The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-02-01


Diary with Texas by q judicial decision. Al
present, however, no judicial tribunal has
the power Of deciding that question, and il
remains for Congress to devise some mode
for its adjustment. Meanwhile ! submit ia
Congress the question, whether it would be
expcdent before such adjustment to esrnb
lish territorial government. which, by M
GLIDING the district SO claimed. would pinc
'calIy decide the question adversely I" the
State of Texas. or. by excluding 1t, would
decide it in her favor. In my opinion such
course would not be rxpedlent especially
as the people of this Territory still enjoy
Tho bencti. and protection of their municipal
laws, originally derived from Mexico. and
hnve q military force stationed there 10 pro-
tect them against tho Indians. 1t is uni
doubtrdly true that the property, lives. lIb
critics, and religion of the people Of New
Mexico, are better projected than they ever
were before the treaty of cessi"n.
Should Congress, when California shall
prcsen, herself for incorporation into the
Union. annex o condition TO her admission
as State, affecting her domestic instiln'
lions. contrary to The wishes of her pc"p'e,
end even compel her temporarily 10 comply
with it. yet the State could change her Com
.t,ution a, any time after admission, when
10 her it should se.m expedient. Any at
tempt to deny to The people of the State the
RICH, Of self'govetnment in matter which
peculiarly affects themselves. will intnllibly
be regarded by them as an invasion of their
r.ght>; and, upon the principles laid down
IN our own Declaration of Independence,
they will certainly be sustained BY the great
mass Of the American people. To assert
that they are conquered people. and must,
as n State, submit to the will Of their con-
qurrors. in this regard, will meet with no
cordial response among American freemen
Great numbers Of them are native citizens
of the United States. not inferior 10 the rest
Of our counlrymen in intelligence and pa
triu,ism, and no language Of menace to re.
train them in the exercise of an undUubted
right, substantially guaranteed to them by
the treaty of cession itself, shall ever b.
uttered BY M, or encouraged md sustained
by persons acting under my authority. 1t
is to be expected that in the residue Of the
Territory cedcd to us by Mexico, the pep,
pie residing there will. at the time of their
settle all questions Of domestic policy TO suit
themselves.
No material inconvenience will result
from the want. for short period, Of gov.
eminent established by Congress over that
part of the Territory VIII CHI lies eastward of
the new State of California; and The reasons
for my opinion that New Mexico viii at no
very distant period ask for admission INTO
the Union. are founded on unofficial infor.
nation, which | suppose is common to all
who have cared to make inquiries on that
subject.
Seeing. then, that the question which now
excilrs such painful sensations, in the coun.
Try will, in the end, cer'nin'y be settled BY
tho silent effect of causes independent OF
the action OF Congress. again submit to
your wisdom tho policy recommended in my
annual message of awaiting the sanitary
operation of those causes, believing that we
shall thus avoid the creation Of gcogra phical
parties, and secure the harmony of ferIng
80 necessary to the beneficial action of Dur
political system. Connected as the Union
is with The remembrance of past happiness,
the sense of present blessings, and the hope
of future Icace and prosperity, every dlc,ntc
Of wisdom, every feeling Of duty, and every
emotion of patriotism tend to inspire fidelity
and devotion to it. and ndmonish us eau.
liOusly 10 avoid any unnecessary con,rover.
sy which can either cndanger il or impair
lis strength, the chief element of which is
to be found in the regard and affection Ct
the people for each other. Z. TAYLOR.