The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-02-02

congress, be found to be in compliance with the
acquisitions of the constitution of the United States,
earnestly recommend that it may receive the
sanction of congress.
The part of California not included in the pro-
posed state of that name is believed to be uninhab
tied, except in settlement of our countrymen in
the vicinity of Salt Lake
A claim has been advanced by the state of Tex
to very large portion of the most populous dis
trict of the territory formerly designated by the
name of New Mexico. If the people of New Mex
leo had formed plan of state government for
that territory as ceded by the treaty of Guadalupe
Hdalgo, and had been admitted by congress as a
state, our constitution would have afforded the
means of obtaining an adjustment of the question
of boundary with Texas by a Judicial decision At
present however no judicial tribunal has the power
of deciding that question, and it remains for cong
ress to devise some mode for its adjustment Mean
while submit to congress the question, whether it
would be expedient before such adjustment to es
tablish territorial government which, by includ-
ing the district so claimed would practically decide
the question adversely to the state of Texas, Or by
excluding it. would decide it in her favor. In my
opinion such course would not be expedient, espe-
ciay as the people of this territory still enjoy the
benefit and protection of their municipal laws, orig
inally derived from Mexico, and have a military
force stationed there to protect them against the
Indians It is undoubtedly true that the property,
lives liberties and the religion of the people of New
Mexico, are better protected than they ever were
before the treaty of the cesson.
Should congress, when California shall present
herself for Incorporation into the Union, annex a
condition to her admission as state affecting her
domestic institutions contrary to the wishes of her
people, and even compel her temporarily to comply
with it, yet the state could change her constitution
at any time after admission when to her it should
seem expedient. Any attempt to deny to the peo-
pie of the state the right of selfgovernment in
matter which peculiarly affects themselves will in
fallibly be regarded by them invasion of their
rights; and upon the principles laid down in our
Declaration of independence, they will certainly be
sustained by the great mass of the American peo-
pic. To assert thai they are conquered people,
aud must as state submit to the will of their con-
querors in this regard will meet with no cordial
response from American frcemen Great numbers
of them are native citizens of the United States,
not inferior to the rest of countrymen in intel
ligence and patriotism; and no language Of men,
ace to restrain them in the exercise of an undoubt-
ed right substantially garantied to them by the
treaty of cesson ITSELF shall be uttered by me,
or encouraged and sustained by persons acting
under my authority. 1t is to be expected that in
the residue of territory ceded to us by Mexico the
people residing there will, at the time of their in
COTpOEdllOu lulO OuIOu DIS d StdGGs SOGIlG XII
questions of domestic policy to suit themselves
No material Inconvenience will result from the
want, for short period, of government establish
ed by congress that part the territory which
lies eastward of the state of California; and
the reasons for my opinion that New Mexico will
at no distant period ask for admission into the
Union, are founded on an unofficial information,
which | suppose is common to all who have cared
to make inquiries on that subject.
Seeing, then, that the question which now ex-
cites such painful sensations in the country, will,
in the end. certainly be settled by the silent effect
of causes independent of the action of congress-
again submit to your wisdom the policy recon-
mended in my annual message of awaiting the sal
utary operation of those causes, believing that we
shall thus avoid the creation of geographical par
ties and secure the harmony of feeling necessary
to the beneficial action of our political system
Connected as the Union is with the remembrance
of past happiness. the sense of present blessings
and the hope of future peace and prosperity every
dictate of wisdom, every feeling of duty, and eve
ry emotion of patriotism tend to inspire fidelity and
devotion to it, and admonish US cautiously to
avoid any unnecessary controversy which either
endanger it or impair its strength, the chief ele-
ment of which is to be found in the regard and af
lection of the people for each other.
TAYLOR