The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-19
California.

Whilst the Opposition denounce every
measure of the Administration, traduce
the Cabinet, and Willy the President, the
policy of the Government is being justified
by results which promise peace at home
and secure respect abroad. Before the
objurgations Of the Locofoco press, in the
abduction affair, died upon the ear, Rey
has been wrested from Imprisonment and
brought back to the United States. Even
now thatthe swift and determined interfer-
ence of the Government has rescued Rey
from danger, the Locofoco organs cry aloud
for more belligerent measures, before the
| Spanish government has had an opportu-
nifty to avow or disavow the alleged act Of
It's consul. This indecent haste to find
fault results from the conviction, that il
they do not ''hurry themselves" in their
vocation they will lose an opportunity in
the success of wise and firm action.
We fndin the Baltimore american an ar
ticle illustrative of the necessity under
which tile Opposition labors TO be prompt
in denunciation, lest the fruits Of good ad-
mnistraGon confront them in their clamor.
If the Union had held off little longer,
delegates from California might have re-
piled to It's articles upon Executive usur-
pations, by unfolding constitution before
its bewildered gaze. That California will,
in all human probability, present herself
before the doors of Congress for admission
into the family of States, is source of
congratulation and JOY to all who do not,
like the Union, grieve to see matters of
sectional irritation and national danger
withdrawn from the hustings, lest, IN the
quiet and haPPino"s nf the country, dema-
gogues and disorganizers grow seedy and
fall into contempt. The .4merican says
| CALIFoRSIA.-The copious details of the news
from California published in Saturday and ycstcr
days Ameicdn, gave a great deal of interesting
information from that country. The accounts of
discoveries of gold depostes and of the general
abundance Of the precious metal all gratifying
enough; but the intelligence which is most pleas
ing and most important Is, that the people Of Cali
! fornia, In compliance with Gen. Riley's recon-
| mendations, are quietly and regularly proceeding
| TO form Convention with the view to the estab-
| ishment Of a Constitution and permanent system
of Government An application from California TO
be admitted into the Union as a State may be ex-
pected To follow a direct consequence Of the
doings Of the Convention.
| II may be worth while here TO note the unfortu-
nate luck of Gen. Tayor's fault finders, who seem
| doomed To have their thrown back into
their teeth by the force Of events which work out
silent but rcsstless vindicaton Of the Presidents
course. Gen. Taylor's order TO Cen Riley, in ac-
| 49, l. 4. A Il l. n
! proclamation and took the steps which re-
sulting in the establishment Of State government
in California, was styled by the late official journal
n " high- handed usurpaton." Columns were filled
! repeatedly with complaints at this assumption of
power. " 1t was so plain" says the Union, that
| Gen. Taylor had by that order exercised kngly
! prerogstives IN defiance Of the Constitution that
neither OF the Government organs in this city had
| the bardihood 10 defend his conduct. They evil
IDENTIFY saw that this illegal and unauthorized pro.
| cecding Of the Administration intended 10
| promote the interests Of the Wing party, by dis
| posing Of the slavery agitation without forcing
| General Taylor 10 disclose his sentiments ON tbs
Wilmot prOviso; and they doubtless approved ne
| movement on account Of the motive which prompt
| ed il, while they unwilling, even with their
settled contempt for the intelligence of the people
20 stultfy themselves before the country by under
taking 10 defend the Administration either by pre-
ccdents from our past history, or by arguments
| drawn from the nature Of our institutions, and
from the principles Of the Constitution
The course Of the Administration in the matter
here referred 10 never needed to be specially de-
fcnded-because no reasonable exception could be
taken " the step in question California was with
! out government, aud Congress had failed 10 es-
tablish one there-had failed to take any measures
even Tor the temporary preservation OF order and
the maintenance OF law in that territory. Gen.
Taylor, n President Of the United States, and also
as commander in-chief of the army and navy,
could not neglect bis duty because the two Houses
oi Congress bad failed In theirs. He could not
make new laws for California; but he could see TO
It that laws already existing there, adapted TO the
security Of life and property and pronotive of pub
nc order and tranquility, should be firmly en-
forced This he could do and this he has done
and TO the satisfaction of the country. There could
not be stronger rebuke to the pcevish i'll humor
which whines out its queruous invectives against
this proceeding of the Executive, than IL adj
mnstercd by the result now ascertained, Of that
very proceeding.
|