Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-08-19

" uASh WIS p0SoSS"Oo uho OSSePA~ ~S >>S"
Mexico by citizens Of New Mexico, at the
late Of the treaty, until definite line Of
boundary shall be established, and by COM
petent authority.
This assertion Of duty to protec. the peo.
Pile Of New Mexico from threatened yio-
|ence or from seizure to be carried into
Texas for trial for alleged offences, against
Texas laws, does not at all include any
claim Of power on the part Of the Execu-
tive 10 establish any civil or military gov
ernment within the territory; that power
belongs exclusively to the legislative de.
partment, and Congress is the sole judge Of
the time and manner Of creating or au-
thorising any such government; the duty
of the Executive is only the execution Of
laws and the maintenance Of treaties ac-
tually in force, and the protection Of all
the people of the new states in the enjoy
ment Of the rights which these treaties and
laws guaranty. 1t is exceedingly desira-
Bile that no occasion should arise Tor the
exercise Of the powers thus vested in the
President by the constitution and the laws.
with whatever mildness those powers might
be executed, or however clear The case Of
necessity. Yet consequences might nev-
ertheless follow. of which no human So
gacity can forsee either the evils or the end.
Having thus laid before Congress the com.
munication Of his Excelency the Cover
nor Of Texas, and the answer thereto,
have made such observations as | have
thought the occasion called for. Disputed
constitutional obligations may arise in the
future progress of things, and may devolve
on me duty 10 be performed. | hope |
shall not be regarded as stepping aside
from the line of my duty, Notwithstanding
that | am aware that the subject Is before
both Houses.
l express my deep and earnest convic.
ton of the importance Of an immediate de-
cision or arrangement or settlement Of the
question of The boundary Of Texas and the
territory of New Mexica. All considera-
,ions of justice, general expediency, and
domestic tranquility call for this. 1t seems
10 be in its characte: and by position the
first, or one Of the first, Of the questions
growing out Of the acquisition Of Califor-
MIA and New Mexico, and now requiring
decision. No government can be esiab-
lished for New Mexico, either state or ter.
ritory, until it shall be first ascertained
what New Mexico is, and what are her
limits and boundaries. These cannot be
fixed or known till the line Of division be-
tween her and Texas shall be ascerlained
and established, and numerous and weighty
reasons conspire, in my judgement, to
show that this division line should be es.
tablished by Congress with the assent of
the government of Texas in the first place.
This seems by far the most prompt mode
of processing by which the end can be ac-
complished. Ifjudicial proceedings were
resorted to, such proceedings would Eeces-
sarily be slow, and years would pass by,
in all probability, before the controversy
could be ended.
So great delay in this is TO be avoided
if possible. Sach delay would be every
way inconvenient, and might be the occa-
sion of disturbances and collisions For
the same reason would, with the utmost
Difference 10 the wisdom of Congress, ex.
press doubt Of the expediency OF the ap-
pointment of commissioners and Of an ex.
animation, estimate and award Of idemnity
10 be made by them; this would be but a
species of arbitration which might last ss
long as suit Of law. So far as am able
to comprehend, the general facts are
all known, and Congress is as capable Of
deciding on i, justly and properly now as it
probably would be after the report Of the
commissioners. The claim Of title on tho
part of Texas appears TO Congress to be
well founded in whole or in part. 1t is in
the competency Of Congress to offer her an
indemnify for surrender Of that claim in
a case like this. surrounded as it is by many
cogent considerations, all calling for ami
cable adjustment and immediate settlement.
The Governms snt of the United States
would De justified. in my opinion, in allow
ing an idemnity to Texas, not unreasona-
BILE or extravagant, but fair, liberal, and
awarded in a just spirit Of accommodation.
| think no event would be hailed with more
qualification by the people of the United
States than the amicable adjustment Of
questions OF difficulty which have now for
so long time agitated the country, and
occupied, TO the exclusion of other subjects,
the time and attention of Congress.
Having thus freely communicated the
result of my own reflections on The most
advisable mode Of adjusting the boundary
question, shall nevertheless cheerfully
acquiesce in any other mode which the
wisdom Of Congress may devise; and in
conclusion | repeat my conviction, that
every consideration Of the public interest
manifests the necessity Of provision by
Congress for settlement of this boundary
question, before the present session be
brought to a close. The settlement of
other questions connected with the Same
subject, within the same period, is greatly
TO be desired, but the adjustment of this ap-
pears to me TO be in the highest degree i'm
portant. In the train OF such an adjust.
ment, we may well hope, by their good
feeling, there will follow return Of har-
mony and good will, an increasing attach
mont to the Union, and the general salts.
faction Of this country.
MILLARD FILLMORE.
Washington. Aug. 6, 1850.