The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF MIR. DICKINSON,
or NEW YORK,
On establishing a government for California.

NEW YORK,
On establishing government for California
IN senate or THE UNITED STATES February as, 1sae-
Theelv and diplomatic appropriation bill having been
reported TO the Senate iron the Committee Of the
Whole, and the question being on concurring in the
amendment OF MIR WALKER in relation to the Terri,orie,
acquired IRON Mexico,
Mr. DICKINSON said: do not forget, Mr.. Pres
dent, do | intend the country shall forget tha
more than six months have rolled away since the Senate
after mature deliberaoa and full debate, passed bill
erecting efficient civil governments the territories oil
New Mexico and California and sent il TO the House OF
Representatives for concurrence where il still repose.
upon the table Enacted on though, by the joint rules
the two Houses, IT has vitality AT this had at the last
session. and needs ouly the of that branch
and the signature OF the President, to become a
law. Unier these circumstances, had | been left
to consult my own wishes, | would have taken no
further steps until the immediate representatives Of the
people should, in their wisdom, so far sympahza
with the necessitous condition OF the territories in
question: and the demands Of the people throughout the
Union, as to act upon this bill which sent them, and
either pass il il with amendments eject alto
gcther The responsibility OF leaving these territories
without government has heretofore rested with the popu-
lar branch, and there would have left it; for
den nothing will pass there unless contains some
element of dscord which cannot and ought 10 receive
the sanction of the Senate But other senator's whose
hopes more sanguine than my own, in view OF the
peculiar and alarming circumstances have thought prop
10 make further Efforts and TO that end have brought
forward various propositions for the consideration OF the
Senate; some giving temporary, and some more per
manent government for the territories and among them
that of the senator from Wisconsin, Mr.. WALKER
under consideration. Ii is at The close of the SEES
ssn and the last hope Of providing government rests
in this amendments for i is not adopted nothing else
on this subject will be- 1t well came as an offering Of
peace from that young and cherished State which has
Just been admitted to the Union, and her senator who
offers it, for his patriotic devoon entitled only to
the thanks Of his constituents, but To the graeiu &C
Acknowledgements of the whole people of the Union.
These territories, with the inhabitants residing therein
need not say, were recently transferred by foreign
government the United States under treaty. of peace
We have taxi them from their former government if
government 1t can be called, to our protecting arms and
since II is our Practice to fashion governments for our
territories, we admonshed by every consideration
that can Influence human action, to extend TO them that
security OF llte liberty, and property which coas,u
ton guarantees 10 the hunbiest American citizen The
amendment under consideration atains this end and.
although would have preferred il in another place and
IN another iorm II being thus or nothing, have cheer
fully yielded all objection either TO form substance
and shall vote hereafter have before. with view 10
enact ii into a law. And crave the indulgence of the
Senate for a few moments while | state the reasons
which influence mean indulgence I would not have
sought. but for the somewhat extraordinary and as
think, inconsistent reasons taken against by my honor
able colleague The leading objection urged in this re-
gard s that II confers too much power upon the Eyecu-
tive and although my colleague processes repose high
confidence in the distinguished individual who is soon 10
be invested with the responsibility of the executive unc
tons he declares he Will commit TO the hands of no Chief
Magistrate powers so extensive and penary. At the
last session bill was under consideration comforting
colleague opposed and voted against for other
Under other and ordinary circumstances should regard
proposition OF this kind with disavor; but peculiar
emergency has arisen in history demanding prompt
and decisive measures, and for one prepared
with corresponding action. Ihave no honey phrases
forthe ear OF the incoming President 1t is enough ior
that have done him no injustice, in thought, word
deed Ii he IS interested TO know sentiments concern.
Ing him, he will best learn them by the manner in which
shall discharge the relations in which we soon 10
placed and shall jadge OF him by his public and off
cIal conduct For all the purposes of this question:
will not inquire upon what is cast the pow and
responsibilities OF the Executive nor by what portion of
the people elected shall regard him only the great
ami honored agent o! the American people upon him
such shall seek to devove the duties. AMI ia him as
such shall conhde for their discreet and udcios exe-
cise holding hun at all tunes, those whose he
Is will hold him, TO most rigid and severe accounta-
bry He IS clothed by the constitution with the whole
power OF the army and navy OF the United States, OF
winch he IS commandment chief, and that capacity
will WELD for the preservation OF order in these terrific
nes all that Is arbitrary and despotc institutions
and fear not to mitigate the go of this sangunary code
by substituting the constitution for the sword the minister
0. Justice Tor the bayoneed soldier, and the rectfyng
influences Of the common law for military rule It's
merely permitting the President temporarily. and unt
congress shall make further provisions through ey and
constitutional agencies, 10 extend TO the people civil
stead OF military government for the purpose of en-
forcing the performance of contracts of Furnishing crime
and Tor the preservation OF social order And when its
popuety rendered obvious by circumstances of such
extreme urgency, shall favor it with my whole heart
let who viii oppose, and Tor whatever reasons, alleged
That government of opinion and law is superior 10 its
moral influences to government OF force. Without de-
scening to details tedious they prohess ii is
sufficient for my purpose TO say that the amendment un
ger consideration IS the in substance as the laws
by which Florida and Louisiana successfully gov.
erned Tor number OF years after their acquisition,
spectvey, by the United States Tney were acquired as
were New Mexico and California, with a foreign popua
uon Under this executive torn of government prospect
attended them they were admitted into the Union as
equal members OF the conle!eracy, and no detriment
zane 10 either government people II far easier to
.as ever ana I.upy objections against any and every
opoaoon which can be suggested, than to procure the
passage OF some reasonable measure which will give
law and protection 10 those which have neither.
But my colleague, in detailing his for opposing
this amendment has employed of the strongest
gnnens in lis favor reasons which doubtless induced
s introduction IN this form by the who moved
a. lie reminds us that the Inhabitants residing there
ue fauhcaon OF the treaty were semi barbarous
no could neither read write speak, understand
language; that they utterly uDacquainted with the
character OF our institutions, and have OF the
ua qualhcatons OF ireemen that the temporary nhabt
aus and those who have migrated there many of
u''n deserlers IRON the army and navy-outcass and
aVetuers IRON all parts OF the world OF the most des
teate and abandoned character, attracted thlther by
pIi' OF avarce, without the moral restraints which up
oa civilized communities, and that the bonds OF
are virtually dissolved And yet when this the last
nope oil extending them protection, in the breath
ghs against giving them temporary government
peculiarly suited to their anomalous condition. and strong
enough 10 hold in check the violence and anarchy which
% aarmngy prevail there, lest 1t may not be, word for
Woid and letter for letter, other territorial govern
lhent at some other time and under other crcum
aces has been and lest, too, more power may be em
porary contded to ,Ae President than ordinarily would
oe prudent or desirable. lie tells this people mus
pass through the process OF fermentation, to employ h
oWn term, before they will be qualified discharge