The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-12

people ofeither Of the said States"
The legislature OF the State OF Maine, on the 2sth OF
February, 1889,
Rssoved That the constitution of the United States does
not invest the general government with unlimited and alb
soa,e powers ba. conies only spssa' and nns
any portion OF territory belonging 70 Stale Without its con
The same doctrine after full discussion in the cabi-
net council OF General Washington by Mr. Jefferson and
Gen. Hamilton. affirmed and maintained IN the IN
strucioas Messrs Carmichael and Short, prepared by
Mr. Jefferson Secretary Of State, the 18th OF March
1892, IN which the right OF this government to d.menber
itself and to cede portion OF its territory to another gov
/ eminent is emphatcally denied
will moi occupy the time OF the Senate by adverting
more particularly to documents which have heretofore
been alluded to. and well known to the Senate But
Sir, ask for what purpose do we want Mexico TO cede
to us this terrory What great national interest requires
the cesson Has Congress passed act authorizing
Tie executive government to purchase il or oof'gat.ng
tse in any manner to prosecute the war for the acquis
ton of territory Has Congress declared any great public
object to exist rendering necessary or proper to acquire
possession OF this territory No. sir the only act that
Congress has passed the subject contained IN the
joint resolution for the annexation OF Texas prescribing
condition of her admission into the Union that the
State be formed subject the adjustment by this govern
men of all questions of boundary that may arise with
other governments Did Congress at that time expect an
enlargement OF her territory! Ii So why Texas
qured to concede the right 10 this settle the
question OF her boundary with the government OF
Mexico If the government of the United States then m
tended ndeeasbe right to the territory extend
ing the Rio Gande surely they would not have required
the consent of Texas to the settlement of the boundary
No, the expectation OF Congress, at that time,
that this question might be settled by taking less
than Texas had included in her claim, by constr
tung what is called the stupendous desert" between
the Nueces and the Rio Grande the boundary and there
FORE required that Texas should give her consent
But has Congress in any manner sanctioned the project
of adding New Mexico and California to the States OF
the purpose of compelling Mexico to cede hem' This,
sir, is question which, in my Judgment, pertains to
Congress, cooperation with the treaty making power.
to decide and not to the Executive alone for hold that
the OF the United States cannot for any
pose add territory from foreign nation unless it be for
the accomplishment OF some great nahona! purpose re-
duty of the government to provide If it be deemed ne
cessay Tor the purposes of defence, for the protection
of any great national interest for which Congress is
,horzed by the constitution to legsate that foreign terri
tory should be annexed for Cone to decide wheth
such necessity exists before the Executive can be Just
fled in treating for its acquisition But for the purpose OF
bringing States into the Union, of extending
free institutions to foreign population the acquisition OF
territory not warranted by the constitution II the power
the OF the United States it is power
which be found in the constitution either as spect
caly granted essential proper to carry into effect
other powers which are granted 1t may be essential to
the security of nation that awless and dangerous
neghbo should not only be punshed but deprived OF
his point OF attack 1t may be essential to the preserva
ton OF na.ion-to prevent its dismembermentthat adj
donal territory should be acquired by peaceful negoa
ton. done in the of the purchase OF Louis
lana The immense and fertile regions OF the West had
conented and restless, and evident they could be
retained in the Union only by the acquisition OF the right
10 navigate the Mississippi. That right could only be
obtained by the purchase of Louisiana. Mr. Jefferson
awaited haself OF fortunate opportunity toacqure it,
though he did not regard the purchase as justified by any
power conferred by the con h i was apprPyea
American people
| The acquisition of Florida was justified on similar
principle, and Texas received into the Union by an
of Congress the pretence well founded
or not it is not my purpose now to in4ue-that 1t was
essential to the protection Of NATIONAL interest
to the Union such necessity exists. Their territories
comparatively of little value, and their acquisition is
connected with no great public interest New Mexicp
except the immediate borders OF the Rio Grande is
barren and reproductive Her population is OF the most
degraded character and is believed TO have attained the
maximum which the country can support Its population
have no bond OF sympathy TO unite them with our own,
and totally untitled to be invested with the power OF aid
ing in the government of this Union, and the regulation
of the great commercial interests OF the American people
Every of land within the limits of New Mexico
capable of being applied by irrigation to agricultural
prevent those modes of cultivation which congenal
to the habits of our people The country is fit only for
the residence OF Mexican or Indian population, such as
| has occupied it from its earliest settlement:
In regard California, with the exception of the Bay
of San Francisco and the valley of the Sacramento, all
worthless. It's interior (says Col FremonD is little
known II is called desert, and from what saw of il,
stery may be said to be spromlnent Characteristic
there lowest FORM the rabbit the largest animal
known in this desert the wild sage tree their only wood
that cannot be less IMAM
hundred miles in each direction Now, | ask, if we
could compel Mexico to sell, or cede to us without buy
ing, those territories, for what national purpose DO we
want them! Have not immense quantity OF fertile
land which has been for years in the market The rich
valleys of the Mississippi and the Missouri, and other
tributary streams, yet to great extent unoccupled,
and will be for years and years 10 come Why do we
want TO purchase these immense wastes and aud
them to our already extended territores' Sir, has
been truly said that this government would not, in
! fifty years. be able to realize fifty thousand dol
iars from any land that it could sell those
ritores San Francisco may indeed be valuable for pur-
poses connected with but that place could be
much vanageousy acquired by pacific negotiation
But in what, ask, does the acquisition OF these terrific
RES by purchase differ from acquisition by conquest! Sup
pose them be valuable and that about to pay
| for them more than they worth. The Mexican
republic learn from their public documents, have
those territories They urged that the population Of New
Mexico loyal to their government and that was
incompatible with the principles upon which their c0nfed
eracy based and with the dictates OF justice
to that people, to cede them with their territory to the
United States. How this doctrine be gainsayed by
us She is sister republic, constituted on the same
principles as own. How does cession forced from
Mexico for price, with the presence of our armies in
her midst differ in any respect from conquestl
am, then, opposed to sending this additional force
| TO Mexico, because | am opposed to the only pur-
pose for which. in my judgment, such force can be
required. hold war OF conquest for the purpose
OF acquiring dominion another people to be utterly
inconsistent with the genius of government and
the principles on which it is founded But, sir, il
could resort to it in any case, would scorn to do it at
the expense of feeble enemy like Mexico How
lift up sister republic, now crushed the earth by
he of and in AMIR al ma