The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-02-02
Washington, January 21, 1850.

tied and viii be felt
Washington, January 21, 1850.
To the Hosese Of Representatives.,
of the United States:
l transmit to the house of representatives, in an
swer to a resolution of that body, passed on the
8Ist of December last, the accompanying reports
of heads of departments which contain all the Of
fetal information in possession of the executive ask
ed for bv the resolution.
On coming into Office found the military COZ.
mandant of the department of California exercising
the functions of civil governor in that territory and
left as was to act urt3c the treaty of Guadalupe
Iidalgo without the aid Of aRy Legislative provision
in establishing government in that territory,
thought it best not to disturb that arrangement,
made under my predecessor, until congress should
take some action on that subject therefore did
not interfere with the powers of the military
mandant who continued to exercise the functions
of civil governor as heretofore but made no such
appointment conferred no such authority, and have
allowed no increased compensation to the COM
naandant for his services
With view to the faithful execution of the trea-
ty, far lay in the power of the executive and
to enable congress act at the present session with
as full knowledge and as little difficulty as possible
all matters of interest in these territories sent
the honorable Thomaa Butler King as bearer of
dispatches to California, and certain officers to
California and New Mexico, whose duties are par
ticularly defined in the accompanying letters of in
struction addressed to them severally by the prop
er department.
did not hesitate to express to the people of
those territories my desire that each territory should
if prepared to comply with the acquisitions of the
constitution of the United States form plan of a
state constitution and submit the same to congress-
with a prayer for admission into the Union as
state; but did not anticipate, suggest author
ize the establishment of any such government with
out the assent Of congress, nor did authorize any
government agent officer to interfere with, or
ercse any influence control over the election of
delegates, or over any convention, in making or
modifying their domestic institutions, or any 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 originate solely with
themselves; that while the executive of the Uni
ted States was desirous to protect them in the for
nation Of any government republican in its charac-
ter, to be at the proper time submitted to congress-
yet was to be distinctly understood that the plan
of such government must at the same time be the
result of their deliberate choice, and originate
with themselves. without the interference of the
executive.
am unable to give any information as to laws
passed by any supposed government in California,
Of any census taken in either of the territories
mentioned in the resolution as l have no informa-
ton on the subjects.
As already stated, I have not disturbed the ar
rangements which 1 found had existed under my
predecessor.
In advising an early application by the people of
these territories for admission states act
uated principally by earnest desire to afford to
the wisdom and patriotism of congress the oppor-
t,,ri Of Of nd
dssensions among the people of the q. States
Under the constitution every state has the right
of establishing, and from time to time altering, its
municipal laws and domestic institutions independ-
emily of every other state and of the general gov
ernment subject ouly to the prohibitions and guar
anees expressly set forth in the constitution of the
United States. The subjects thus left exclusively
to the respective states were not designed or ex-
pected to become topics of national legislation
STILL under the constitution congress has power
make all needful rules and regulations respecting
the territories of the United States, every
QUESTION of territory has led to discussions the
question whether the system of involuntary servi
tude which prevails in many of the states should
should not be prohibited in that territory The
periods of excitement from this cause which have
heretofore occurred have been safely passed. but
during the interval of whatever length which may
eapse before the admission of the territories ceded
by Mexico as states it appears probable that SINH
lar excitement may prevail to an undue extent
Under these circumstances l thought, and still
think, that it my duty to endeavor to put it in
the power of congress, by the admission of Califor
MIA and New Mexico as states to remove all occa-
sion for the unnecessary agitation of the public
mind.
1t is understood that the people of the western
part of California have formed plan of state
constitution and will soon submit the same to the
Judgment of congress, and apply for admission as
state This course their part, tho in accordance
with, was not adopted exclusively in consequence
of any expression of my wishes, inasmuch as meas
ures tending to this end had been promoted by the
officers sent there by my predecessor, and were al
ready in active progress of execution before any
communication from me reached California If the
proposed constitution shall when submitted to