The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-26

ss~ fsvles sissr ssisks~ on wsks sks U~issd sssss
AL sUcH Aors AM yoHnoH TO ms IN TIE Al
sxScx on ANY AUTHORITY CoN0Rxss, cAnroT
BUT BE REGARDED usURrATIors oy PowsR.
General Taylor has permittsd and by that permission
has authorized General Riley TO establish civil govern
msnt over territories within the United States; and by
doing he has, according to the National Intsugsner'
been guilty Of act foreign to his ONCE and has usurped
powers which not conferred upon him oy Inc consul
tuition. Congress not only failed and neglected % give
General Taylor authority to establish any form o. civil
government in California, but expressly refused 70 con-
fer such authority upon him. The views which the
National Inteliigsnesrthe venerable organ OF federal
-enterains of the powers Of the federal Executive
seem to have undergone great change since the chair
Of the Chief Magistrate is filed by ono Of its friends for
now upholds and defends what Il denounced
patton Of power three years ago We continue from the
files Of the wing organ. when Mr.. Polk President Of
the United States. the following extracts
Tho charge isnos that the President has authorized
military occupation Of foreign territory bHt that he has
tabishsd Whis such territory CIVIL oovsRnxErrs :
Gouaors jsdgss and all cipu ocs Of those gopeSmsnfs
hare been appowtd and In his message the President asks
appropriation to pay their salaries Congress Is not ask
ed TO fGbii these temporarily permanently,
Is NOT THIs NAKED UsuRPATioN or PowER1 M
pertinent question: truly; and the to il would
have told with terrible force on the late administration,
had Mr.. Polk established civil governments in California
without the sanction Of Congress But he did not do 90
while General Taylor has placed himself in such posi-
ton as 70 receive the full force Of the blow He has not
only established civil government in California. and
called upon the people to elect judges and other officers,
but General Riley, acting under orders from Washington
has hypothecated the public revenues collected in Cal
fonia for the payment Of their salaries And we ask in
the language OF the wing organ, is not this naked
usurpation of poweri"
- The acquisition of territory by discovery and
by conquest are BY public writers placed the
ing Let The power Of the Presden be tested by applying
i to an acquisition by discovery Can he without the
horly Of Congress- organize government such
ritorya Certainly he And for the reason he
ca~~ot organizs civa sov~ms.t conquered tsvi
tory
What 10 this power claimed for the Prssi-
dentf A commander-in-chief il IL said he may march
army into foreign country conquer It, and establish
Whatever form of government he may think proper He
may establish monarchy, any other form, his dis
erection for he does exercise his power under the
stfuon he Is bound law but may under his
discretion II not this doctrine Be aduasced
IN this goS~me~tf Ard ssppos the Peide~f sAaA thmk
proper 70 make hmssy emperor Of fAs acquired territory may
he dosof He just mach posr do this to make
Gen. Ksarny or Commodore Stockton governor cfit.
Such was the language which the organ Of the whig
party held when Mr.. Polk was chief magistrate. Mr..
Polk did nothing which he not authorized to do in
state Of war; by the rights Of war But he did not do
what charged upon him. Yet now the National In
telgencsr defends General Taylor, while he pursues
line Of policy which il denounced as naked usurpation
of poTer under the mistaken belief that the policy
Of the last administration. According to the National
Inisgsneers view Of the subject the President had
right recognise General Riley governor Of Cali
fomia than TO make himself emperor, and he had no
authority to reestabsh the civil government which
formerly existed under the Mexican dominion than
to establish monarchy. But the words which we
have quoted need explanation No one can fail
to understand them for they clearly prove that the
National Inteihigsneer, in its newborn zeal for the
administration. is defending line Of policy which it
knows to be unwarranted and unauthorized 1t is
Notifying to see press which occupies high posi-
ton regardless Of its character. and 90 ready
defend. for party purposes "a usuRPArIoE
OF POWER"