Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-08-14

they may the value of It's talk about ''ndh-nerpe'-
ton .
But the same article dE.the great Democratic 'or-
gan contains other matter for anmadversion 1t
says: t
"Havmg found that the Supreme Court recognised the
validity OF the lanes which existed in Louisiana preyds
its annexation to the United States the cabinet afEfns
that the ciDL government which existed in California I'M
der the Mexican dominion remains in full force and virtue
since the annexation OF that country to the United States
The wide difference between government and the laws
which that government enact IS entirely overlooked
by the wise whom General Taylor has gathered
around him"
Here is at once a full admission of the correct
ness of the principle upon which the administration
has acted with regard 10 California, and substan-
tia confession of the groundlessness of the Unions
assault. Let it be marked, that the ua1idy Of the
laos, ehich existed in California previous 10 as
annexation, is conceded The principle, then,
is acknowledged But there is "wide differ
ence, it seems, ''between government and the
laws which that government may enact" There
may be a difference but it has no reevance to the
case. The question is, not as to future, but as to
present laws. Admit the validity of the Mexican
laws, and you necessarily justify General Taylor
for carrying them into effect. 1t is his duty TO sus-
tain the civil, by the military, arm, wherever there
is necessity for the nerpositen. The laws of Cali
onia declare that the military commandant shall be
odcio Governor and Gen. Riley has therefore as
sumed the functions of Governor. They prescribe
also the whole organization of civil government,
and the administration has done nothing more than
instruct Gov Riley to call upon the people to per-
feet that organization, until they can obtain from
| Congress more satisfactory one. Seduous to
| consult their incinations, and deferring to their
natural right republican citizens to fashion their
own government, provided it be consistent with the
constitution, the President has invited them to meet
in popular convention and there construct either a
Territorial or State constitutions as to them shall
seem best
| Before leaving this subject, we may appropriate
| ly mention that Mr.. Calhoun, in the same speech
from which we have quoted, admitted the principle
that the laws of conquered or acquired country
remain in force until they are altered by the new
sovereign, except far they are in conflict with
that sovereign's fundamental aw-and this excep-
ton has been carefully recognised in Gen. Riley s
instructions.
"Itis true" said Mr.. Calhoun, "he municipal laws OF
the Territory inconsistent with the condition and
tue OF political SYSTEM would according to the wrl-
tiers the laws OF CHd1geu,
matter OF right but merely suerance, and between the
inhabitants of the Territory order to avoid state OF
anarchy, before they be brought under our laws"
The Unions article concludes with some sus-
picious predictions of the bad consequences which
it thinks likely to result from the measures of the
administration in California. 1t declares "there are
good and sufficient reasons to apprehend confusion
strife and bloodshed the Pacfc;" and had the
people of California been left to themselves, call
would have been well, but since that dictation, no
one can fail to apprehend tempest" We cannot
but think the "tempest' would have been far more
agreeable to some of the opposition, than the fair
weather which the latest advices assure prevailed
| in California