Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-12-22

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impressed with the necessity of establishing terri
torlal governments over them recommended tn
SUBJECT TO the favorable consideration of CONGRESS
IN my message communicating the ratified treat
OF peace, on the 9th July last and invoked thei
acuoh at That session. Congress adjourned with
OUT making any provision for their government
The inhabitants, by the transfer of their country
had become entitled to the benefits of our laws an,
constitution, and yet were left without any regu
larry organized government. Since that time, tn,
very limited power possessed by the Executive. ha
Deen exercised 10 preserve and protect them from
the inevitable consequences OF a state of anarchy
Inc only government which remained was tina
established by the military authority during the
war. Regarding this to be defacto government
and that by the presumed consent of the nhab.
tants 1t might be continued temporarily, they were
| ADVISED to conform and submit to il for the short
| intervening period before Congress would again as
| SembIe, and could legislate on the subject
he views entertained by tne Executive on this
point, are contained in a communication OF the
secretary OF State, dated the eth OF October last
winch was forwarded to California and New Mex
Ico, copy of Hhch is herewith transmitted
The small military force of the regular army
which were serving within the limits OF the acQui
red territory at the close of the war was retained
IN them, and additional forces have been ordered
there for the protection of the inhabitants, and to
preserve and secure the rights and interests OF the
! United States.
No revenue has been or could be collected at the
Ports Ill California, because Congress failed TO au-
thorze the establishment of Custom Houses or the
| appointment OF officers for that purpose.
The Secretary of the Treasury, by circular let
ter addressed 10 the collectors OF customs on the
! 9TH day of October last, copy of which is here
with transmitted, exercised all the power by which
he was invested by law
In pursuance n the IF NJ tho 18th list
extending the benefit OF post Office laws to the
| people OF California. the Postmaster General has
! appointed two Agents who, have proceeded, the
one to California and the other to Oregon-with
authority TO make the necessary arrangements Tor
CARRYING its provisions into effect
| The monthly mail line of steamers has been re-
CURED 10 stop and deliver and take mails at san
Diego, Monterey and san Francisco These mail
steamers connected by the Isthmus Of Panama
with the line of mail steamers on the Atlenlc be.
tween New York and Cnagres will establish reg,
ular mail communication with California
II Is our solemn duty TO provide, with the least
possible delay. for New Mexico and California
regularly organized territorial governments The
causes Of the failure, TO do this AT last session of
Congress are we'll known and de ply to be regret
ted With the opening prospects of increased
prosperity and national greatness which the acuui-
siton OF these rich and extensive territorial posses
sIOIlS dl!u now TIdtlON3l II NOiiiQ be 10 tOroGO
reject these advantages, by the agitation of do
mestic question which is coeva with the existence
Of our government itself and TO endanger by inter
nal srlies, geographical divisions and threatened
contest for political power for any other cause
the harmony OF the glorious Union OF our conte,er-
ated States; which binds us together as one people
and which for sixty years has been our shield ,nd
protection against every danger IN the ewes Of
the world and prosperity how trivial and insgniti-
cant will be all our internal divisions and struggles
compared with the preservation of the Union of the
States in all its vgour and with all its countless
blessings!
No patriot would ferment and excite geograrhi.
cal and sectional divisions No lover OF his coun-
try would deliberately calculate The value of the
Union Future greatness would look with amaze
ment on the folly of such course Other nations
at the present day would look upon it with aston
lshment and such ofthem as desire to maintain and
peTpetnate thrones and monarchia or aristocratica
principles, will view it with exultation and delight,
because in il they will see the elements of faction
which they hope must ultimately overtun our
system.
Ours is the great example Of free self governed
Republic, commenting the admiration and the
imitation OF all the lovers OF peace throughout the
world. How solemn. therefore, is the dutv and
how impressive the call upon us and upon all parts
oil our country 10 cultivate patriotic spirit Of har
mony, OF good fellowship of compromise of rpu-
tual concessions in the administration of the incon
patlble system Of government formed bv our
Fathers in the midst of almost nsupe able Difficult
ties and transmitted to us with the Injunction that
we should enjoy its blessings and hand it 90 an
unImpared 10 those who may come atteru u.s.
In view OF the high and responsible duty which
we owe TO ourselves and to mankind. think YOU
may be able, at your present session to approach
the adjustment of the only domestic question which
seriously threatens. or probably ever can threaten
to disturb the harmony and successful operation of
our system
The immensely valuable possessions of New
Mexico and California already inhabited by
considerable population. Attracted by their great
fertility, their mineral wealth, heir commercial
advantages, and the salubrity OF the climate emf
grants from the older States in great numbers are
already preparing 10 seek new homes in these iny
ting regions.
Shall the dissimilaritv Of the domestic institu
tons in the different States prevent Us from proy-
ding for them suitable governments as these insti.
tuOns existed at the adoption of the constitution.
but the obstacles which they nerposed were over
come by that spirit of compromise which is now
invoked? Ia a conflict of opinions or of interests
real imaginary between different sections of our
country, neither can justly demand all which it
might desire to obtain. Each, in the true spirit of
oul GU CCtt 10 Tue
other
Our gallant forces in the Mexican war by whose
po,riotsm and unparalleled deed, of arms we OBJ
tanned those possessions as an indemnify for our
just DENNIS against Mexico, were composed o.
citizens who belonged to one state or section O
our Union
They were men from slavehodng and non-slaye
holding states. from the north and from the south
from I; e east and from the west.
They were all companions in arms and fellow
citizens of the same common country, engaged in
the same common cause. When prosecuting that
war they were brethren and friends. and shared
alike with each other, common ills and dangers
and suferngs.
In organizing governments over these territories
no duties imposed upon Congress by the Cons,itu-
ton requires that they should legisate upon the
subject of slavery while their power to do so is
not only seriously questioned. but denied by many
the -ounde>t eXpounders OF that instrument
Weber Congress Shall egi>ae or not. the people
o. the acquired territory, when assembled in Con
>c.' 5oa 10 form State Constitutions. viii possess
the e AID exclusive power 10 determine for ITEM
selves Ahe'her slavery Shall or shall not exist
irh.u their limits. Ii Congress shall abstsin from
interfering with that question. the people Of these
territories y IN be left free 10 aiust II as fhp mac