The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-08-29

OF no blunder more stupendous than the usurpaon Of
civil powers and the revival Of the Mexican govern.
ment by General Riley This measure viii hang forever
like an incubus upon the present cabinet We have Dor
trsyed Of its frghtu features but we have never
seen il more powerfully exhibited than in an article il
the San Francisco "Alta California;" OF The 9Th Jun.
which reached by Sundays mail The subject !,
most ably treated in this production OF the American mind
developing the true principles of our constitution over
the distant borders OF the Pacific ocean, and we lay the
article entire before our readers:
From the Alta California Junel.
CIV. RnEY's PRocLAsArIos-Our readers will find In
this days paper "Proclamston 40 The people ofCafor
ma by Cen Riley, The military commander OF this (Ob,
department OF the United States army As its positions ana
other cmsiances connected with novel
and as the public mind Is greatly excited in relation
we trust we viii be excused for noticing 1t at length and
for endeayorng to diserove some Of is conclusions
from the Secretary of War he assumed The admnis
ton OF civil affairs in Caiornia military governor
Now, we do not positively that Cen Riley
has such instructions but do shy that ia no
of War given any such orders Gen Riley. other orders
than those published in existence, is but fair that the
people Of this Territory should have privilege of pens
he that they may know on whom 10 throw the respons
Gen. Riley complains that his position as governor ba,
been misreprescuted or msapprehended, he is not
nlfdry governor, but that he Il er0Dco ev governor by
concerned we are not willing 70 admit thai we have mi.
represented or misconceyed Gen Rievs claims mo, n.
we exactly perceive the gis. Of that sentence Of The
wilay stnpd-and in tina, event il would have been yS
kind in Gen Riley have informed us whether his ASA
ton is a common, civil OF MEXICAN law bubble
But the position assumed Is that he is the cove rnor Of thu
ersrg eipa ggver",nsnt and he goes say that te
military government ended with the war; and what re-
mains is the civil government reco, nised IN lie ax
laws Of California" Had he said thar the civil govern
men (such as il was) ended when the begun that the
military government ended with war, and since thar
time here la. been no government. and no governor he
since the arrival of General Smith and himself an at,enn
has been made exhnme the remains OF he deunc Cali
ornia Mexican laws and compel people 10 abide hv
them, he would, in view oil the matter have added
nothing but fact
IL is very easy for statesmen LAWYERS and politicians
heorize pom these matters; il is not difficult matter IN
say that ''oi the Mexican applicable 10 that
gated changed by competent authority" and thus Fen
soning is easy perceive that the position Of Gen Riey
The premises, and think we can prove them So
When the country conquered by the forces Of Col
Fremont and Commodore Stock ton thai CONQUEST sw.p
away every vestige OF Mexican civil law extant in ,hs
county, all and purposes These Mexican laws
they had never been heretofore properly or coneas
enforced When Gen. Keamv succeeded 10 the command
under the orders OF the President he did aempto
Promuisae OF enforce Mexican law on the contrary,
Of his hfs cip acts was TO issue proclamation for the
sale oil me oeacn and water lots IN The town OF San Fran
CISCO Tins certainly was not done in accordance with the
laws q Mexico nor in accordance with the laws of the
oneo states ms Is one PROOF ina, the military power
ala mol heh recognise either Mexican law or United States
law and iha me only law recognised was the law Of ns
sns, o' VA ouet wous, U.s., .hs Jaw when sensray con-
AZ ;, - ~ wa AUG on"ious VIRUS "asn
We do no, know the nron., mode 81 co,.,,,;o !,
az a no. h now o PiGPs. 'hoae % Sohsutins an a.
@ .,.a Il, H. s "a o ~. ~ 10 ~ NOV WA. since
o ~ t ,S .. as osen .ae ony cya
o,ncet ,esos he oy ine ay goverhneot and we
NOV urine na. tne I'ay gosefnmen. mas neheI been
no ~ .ne manned % pace Oh iher
M o.,sd h r. ,, o~ ma - hss. ,ne'e oncen
,i ~ ,hs w. - $1,000 Luz 10 ao ua suos'
d ts - i.. e. - ~. peorrs, ~ a,y even,
iav lor Thai IN " e;,.r nrovass r ,hs,, sc,i ~ s
peopje or appoiutment bv tbe governor y 'A'
enforce he Mexican laws Tbev have never hseo coasi
ent or decided In ,be en- N ~ any au sycan, IN,
nTnpted by their good id0ment = of =, .,ics =, ca
pidy The people IN the counlry have b.en enrsv A.
inc mercy OF those ami IN anna s
sacr.d ybts OF citizens Ia We b.eo mos, ~ i.ssd
and public funds and property squsndered by ihem q,
ihe czsns of san Ffanci SEQ can abundan,,v ss,,fy
Avain 10 so far as we Know uoder : y.n.r.i isw of
Mexico every town an adjoining uact
Of country called "Puebo lands" This land IL liable
occupied by any citizen will improve and live On
II, Of spec fled dimensions the case OF the Pa
eblo de San Jose acade had these lands surveyed nio
,.,eo IN the name OF be IA oa, S es ar
power then interfere and say that Fundamental Mexican
laws could and should be abro9ated by 20 inferior
powerf
Under another Mexican law relating 10 Pueblos citizen
was entitled to purchase Of the town one ot OF ss ya
sauare for nominal price, on the condition thai he fenced
in and erected building il within year from
elected In this by order of Col Ma,on was 20 sbo
this The military power did not then seem to have
the regard of Mexican law thai now
has, for il did not a ,approye of the proceed,ng
It,d., the military yove,n,oan, ar 90, 49, H., ar
Ger Ind ocepared ana pr,n.d WIN ma If al - ca m.
he,,er S,vern,nent OF Califni, T h,oL m
to psge. and was sa id 10 embrace the oneoa sa,ar,
of Mexican law applicable 20 the country M IN. mr OF h,
conquest Il was issued from the press few day. before
Mason never pobshed nor atsm pted TO enforce tbos
laws Here hel is another proof 6at be m it,y nowet
bav. peye, a nped 10 enforce M.sicsn I,y. Tbiv hsd
- - e