Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-01-30

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Territorial Question.
The following message from President
Taylor is in response 10 certain resolu-
tons for Information concerning the Ter
ritory OF California. it, Government, &c.
II is an ampli6cation Of the recommenca-
ton in the annual messsge. in relation to
our newly acquired possessions. sugges-
ting distinct and specific method of adj
justing the difficult questions herewith
connected: ue ~Es-a lF -t.eza
WASHINGTON, January 81. 1850.
To me House Of Representatives. Of The
United .Staies:T
Transmit to the House Of Representa-.
tives, in answer to resolution OF that
body, passed on the 3lst OF December
last. the accompanying reports Of heads
of Departments, which contain all the Of
fetal information in the possession Of the
Executive asked for by the resolution.
On coming into office found the mill
tary commandment Of the department Of
California exercising the functions Of civ
il governor in that territory; and left as
" dS III act OboCi tiiC iiCuiS vi NsooAoIu
Hidalgo without the aid Of any icsisia-
tire provision in estab fishing a govern
ment in that Territory, | thought il best
not to disturb that arrangement. made un-
der my predecessor, until Congress should
take some action on that subject. ] there
fore did not interfere with the powers Of
Of the military commandant. who con-
tinued to exercise the functions of civil
governor as before. but made no such
appointment. conferred no such authori.
~, and have allowed no increased COM
pensation to the commandant for his SER
vices.
With a view to the faithful execution Of
the treaty. so far as lay in the power Of
the Executive, and to enable Congress to
act at the present session with as full
knowledge and as little difficulty as pos
sible on all matters OF interest in these ter
rtories. sent the Hon. Thomas Butler
King as bearer of dispatches to Califor.
MIA, and certain officers 10 California
and New Mexico. whose duties are par
ticularly defined in the accompanying
letters OF instruction addressed to them
severally by the proper department.
did not hesitate to express to the peo-
pie Of those Territories my desire that
each Territory should. if prepared TO
comply with the acquisitions Of the Con.
stitution Of the United States. form plan
of a State constitution, and submit the
same to Congress, with a prayer for adj
mission into the Union as State; but |
did not anticipate. suggest, or authorize
the establishment OF any such government
without the assent Of Congress, nor did au-
thorize any government agent or officer to
interfere with, or exercise any influence
or 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
iconstitution. On the contrary, the in
structions 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 en-
ecutive Of the United States was DESTROYS
TO protect them in the formation of any
government republican in its character. to
De at the proper time submitted to Con-
press, vet it was to be distinctly under
stood that the plan of such a government
must at the same time be the result of
their own 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 govern
ment in California. or of any census ia
ken in either OF the Territories mention
ed in the resolution. as l have no infor-
nation on those subjects.
As already stated. | have not disturbed
the arrangements which found had exis-
ted under my predecessor.
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 opportuni-
~ Of avoiding occasions Of bitter and an
CRY dissensioDs among the people of the
United States.
| Under the Constitution every State has
the right Of establishing. and from time to
time altering, its municipal laws and do
nestle institutions. independently Of eve
~ other State and Of the General Gov
eminent, subject only to the prohibitions
and guarantees expressly set forth in the
Constitution of the United States. The
subjects thus left exclusively to the re-
spective States were not designed or ex-
pected to become topics Of national agi-
tation. Still, as under the Constitution
Congress has power to make all needful
rules and regulations respecting the Ter
ritories of the United States. every new
acquisition Of Territory has led 10 dis
cussions on the question whether the sys-
tenn Of involuntary servitude which pre-
walls in many Of the States should or
should no, 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
elapse before the admission Of the Terri
tories ceded by Mexico as States. it ap-
pears probable that similar excitement
will prevail to an undue extent.
I Under these circumstances ! thought.
and still think. that it was my duty TO en-.