The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-01-26
Message Of Presiicu! Taylor.
Relative 70 the California Affair.

srntatives in reply to q resolution cell
Ing for the instructions given by him to
she Hon T. Butler King, and other Gov.
rcnment employees in California
WAsulyaroN, Jan, 81, 1850.
To Me House Of Representatives. Of lie Y.
States.
transmit TO the House OF Representa-
tiyes. in answer to a resolution OF that
body; passed on the 3lst OF December
last, the accompanying reports OF heads
OF rspar,mtn.s, which contain all the Of
Gc,al information in the possession OF
the Executive asked by the resolution.
On coming into Office | found the mill
ta!v commandment Of the Department of
California exercising the tunct on of civil
government in that Territory; and left
rs was to act unde: the treaty OF Quad
aloupe Hidalgo, without the aid OF any
legislative provision in establishing
government in that Territory, ! thought
i, best not TO disturb that arrangement:
r,ade under my ptedec easor, Unit! Con-
gress should take some action on that
subject. ther fore did not interfere
with the powers Of the military COM
ant who continued to exercise the iunc-
tons of civil governor as before but
made no such ap ointment, conferred no
such authority and have allowed no in
creased compensation to the commandant
10. his services.
With a view to the faithful execution
OF the treaty, SO tar as lay in the power
Of the Executive, and TO enable Cong ess
TO act at the present session with as full
knowledge and as little difficulty as pos
sibIe on all matters Of interest IN these
Territories, | sent the Hon. Thomas But
le. King as bearer OF dispatches to Cali
,!ruia, aud certain officers to California
and New Mexico, whose duties are par
ticuarly defined in the accompanying
letters of instruction addressed to them
seveyally by the proper department.
Md not hesitate TO express TO the
people of those Territories my desire
That each Territory should, il prepared
10 comply with the acquisitions OF the
Constitution OF the United States, form
a plan of a State constitution, and sub
nit the same to Congress, with a prayer
1yr admission into the Union as a State,
lut did not anticipate, suggest, or au-
thorise the establishment of any such
government without the assent o: Com
, g"ess, nor did | authorize any govern
ment agrnt or officer 10 interfere with,
or exercise any influence or cont oil over
the election Of delegates, or over any
convention, in making or modifying
their domestic institutions, or anv Of the
provisions Of their proposed Constitution
On the contrary, the instructions given
by my orders were. that all measures of
domestic policy adopted by the people
Of California must orig nate solely with
themselves, that while the Executive of
the United States was DESTROYS to protect
them in the formation of any govern
laent republican in its character, TO be
ct the proper time submitted to Congress
Vet 1t was to be distinctly understood that
the plan OF such government must at
the same time he the result OF their own
deliberate choice; and originate with
themselves, without the interference of
the Executive.
am unable to give any information
Of laws passed by any supposed govern
ment in California, or OF any census Ia
ken in either OF the Territories mention
ed in the resolution, rs have no iLfor-
nation on those subjects.
As already stated. have not disturb
cd the arrangements which | found had
existed under my p edecessor.
In advising an early application by the
people OF these Territories for admission
as states | was actuated principally by
an earnest desire to afford to the wisdom
and patriotism Of Congress, the opportu-
nifty of avoiding occasions OF bitter and
angry discussions among the people of
the United States.
Under the Constitution every State
has the right of establishing. and from
time 10 tine altering, its municipal laws
and domestic institutions, independently
of every other State and OF tue General
Government, subject only to the prohbl-
tions and guarantees EXPIRE Esly Sc: forth
in the CONSTITUTE n OF the United States
The subjects thus left exclusively to the
respective States, We're not designed or
expected to become topics Irrational ag
itllion. Still, as untr the Constitution
Congress has power to make all needful
rules and regulations respecting the Ter
,itorles OF the United States, every new
acquisition of Territory has led to discus
sions on the question, whether the sys-
tenn voluntary servitude which pre-
walls in many of the States, should, or
should not be prohibited IN that Terrific
ry. The periods OF excitement from this
cause which have heretofore occurred
have been safely passed, but during the
interval OF whatever length which NAV
,lapse before the admission of the Terri
tories coded by Mexico as States. it an