The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-08-21

IL The Seaafe md
House Of R.prtserfafipss.
| herewith transmit 10 the two Houses q
Cons isss letter from his ExccIlency IN,
Governor Of Texas. dated 90 the l4ih day 0
June Issi. addfessedtp the late President o
tie TINTED fCQt having been an
..',s ,.s,ea ~ h.aa. - hi
death; ann JsuIso sssHsntt copy Of the an
swer which have felt I, to be tny duty tt
cause to be made TO that communication.
Congress will perceive that the Governor
Of Texas officially states that, by authority
Of the Legislature Of ths, Safe, hs dispatch.
ed . Special Commissioner, with full pouer
and instructions TO extend The civil iurtsd,c.
iion Of the State over the unorganizrd coun.
ties Of IL Paso. Worth, Preside, and Santa
Re, situated on its northeastern limits.
lie proceeds Ia say that the Commissioner
had reported 10 him, ~ an ofsicia form, iha,
the military officers employ cd in the service
a the United States. stationed al Saala Fc.
,nierposed adversely, with The inhabitants, to
the iultimenl Of his object, in favor of The
establishment OF separate State Govern.
nent east Of the Rio Gfaode, and within the
fichlul limits Of this State OF Texas. The
tour eosn,cs which Texas thus proposes 10
establish and ers aniz", as being within her
own jurisdiction, extend over The whole Of
the territory east OF tho Rio Gfande, which
has heretofore been regarded as at essential
and integral par, of the Department. OF New
Mexico, snd actually governed and possessed
by her people, until conquered and severed
tfom The Republic ol Mexico by the Amcri.
can AIMS.
The Legislature of Texas has bern called
together by her Governor, for the purpos.,
as IS unders,ood, OF maintaiaing her claim To
the territory east Of the RIO Grsndc, and Of
esiabsshing over i, her own laws by force.
These proceedings Of Texas may we'll ar.
rest the attention ot all branc hes of the Gov
ernmcni Of he United Sta'rs; and ri ice
the, they occur while the Congress is yet
IN scssinn. |, is. fear, Ear FROM being i'm
possible That. IN consequence Of these pro.
cecd'ngs"i Texas, crisis may be b-augh,
ca which shall summno tha two Houses OF
Congress, aad still more enphsi,cally lhe
Executive Government, Ia an immediate rea
dinsss for the performance Of their re .pec.ive
duties.
By the Can.iitu ioh "f the United States,
the Pfes,deai Is constituted Commander in.
chief Of tho Army aud Navy; and Of the
militia oi The several ) stes, when es.lcd IN. /!
to the He.ail service of the United States
The Constitution declares also that he shall
take care that The laws be faithfully execu.
ted. and that he shall, fram tim, 10 time, give
TO the Congfen Information cf the stale Of
the Union.
Congress has power, by the CONSTITUTIONS /
TO provide for calling forth tho militia TO ex.
scuie the laws Of the unlon and suitable
and appropriate acts of Congress have been I
passed, as well for providing for calling forth !
the militia, as for placing other suitable aud
efficient means IN the hands Of the Presiden,
tn enable him 10 discharge the constitutional
fuactiuas ot his u1icc.
The sectiun Of the act Of the 2 sih fcbrus.
~. 1895. declares that whenever The laws I
81 the Unicd STATES .hsIl be opposed, or their
execution obsttuc,ed in ANY State, By com.
hinations loo powerful To be suppressed BY /
the ordinary course If Judicial ptoeeeding-.
~ the pi.er vested IN the marshals, the /
Pfrs.deni may call forth The militia, so far T
as may he necessary TO suppress such com.
binatiuiis, a1d 10 cause the laws 10 b. duly 4
executed.
by the act OF March 3 1907, i, is pro,
sidcd that, 10 all cases ut obstruction TO the .
laws. either Of the United States, or any in
dlsrusl State or Territory. where il Is law f
iul Tor The Prcsiden, 10 call forth The militia
Tor The purpose Of causing tho laws 10 be du
" executed, il shall be lawful for him to EN-
poy. for the same purposes, such part Of the
land or naval force of The United States as
shall bc Judged necessary.
These several rnac.mens are now in full /
farce; 80 that if the laws OF The Uoi,ed
Safes are opposed or obsrucied. ia any State
or Territory, hy combinations too powerful
TO be suppressed by The judicial or civil au.
'hori'irs, Il becomes case IN which il is tho
duty Of the Pfesidep, either 10 call out Tho
militia or 10 employ the military and naval
force of the United States or 10 do both, If
IN his judgment. the exigency o the occasion
shall 50 require, for the purpose Of suppress.
ing such combinations. The constitutional
duty Of the President Is plain aud petempto.
ny, and tho authority vested 10 him by law
Tor lis performance clear and ample.
Texas is a STATE, authorized To maintain
nef own laws, SO FAT as they are not repng.
hant TO tho constitution, laws, and treaties Of
mo United States; TO suppress insurrcctions
&galhst her authority, aud 10 punlsh those
Sho may commit treason against the State,
according To the forms provided by her own
constitution, aud her own laws. But all this
power is local. aud confined entirely within
The limits of Texas herself. She can possibly
Confer no authority which can he lawfully 1
exercised beyond her own boundaries. All!
'ais y plain, and hardly needs orgumcn. or
e'uridAiion. Ii Texan militia, therefore.
march into any ono Of the other States, or
lDln sEn.s.A..s. -af L. II...tal gaale.- ]