Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1850-08-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
On the Texas Question.

juno last, addressed 10 inc "a" Its'oeN "
the United States, which, not having been an
swered b. him, came to nv hands on his
death, and also transmit. copy OF the an
swer which | have felt u 10 be my duty To
cause 20 l., made 20 that coIu~onlcs,ion.--
Congress will perceive that the Governor OF
Texas officially states, that, by authority OF
the Legislature Of that State, he despatched a
special Commissioner, with full power and In
s,ructions IN extend the civil jurisdiction OF
the State over the unorEanIzcd counties Of
III Paso, Worth. Preside aud Santa Fe, sit
ualed ou II. Northwestern limits he proceeds
,o say, that the Commission had reported TO
HIN IN an official form, that the military OH
ccr employed in the service Of the United
States, stationed at Santa fe, in,crPosed, adj
vcrscly, wi,hihc Inhabitants, TO the iulhlmeni
81 hi. Object, and in favor 81 the establishment
OF a separate State Government, cas-, oi the
Rio Grabde, within the righiful limits Of the
Staic ofTcxas. Thcsc four counties, which
Texas proposes tn establish and Organize, BE-
ing within her own jurisdiction, extend over
the whole Of the Territory cas-, Of the RIO
GranJc, which Ia. hc,a heretofore regarded
as an essential AND integral part 81 the depart
men, Of New Mexico, and actually governed
and possessed by her people until conquered
aud severed from the Republic Of Mexico by
the American anus. The Legislature OF
Texas has been called together Nv the Gov.
eruor Tor the purpose, as Is understood, OF
maintaining her claim to the territory east ri
the Rio GppJc, aud Of establishing over II
her own jurisdiction, aud her own laws by
forcc.
Thee pDc-v,lines Of Texas may we'll ar
rest the attention Of all branches Of the Gov.
eminent Of the United States and rejoice
iha, they occur while Congress Is vet N $50
sion. 4 crisi, may h. brought on which shall
summon the IWo Houses II Coucrss, aud SILL
morr dlrcily liz Executive Government, 10
an inu,ciaie performance Of their respective
duties under tie Constitution Of the United
States. The President Is constituted Com
mandcr.in-C h,cG uf ,hr Army AMI Navy, aBi
of thu Militia Of the several States when call
81 into the actual service - il,c United States.
The Constitution declares also, that he shall
take care tia, the laws b. faithful, executed,
aud that hc shall lIom time 10 time give 10
Congress inluunaliou of the State II the I'm
ION. CoNsrrss has power under the Cons'i.
tutlou ,o provide for calling on the militia I"
execute the laws Of the Union, and suitable
and appropriate acts OF Ionsicss have been
passed, IS yell for providing for calling forth
the militia a. Tor placing other suitable and
stI,cicn, means Ia the hands oi the President
TO enable him to dpcharr. The Constitutional
functions oi hi. oficc. The second section Of
the act Of tic gs,h Of February, 1905, declares
that =" wherever ih. laws II The Inltcd States
shall b. opTs-rd, or ib-,r execution "lsrurI'i
IN any State oG combinations ico powerful ~
h. suppressed by the Ordinary cours" of Judlc-
iAl proceedings u the power vested IA the
marshals, The President may call iorti' the
militia ~ hr A. may H. necessary TO suppress
such combinations. aud Ia cause the Laws In
h. duly executed. By the &C, Of March u
1907, u u provided " that in all cases Of OBJ
,,ruciion ~ tn laws, cit,rr OF tbs United
States OF any individual STATE OF Territory
when 1t is lawful for the Prcsidcut To call
forth the military ior the purpose Of causing
the laws to BE- duly executed, /, shall h. Law
ful for him to employ for the SANE purpUr"',
,uei, ,au ol The land or naval force Of the
United States as be shall Judge NECESSARY
Thcss several cnacimcns are now IN full
force. II therefore the laws Of the United
State. are opposed OF obs'rucicd ia any State
OF lcrn,or,, by combinations n-o powerful To
b. suppressed by the Judicial OF civil au,hori'
ties, and At becomes a ease m which u j. the
duiy of the Prcsiden, either 10 call oui the
militia, Or to employ th" military 81 naval
force Of the United States OF To do both, II IN
his judgement the cilgcncy OF the occasion
shall 20 require, hr the purPo-e OF suppress
lnr such combination, ihe constitutional duty
Of the Pr's'deu, Is plain and PcrcmP'ory -
The authority vested IN him by law lw the
performance Of this duty u clear and ample.
Texas as a STATE, is authorised TO maintain
her o~n laws ~ Ear a. they are not repuguan'
To- the constitution. Laws aud treaties Of The
United States To suppress Instruction against
her authority, and To punish those who com
mt treason against the STATE, according 10
the form, provided by her own Constitution
and her own laws. but this power !. local,
and coahhcd entirely within the limits Of Tex
as herself She can possibly confer 10 Az.
thority which can b. lawfully exercised b.
You'd h,r o-n boundary. Al this IL plain,
and hardly needs argument or elucidation.
II Texan militia, therefore, march into any
one Of tie other States, OF into any Territory
Of the Bnityi States, there to execute OF Gu
force any Law Of Texas, they become a, that
rnOa-en, trcspas.ers-lhey are no longer UNI
der tho protection Of any lawful authority,
and are to be regarded merely as in,ruders
aud Il within such State OF territory they OBJ
s,ruet any Law Of the United States, either by
force Of arms or mere power Of numbers, con-
st,uting such a combination as is too power
ful to be suppressed by the civil authority, the
Prcsiden, OF tho United States has M option
leli 10 him. bat is bound to obey the solemn
injunction Of the Constitution, and exercise
the high powers vested in him by tina, insiru-
men,, and by the acts Of Congress. Or, il
any civil posse, armed or una,ned, enter into