The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-07
California.

California.
Gen Taylor, whilst he was candidate before the peo
ple pledged himself to avoid any attempt to control the
action of Congress" We protested against the doctrine
al the time. We considered il surrender of the const
utional functions of the Executive especially in regard
to the veto power; and it struck as being ndiscreet
since important occasions might arise in the adnlnstra
ton of the government which would require different
course. And what has already proved 10 be the fact
That the day before he became President Gen Taylor
did nlepose for the purpose of assisting in organizing
government for California.
The National Inteligencer of Thursday morning now
usties his inerposon, and asks if his "anxieiy on the
subject was not patriotic, and his nteposton was not
only usfable but imperative. We agree with the In
eigencer and only regret that Gen Taylor did not make
his nerposition comparative" and efficient; that he
did not throw his weight decidedly into the scale
with Mr.. Walkers amendment, il was sufficiently evil
dent that other proposition could then ION the last day
of the SESSION. be at all available.
But we Law the whole article in the National Intelligent
Ger before readers. 1t scarcely expect to satisfy
the uraism of the New York Evening Post, is it ex
acty lust to attribute Mr. Webster the exclusive merit
of extending the revenue laws to California, whatever
credit may be given him for his agency in stripping the
general appropriation bill of the amendment OF the House
But there two other expressions in the article which
are too vague to excite attention, and too por
tentous not to produce anxiety What does the In
tellgencer mean by the responsibilities of supplying by
some means or other the absence Of Legislative prouion "
Or what does it mean by saying that it is an embar
RAISING question to decide what is in the power of the
Executive to do, if anything, under the constitution to
remedy the omission of Congress- and that "humanty
| 10
bHie surround it, and we doubt not that it will be me
with wisdom as well as frmness?" We do not under
take to say that there positively such means, or
hastily to condemn the assumption of any responsibility
which humanity itself may demand but we confess
somewhat curious to the solution of the problem
If the condition of California should present still more
embarrassing queslion"-f these difficulties should
cumuaie upon its hands, then it might become ques
ton for the wisdom of the President to consider whether
not best to leave the people of California TO establish
the best practicable provisional government and TO
courage them TO carry out such an organization; or if
that experiment should fail to guard the lives and proper
ty of her people, to appeal to extra session OF Con-
gress itself for additional power AT all events, beg
leave to remind the National Inteigencer of the violent
repeated and unjust attempts it made to asen upon the
last administration the charge of usurping the power OF
establishing governments for the territories Re.
member, the has gone and with it the power of con-
trolling the territory which had conquered by
arms.
From the National ntellgencer.
THE CALIroaMA ouEsrloN.-We regret that explana
ton of General Taylor's in regard government
for California unsatisfactory the New York Evening
Post Although it appears that the General was guiless
the specific fault laid at his door by the Post still he
be let off Blame must be imputed 10 him somehow. Wa,
he in favor OF Walkers amendment. he Wa.
he in favor OF Mr. Webser's, he wrong Was he ir
favor of either any which would suppress anarchy
blood he'd provide the law for the new
territory, still he wrong The Post, fear, is deter
mined not TO be pleased II raises a new objection
and desires to know why General Taylor should have med
died in the matter at all he yet President and
altogether o.cious in him to attempt any influence
shaping the legislation oil Congress 1t is that the
General not President the 3D. of March, but he
to become President the day, and him and his ad
minstraon devove the embarrassments of leaving
California without any civil government and the spons
biites of supplying, by other the absence
Legislative provision Was his anxiety the subjec
patriotic and his interpoton justiable-nay, impera
tive! Every days intelligence from the Pacific depicts
the deploabe of awlessness which exists in the
territory threatening indeed TO make it universal
of unbrded violence and boodshed yet rather than
these evils remeded the OF imperative
totally unnecessary declaration against saveryhe decla
ration in fact OF abstract principethe Post would
yield up the country all the horrors which cnsue
from the absence of legal authority Fortunately, by the
OF Mr. Webster through the last night Of the
session. and his vigilance the las hour, the laws
have been extended tho territory. eve sure
that the Post is satisfied with this there is anti
slavery proviso in the act) But what is in the power
the Executive do, ifeny thing under the constitution
remedy the omission Of Congress- and prevent the evils
which the country, is embarrassing questions
is which, foreseen by the President he endeavored
provide for; but failing in that, humanity itself demand:
that it be met in way, whatever responsibilities
round it, and doubt not that it will be with wisdom
as well as irmness.
The New Bedford Mercury (whig) presumes that the
next House of Representatives will be decidedly whig
"over all other parties and factions" "a position which is
not certain y and that the Senate, though decided
Ily democratic, will have democrats in it who "wil
make little opposition TO the present administration