Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-14


cre'ay Of the Navy On the 18th of july 1896 Commo-
dore Sloat was informed
"The object Of the United States has reference to ma:e
peace with Mexico, and it, that peace the basis OF the ~
ossss shall be established, the Government expects through
your forces, TO be in actual possession OF California
Somewhat later be instructed, august 18th }
"YOu will take immediate possession Of Upper California,
especially Of the three ports San Francisco Monterey and
San Diego that il the treaty peace shall be made ON the
basis OF the u possds it may leave California to the United
States"
Look (sai Mr. R) at what had lately been developed in
Of the papers. Lieut.. Gillespie sent from Wash
ngton in November S45, with verbal instructions to Capt
Fremont, who, upon ntmaon from the Mexican author-
ties IL California that his presence there not agreeable to
them, had properly retired Oregon Gillespie overlook him
in the wilderness the Tmah lake, and the 9Th of May
the day of the battle Of Pao Ao communicated his occult
and undeveoPed instructions which doubtless looked to the
objects those OF Commodore Sloat namely, to get
possession OF the country to retain when treaty
should be made the basis of the u pois But uhea
(asked Mr.. X. emphacay) was Gillespie sent TO California
At the very moment when hollow and deceul mission Of
peace in the person of Mr. John Slde, dispatched 10
the city OF Mexco then tha. these Instructions look
ing the acquisition of California, their way from
Washington The thing developed in the instruc
tons TO Gen. Kearny, in regard to New Mexico. Mi. K
invited every one to look into the omous record All these
operations determined upon to illustrate the Admnstra
ton OF James X Polk, this pgHy President John Tyler
had bound laurel round his brow by the xaton Of
Texas Ia the spirit of fraternity, mutual kindness, and a
iaon Mr.. r. appealed to bis Democratic friends, il there
any who heard him, examine this matter for them
selves and they must be convinced that there settled
and fixed purpose the part of the President to make
with Mexico, and then, hy treaty the basis OF The u
DossS to acquire additional territory He urged them to
investigate this mystery Of iguty, the obligations Of
truth compelled him TO pronounce it the responsibility OF
his conscience.
But hsPresdent, with making war, went
to usup every power which he desired in its prose-
cuon To what department has the constitution given the
power o raising reUeaue In England, where the king le-
gay exercised the power of the sword he yet prevented
from raising Our foreathers took to establish
the security by giving Congress alone the power
lay and collect taxes duties, mposs and excses, and also
by providing that appropriation for the purpose of ras
ing and supporting armies shall be for longer term than
two that if the President wuly persist wagng
the supplies expiring, he would be compelled put
end to it, But President Polk did hesitate promulgate
tariff o duties and details of excise be levied the eo
pie OF Mexico Suppose it should have happened that he had
gotten sufficient to maintain the from that
impoverished people, or perhaps from their mines had he not
been compelled by the Wing sentiment OF the country
cept the treaty of Mr. Ts known that Mr. Polk would
have got, as was TO the Sierra adrc That unques
onaby his designs and doubtless to further danger
scheme OF annexng the territory north of that line that
supplemental war, winked at by President had been
menced private enterprise, in the teeth of solemn treaty
OF peace just concluded with Mexico With such evidences
OF Mr. Polks policy of annexation how much longer must
think that ne would have kept the if he had been
able provide the through his unlawful exacons from
the enemy Why, perhaps until, in the language of Gov
Cass, zee had srailg,ced all Nerico.
but the PRESIDENT went from 10 usurpatlon
Besides making the and assuming the power to raise the
of sustaining it, in plain violation of the letter of the
constitution, he had also undertaken cr proc0aSai
gorraBeHts, with codes Of civil and political legislation
The constitution cones Congress alone the power in
corporate these territorial governments. There the pro-
vision giving to Congress the power to admit aliens by uni
form rule OF naturalization yet the President through his
officers by his executive admits to all the rights and pv
leges Of American citizens of the degenerate mixed
races OF Mexico He undertook to organize tribunals OF JUS
tce, civil and criminal courts, punish those irreguiay
adopted citizens for crimes which they not capable under
the constitution OF committing for one, if not more, OF these
miserable Meyicens actually executed for treason.
Mr. Ryes declared thai if be had presented these facts
with the sciest he wholly unsconscious OF it,
He did not believe that any unparalleled could any
exaggeraon in his statements. What sort OF case then did
see We the chief Executive Magistrate consolda
ting all the departments Legislative Executive and Judicial
into And Mr. r. asked his rejecting clunymen what,
in view Of sound reason, aud tie authority Of the wsst men,
what di these OF the President but moddrcy
ard not monarchy merely, hut despoiiSR And YET, my
friends said Mr.. R such the Of party spirit hst
see Of these asgesons o the Executive sustained
by bis party
The people called upon give their sanction to
the who, Ihan any Other, stood committed all
these acts Of institutional power Gov. Cass the
SiGmese trim Of James *. Polk No; content with rising
time aer Tine IN ths Senate TO declare bis approval Of every
thing done by the President he had sought make
further met by particularly asserting, in the language Of the
Baltimore Conyeation-in what called their Platform
declaring that the confidence OF the Demacracy in Mr. Polk
"has been s1aaLy justified by he strcaess Of his adsr.
70 sound Democratic co:fraes" If any Democrats
here Mr r. would say them they should sanction
the acts Of the President by the elevation Of who thus
stands identified with them eli, hey tc,rH effect rcotior
as great as they should isai monarchy. Though quietly
and seahy accomplished the change would be less real
lhan II effected Ivy violence ard blood. What was mo.
n1rchy' and what monarch II would only be neces.
sary fsarze the sound for the reality would
be beore The great historian Of the tall OF the Roman
Empire 10 his mastery representation Of the mode in which
repubc may pass from liberty despofs had given Just
definition of monarchy. The obvious definition OF a mo.
naTchy (s1ys Gbbon) 70 be that Of state in chct
single per by Whatever he may be distinguished Is
entrusted ,cuh The e1scuon ofs hus the management Of
ne rersnue and The commend Of The qrmy" And in any
such Government said the eminent writer et bis warn
ing never be forgotten il requires all the vigilance Of tie in
epd JecGSers Of Liberty TO prevent from degcneranu into
deepo,ism In other countries, said Mr. R. political writers
sne'mes speak Of President an elective monarch
Theoretically least he has the three functions mentioned
by G,b5on But Mr.. Polk, content with the manage.
Het o the revenue has undertaken raise not content
with The erecOn Of laws he ha' presumed 10 make them
not content with the command Of the army he has usurped
the power Of creating c0r 10 give exercise bis authority
In What giale DO find the country let us pause
ans reflect value Liberties and the liberties Of our
pOs'eiy II is idea that because the President IL
ecsd he cannot he monarch. An 6ctire pqoa1ycbg l.
GENERALLY regarded by wise tie species of mon
archy What sort Of privilege is IT, the humble privilege o
choosing master and despot Such only The
more dangeoG, hecause be the easily make en-
crolchncns other departments Of the Government And
here mr. H. quoted the sentiment Of writer that