The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-01

authority that Territory and protects the people In the
suffered exercise no authority whaisvsr q probable
too that NsU Merico wM spay fov edmisses az free
State Wthin anot year. and hss dseds for hsmsivs fhs
Executive Usarpatioas.
We have exposed the course Of the present admnisa
hon in regard to California We have unmasked the in
sldous effort to cloak the present administration under
the acts OF Mr. Polk and still more, to justify the pusl
lanimous lodging. morous policy Of leaving the Terrific
ries. like drift. WOOD themselves, instead OF calling in
the authority OF Congress to establish provisional ter
ritoral government for them.
The following extract of article in the New York
News Of January 80 presents just view OF the anon
allies which have been practised in California, that we
do not hesitate to lay il before our readers
We aver that there is power granted In express or
general terms by the constitution the President whereby
rores oil the United States yet such an act has been
done governors judges, and civil officers, have been APP
pointed continued in authority, and their acts recognized
by the Prssident
We will take simply the case of General Riley, in Cali
forna The authority with which he was clothed by the
Instructions Of government, for the time being was civil
Is well as military, He exercised the functions OF civil
governor in California his acts recognised at wash
ngton and his authority confirmed, only by permits
sion but by express aid and continuance OF the administers
ton Witness the mission Of Thomas Butler Kinga sort
of Qussf0r sent Out to pr0-consM Htfsy
What right had General Rileya brevet brgadier gem
in the United States armyto issue his proclamation
to the people California for the election Of executive and
judicial officers under the existing laws of that Territory
call convention for the purpose of forming State
constitution He will not find it, right sure, in
the rules and regulations OF the army twas done under
the authority conferred him by the President civil
governor and consider such appointment us usur-
patton Of authority and an encroachmen on the sover
eighty Of the American peoplel Now regard this
continued of usurpaon and shall thus be free from any
impuaion Of Partially with respect to either the late
the present administration. The mission of Mr. King and
admissions in the message Of General Taylor
elusive that point; and the Republic the organ Of
General Taylor also admits, understand 1t. The
President says in his message.
81 therefore did not interfere with the powers of the mill
commandan who continued exercise the functions
OF civil governor before but made no such appont
nenr, conferred such authority, and have allowed
compensation the commandment for his
Vices"
And replying the Union which charges such respon-
sibility upon Gen. Taylor, the Republic says'
"We have disposition shr this responsibility upon
the part Of the administration Indeed, quite willing
that President Taylor should be regarded having taken
the initiative in the transactions which led to the formation
of State Constitution for the Territory of California a~d
haping si autor,ssd ths etabish,en Of eiv go0sr"
ment there a. preliminary to the Measure"
Now that these acts were unauthorized by the
constitution the laws and were, in the language of the
National Inegencer once applied TO the conduct Of
Mr.. Polk in this same matter, NAKED INSPIRATIONS or
PowERn 9a #S pa
It's General Taylor advances very aiable motive,
and as far he is concerned believe very patriotic
one the part he took in sending Mr. King and the
right Of the State Department to employ bearer of de-
spaches-ihe only official character with which 10 pre-
tended Mr. King clothed--is unquestioned but
would ask by what authority what law is Mr.. King
employed in California eight dollars day, preparing the
Way for the Formations Of State goprnment7 What pro-
in the constitution Empowers the President antci
pate the difficulties of legislation delicate question, and
exercise authority not otherwise granted in the per-
formance of these Of sovereignty The very po-
sition advanced by General Taylor, modest it may
seem. s pregnant with the dangerous doc
trines-a heresy the constitution! II President may
transcend his authority, because he anticipates diff
Guilty in the Legislation of Congress, where is the rule
II Is impossible in country like ours, where great
and diversified interests be reconced and cared for,
but that frequent emergencies will occur, well ~ en-
baassments in legslaon but 10 the President clothed
with power in his own Judgment, anticipate these, and
provide for them beforehand through the Of dctator
We warn the American people, though our voice is but
humbe to beware how they permit such acts to nnques
toned and doctrines obtain the force OF precedent
in our government; for assuredy they pregnant with
the seed Of destruction liberties They the first
stealthy approaches of absouts, which is more to lie
than dscord and for having under
mined the constitution, and the of established
thory usurped all power 1t viii build itself securely upon
the ruins Of freedom