The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-09
THE UNION.

right ofntereence practssd by Gen. Taylor at the insti
cation OF his cabinet passed without rebuke. and
thus shall become precedent for subsequent Presidents
will not the Executive OF the unitsd States always in
future possess and exercise the power OF shaping and
controlling the governments Of the Territories and the
time Of their admission into the Union' The affirmative
OF these questions cannot be denied
We therefore do not hesitate denounce the interer-
OF the Executive the affairs of the people oil Cali
forna and New Mexico acts of criminal usurpation
We that they areaempted TO be justified on the
ground ofnecessty The exgency which has arisen touch
ing the slavery question is the pretex which they are
sought to be justified But know Of no exigency that
can arise which will justify act OF usupation which
may pass into most dangerous precedent involving more
fatal evils than that which is attempted to be avoided
by the very act which we condemn. And II the act is
wrong now il is necessary that it should be con-
demned at the moment Of its commission, in order that il
may not hereafter be regarded precedent strength
ened and fortified by the acquisscence Of the people
But, as we remarked on former occasion. in con-
demnng the improper interference OF the Executive in the
political affairs Of the people Of the Territories. we
do not to be understood question condemn the
free and unbiased action of the people OF those Territories
in forming governments to be- submitted to Congress
for its consideration and decision. We regard the
two questions distinct and different, and depending
upon their own respective principles and merits One
may be condemned and rebuked, while the other may
be approved.
But patriots and friends to the freedom of popular
political action and the security Of republican institu
tons, feel bound hold up Reproduction the usur
paons OF the present Executive in the Territories
and grated that in this we are not alone
We find ourselves sustained by large number Of the
presses Of the saveholdng States The enormty OF
the usurpaton OF the Executive is great even in this
time Of excitement and anxiety. to escape their attention
and denunciaon. We copy, first, from that able and in
epd press, always faithful and true to the great inter-
ests of the people, the Ohio Statesman:
ExKcUrrvg One Of the prominent pledges
made the people in the last presidential was that
If General Taylor should be elected he would refrain from
action looking to interference with the business Of Con-
gress. How has this pledge been kept In the conduct
the administration in relation California and New Mex
leo The President acknowledges the sending OF gov
agent TO California. Following upon this is the
framing Of constitution for California State, and
application thereupon be admitted ino the Union. The
regulation Of the affairs Of Territories held by
wing party belong exclusively Congress by the powers
given that subject in the constitution Now, has Cen
era Taylor adhered to this position and left the
Congress- whose exclusive control his friends have hell
properly beongs We should like 10 hear direct answer
the nterrogatory from those who always pratng
about executive dictaton 10 Congress.
The Statesman is democratic authority. We now copy
from the New York Morning News, which, we believe,
is good wing authority, or, if not wing, it is good
neutral opinion, and perhaps, on that account, quite
valuable:
MORE UsURPATIoS OF AUrHoRIrY-The plea,
necesate reithat of necessity the last one urged
for exceeding authority, or doing that which
able hence the saying that hee no law for
y" But both the plea and the aphorism are alacous,
and dangerous in the highest degree and in
ofdened and limited powers their authority should be very
rarely If ever admitted. We think il never should be
and that tits better put up with almost any ill., submit
any poray cmbarassment rather than endanger
political edifce, by weakening the foundations thereof.
We scarcely conceive for the exercise Of
utonal powers by the government Yet Is upon this
plea Of necessity only that any attempt has been made
justify the constitutional authority assumed by the
President of the United States in his unprecedented course
with regard the Territories il Is the ground upon
which he places his conduct in his message Con-
gress have reiterated In the instructions given to
the various agent, through whose means the unwananted
interference WITH and assumption Of power over the new
Territories been exercised. And through this
is that civil governments have been organized officers APP
pointed and the whole system OF proconsuar govern
put into operation, without color Of law or with
any authority derived under the constitution for such
Of sovereignty which again repeat are ''naked
aggression upon popular rights, and
rage upon the constitution We need scarcely quote from
the authentic documents which before the nation.
spread over Hundreds Of newspapers throughout the land,
10 justify objections; and satisfied that
calm and sober consideration Of this questioa, the sonnd
sense and judgment Of counuymen will approve
conclusions.
We do moi entertain doubt, when the present crisis
shall have passed. and the public mind shall have settled
down into state OF tranquility and repose, that there
will be no difference Of opinion with regard to the
constitutonaly and turptude OF the conduct oil the
Executive, concerning the new Territories. Il will be
universally and cordially condemned.
Proa,sate Expenditures OF the Peoples Money.
We were aware OF the fact last SUMNER that nearly
every department and bureau had, at that early
period after the advent Of the new administration,
pended and squandered away the large and ample appo
paiions for contingent, expenses made for them BY Con-
gress its last session. The pogacy OF the admins
traion in this matter was papable, that we doubted
even would have the hardhood to present itself be-
fore Congress and clamor for contingent money
Such however the fact will be by the follow