Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-07-06

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beach OF Jamestown we have gone making Governments
wherever they wanted neither asking nor permitting any
military interposon. II is the first time in our history that
the sword has been thrown into the SCALE and the people have
been taught by military authority what they ought do
This of things demands prompt and immediate action
on our part There is first step in every thing When
paused upon the Rubcon contemplating his own fate
and the destiny Of Rome he had already prepared for his
terpse by long series of looking his ag
grandzement and his counys overthrow. His first step had
been taken long before.
With respect to California, say again that Gen. Riley
had not the slightest legal authority for what he did in
the people of tina. country
ton. This whole proceeding was assumption Of
power, and as such not to be justified But the present
is stronger than that Congress now in
sion, and is anxiousy occupied with the discussion Of all
the topics arising out of this great sutjec-and this
perfectly well known to the officer who undertakes 10
supersede our action by action of his The po-
ltca and geographical questions connected with New
Mexico far more difficult than those which affected
California. The population of the latter was larger than
that of of the States Of the Union. II was COM
posed in great degree OF American citizens, able to
conduct their affairs the fellow citizens they had
left behind them; and there no vexed question of
boundary, as there was no conermnous State with which
they could interfere. But the situation of New Mexico
is entirely different The of her population,
pable of conducting State Government is represented
far inferior to that of any State ever admitted into the
Union and their moral and intellectual condition is
presented to be such would necessarily render
ton very cautious IN such grave question. And, be-
sides these difficulties, there still another growing out
Of the disputed boundary with Texas How it is possible
to create State Government in New Mexico, whose
hony should extend Of the Rio Grande, without
the previous adjustment Of this boundary line do
undertake include the people east of that
within the population Of which the State is be
formed decide by that very act far de-
eide that Texas has claim to extend her limits to the
Rio Grande and thus we attempt to settle question
rely beyond jurisdiction Now, all this this military Of
HCer hae1 afac hoao ocfaI nf
Congress, and superseded it by his own.
Mr.. SEWARD. I still al a loss to perceive the diff
ference between the case OF New Mexico and that Of Cao
MA Congress- it is tue is in session but Congress
had been in session for two TERMS for the whole period Of the
3Oh Congress- and had been occupied with the subject of
providing Government for California well New Next
and only during Of Congress that the peo
pie of California assembled and sent here constitution. The
whole difference, then, is, that Congress actually in
sion in the case and had adjourned taken in
the other. II is in the and half dozen in the
other. The principle is precisely the The SEN
ator from Michigan says that il is the right of the people, whe
her ten ten thousand assemble without previous law
to form government-so understand him. He says there
must be beginning somewhere. agree that is their right
to assemble they have assembled and believe that
nobody complained Of when they assembled in New Next
and by their Convention, sent here application for the
establishment of Territorial Government Nobody object
ed to that application. II went for nothing it amounted TO
nothing, sanctioned by Congress That is precisely
what will happen in this The holding OF another con-
vention, and the framing of constitution, Conditional
preliminary acts, inchoae acts acts OF no validity force till
sanctioned by Congress Now if the people have that right
assemble frame constitution, which the honorable SEN
ator comedies that they have how the transaction affected
by the fact that the officer charge OF the Territory under
command of the President of the United States, sanctioned
that proceeding If good without bis interference it is
the for his and appreciation He had the
ton of the precedent which had gone before in the Of
California, and hold that he justified by the precedent
With regard the danger of such transaction, amounts
simply to this The military of Territory OF the
United States instead Of opposing the desire OF the people to
establish constitution and procure admission into the Union
avors instead of insisting upon continuing the exercise OF
military power, he avos that constitutional proper, and usual
method by which the military relieved from further power,
and the people, in the customary form prescribed by the
stuton, it to themselves see in this OF
The analogy the passing Of the Rubcon will be
applicable when the military governor of the Territory or the
project home the Capitol followed by his army and
proceeds e1pe the Senate the Congress- and to subve
The constitution but it strikes strange misappicaon
of that transactions memorable in history, to apply 1t TO
military governor who esgnshs power altogether to the
pe favos the establishment by them Of constitutional
ernmen and thus reduces himself from the rank and power
OF project TO the rank Of private citizenship
Mr. CASS. Mr.. President have but few words to
add and then will leave the subject the Senate and with
perfect confidence their decision The Senator from New
York (Mr SEwARp) seeks to justify this military and civil
governor he calls himself the ground that his acts have
been done in good way, and for good object. Now s
am not to be driven from my purpose by any such
ing is the very reasoning adopted by the defenders OF
desposm all ages Of the world Have you not they say,
good Governments paternal Government-under which
you happy and prosperous And who would exchange
the right If segovernmen and subject themselves to des
poc authority, because the despo n the chance of events
happens not to be bad as is sometimes seen II IS
the principle involved in this subject which renders so i'm
poran 1t the total of authority, from beginning to
end. This officer had right to issue that poclama
ton than he the people of Virginia. call
ing them together to elect King And to be driven
trsm necessary inquiry and proper legislative TO
prevent the renewal OF such military assumption,
the assertion that this exercised for good pu
pose AWAY with such doctrine! large portion Of the
abuses tina, have afflicted the world have had their origin such
a
With respect to California repeat that the proceedings
of General Riley we're absolutely void from beginning to end;
and no man here will venture say they not But 50
respects the practical result in the formation OF consl
tuition that is different question That result does not de.
pend the least possible degree upon the measures OF Gem
era Riley The people together and all that was then
done done by their authority They formed their con-
sution adopted it. and pe.ent admission
into the Union.
As the Senator from New York to have msunder-
stood nv views will repeat that any portion Of our people
have right when left without goyernment-thrown like
waif upon the great political sandhave right to establish
for themselves and this is point from which am not
b. driven and which don't intend to argue with any one
But an far from saving belle ing that in every such case
they have right form State Government, and to claim
admission into the Union That must depend upon the cir
cumstancs of their position, POLITICAL moral and geograph
ca aud upon the ultimate views of Congress Cetainiy
with the information now before me, believe thai ierri
orial Government 10 the proper for New Mexico, and
that until the difficulties have already enumerated are re-
moved we cannot admit her into the Union What subse-
auent information may bring about don't undertake to say
Mr. HOUSTON Mr.. Pnsdsnt--
Mr. FoOrE. believe, sir, that am entitled to the
- 49, Ca.