Tri-weekly journal., 1848-02-05

information upon this point, communicated in
the proclamation of Commodore Sloat to the
people of California. He asys:
''Henceforward California, will be portion Of the
United States and its peaceable inhabitants will en-
Oy the same rights and privileges they now enjoy,
together with the privilege of chosng their mag
istraes and other officers, for the administration OF
Justice among themselves, and the same protection
will be extended TO them to any other State in the
Union. They will also enjoy permanent govern
menL"
Again, Commodore Stockton says:
'''The territory of California now belongs to the
United States and will be governed, as soon as cir
cumstances will permit by officers and laws similar
to those by which the other territories of the United
States are regulated and protected"
Now, sir, it is impossible, think, to read
what was dGne-what was reported by our of
ficers to the President as having been done by
them-without seeing that they understood
and acted on his instructions, as designed to
make permanent conquest of such portions of
Mexican territory as they were instructed to
take possession of. There is not one word
said in the instructions-nothing declared In
the actions of the officers obeying these instruc-
tions-which referred or appeared to refer to a
military occupation of those territories, for
the purpose of compelling Mexico to do us JUS
tice for the wrongs we had sustained at her
hands. These officers clearly understood that
they were to take possession of, and hold, those
/ territories as a portion of the United States.-
What says Com. Stockton:
~, Robert Stockton, commander -in-chef of the
United States forces in the Pacific ocean, and govern
or oil the Territory of California, and commander-in-
chief of the army of the same, do hereby make known
to all men, that, having by right OF conquest taken
possession OF that territory known by the name OF
/ nd do ho
a Territory of the United States under the name OF
the Territory of California"
They took possession. They organized gov
ernments-and they acted in all respects as il
from that time forward these territories ceased
to be the property of Mexico, and became the
property of the United States.
Well. now did they understand their in
tructions right? Why, sir, in the message OF
the President of the United States, communi-
eating these documents to us, there is some
thing said which implies disavowal of what
was done, an intimation that in some respects
the instructions had been exceeded ''1hese
documents" says the President, ':contain ALL
&C."
Itappears then, upon the statement Of the
President of the United States, and the Report
of the Secretary of War, that the organic law
) established by General Kearny for the govern
ment of the territory of New Mexico, in conse
quence ofits late arrival--one with reference tC
then succeeding session-had not been read tbs
! by him and submitted to the President and his
: orders taken with respect toit. Well now tina
} is the only one of the documents of which it i:
intimated that the contents were not known
at the proper department and communicated t
the President and approved and sanctioned By
t him. Therefore ii is a reasonable, and neces
sary conclusion, that every one of the othe
: documents, except the one specified and taker
: out by the exception, has been admitted, sane
r toned and approved. And further, when il
n reference 10 General Kearnys organic law no
thing is excepted to by the President but this
: that he has undertaken TO prescribe the form o
b. a permanent territorial 5oVurnment. NJ ex
ception was taken by the President to Genera
5 Kearny's proclamation of the oath August de
II claring his intention to hold New Mexico ''a:
part of the United S tates'-none to his re-
Q qniring of the inhabitants to return to thei
homes on pain of being considered traitors
n and subject their persons to punishment, anc
their property TO confscation--none TO his re-
: quiring the office holders reconsider themselve:
: citizens of the United States, and to take al
: oath of allegiance-none to his intention o
Il providing civil government for New Mexico
e with territorial legisature-none to his dis
d solving, in the name of the United States. tn,
= inhabitants of that country from their allegi
ance to the Republic of Mexico-and finally
f none to his claiming all persons residing with
in that terntOryas citizens of the United States
, and denouncing the doom of traitors against al
of them who should be found in arms agains
it. To nothing that was done, by either Com
modore Sloat or Commodore Stockton, in re
gard to these matters is any exception taken
yet, Commodore Sloat proclaimed to the inhab
itants of Caifornia-as early as July, 1916
e that thenceforward California would be por
J, tion of the United States, and would enjoy
: permanent government. And, in his genera
: orders, issued July 7th, he says to the troop
: who were about TO be landed on the coast, tina
a il was their duty not only to take Calforn
but TO preserve it afterwards as a part of tn,
e United States at all hazards And Commodon
a Stockton BY his proclamation makes known t
: all men, that he has by right of conquest takel
possession of the territory known as Upperant
y Lower California, and declares it TO be the ter
e ritory ofthe U. S., under the name of the ter
d ritory of California. And again on the I7tl
' of August, he declares that the territory Of Cal
), ifornia now belongs to the United States, ant
It will be governed, as soon as circumstances per
nit, by officers and laws similar TO those b,
: which other territories of the United States ar,
o regulated and governed. Here, then, we sc,
), officers acting under the authority of the Pres
v ident, without rebuke from him, claiming ant
establishing civil governments in Mexico, ant
8 California as the permanent territories of tn
d United States; claiming their nha bitants as ou