud much must necessarily be
leg 10 your own discretion"
In further proof OF this, sir. read the
instruction gwen by tho Nav Department
to Com. Sloat, IL July, lsi6.
The ollsci Of the United Slslss I'm.
der its rights asa beiligerent nation. TO pos
seas itself entirely Of Cppcr California.
"rbc otjsc, Of the United States has
reference 10 ultimate pcacs 18th Mexico
aud i, a, that peace, the basis OF the VII
possideiis .h.ll DO eslsbllshed. The govern
meut expects. through your forces, TO be
found IN sctua! possession Of Upper Cali
iotnla.
"Th, Will bring with i the nscsssiiy OF
civil administration. Such a government
should DO e.ssbl,.hsj under pour Proice.
,no ard, IN selecting persona 10 hold Of
fee, due respect should be bad 10 the wish.
es Of tho people Of Csl,lofLis, as sell as TO
The actual possessors OF authority 10 that
province. |, may be proeet TO require an
oath Of allegiance 10 tho L. ). from those
vino are entfutieu with authority. You
will also assure tho people Of California Of
the protection " the United States.
"Aher you shall have secured Upper
California, II your force 10 sufficient, you
will tako possession, and keep, the hsfbors
on the Gulf Of California. az Ear down, al
least. as Guaymss. Bu, this 10 no, TO IN
rerfcre With tho permanent occupation Of
Upper CalifcrnIs."
Then, .lf. on the Is Of August, Ne
have ins,ructtous from The Navy Depar,
meat 10 Com. Stockton, OF shower might
lie the commanding officer in the Pacific.
Now, cir. in order TO understand the scope
and bearing Of these orders s''Il more clear.
| ly, let US SEQ what VAS done under them
by the officers TO whom thew we're address
ed. la q latter Of Gen. kearney TO tho
Adlu,sni General Of the 24th August, lsis,
written from Santa fe. he says:
"On he 2ai | issued a proclamation,
claiming the whole Of New Mexico. with
,,s then boundaries, ne a territory OF the U.
States Of America, and taking II under our
protection"
10 another par, Of the same letter he says
"On my return (Which will be IN two OF
three wesksj civil government, shall bt
organized, and ,hs officers appointed for !,
after which, | viii be ready to star, for Up
per Cal,fornis, which hope may be BY lh'
latter end OF next mouth; and IN such case
| shall expect to have possession OF that Dc
pastmeu, ty tho close Of November"
Then We have Gen. ksarnsys proclsms
ton, in which he announced bis intention I
;. held New Mexico ~ . part OF the Unite
States, under tho name Of tho territory {
; New Mexico.
;. "And he requires Of those ~ho have lie
k their homes and taken up arms agalns. III
;. troops Of the U. States to re,ura forthrit
}. 10 them, or else they will BIO considered I
m enemies and TRAITORS, sublec,Ing their pc
0. sons TO punishment. aud their property
10 seizure and conhscalioo for the benefit
D. the public treasury.
y, 81, is the ~ish and intention OF the U.
q 10 provide for New Mexico tree gaver
v. ment, with the least possible delay, siInil
70 10 those 10 the T. States, and the poop
RI of Nov Mexico will then be called on
cd exercise the rights Of freemen in elcc'i'
10, their own representatives to the ierrl'or'
~, legislature. Blu, until the can be done, I
I'm laws hitherto in existence will be con,inu
IA until changed OF modified by competent
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