The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1850-08-21

rs The sgenlssof the inhabiianis. and not
a. officers of This Government ID must
be recollecied that iie only Government
then existing in the Z erilsfy was quasi
military Government. and as Congress
had made no provision for Ihe establish
, meni Of any form of civil Government.
and rs The President doubtless believed
that under these circumstances The people
had right 90 frame a Government lor
themselves. and submil il 10 Congress lor
iis approval. ihe order WAS direction that
the then existing military Government
should NOT stand in lhe way OF The se-
accomplishment oflhe wishes az the people.
nor ihwart ihase wishes. if the people en-
terrain them. for the establishment Of =
free. popular, republican civil Govern
meni, FOR their own protection and benz
&c. This 10 evidently the whole purpose
and object Of the order. The military Of.
irer in command. aud his associates. weis
American citizens. acquainted with tho
forms Of civil and popular proceedings.
and il was expected that they would aid
the inhabitants Of The territory. by their
advice and assistance. in ;heir proceedings
for establishing q Government Of their
own. There IS no room 90 suppose that
Colonel MunIoc. an officer as much dis
iinguished for prudence and discretion az
for gallant conduct in arms. meant 10 act.
or did act. Otherwise Than in an entire
subortlinalion and snbserviency 10 the will
Of The people among whom he was placed.
He was moi authorized 10 do. nor do un-
dersiand him is intending 10 do. any thing
whatever in his military character. nor 70
represent, in any way. The wishes &c the
Executive Government Of The United
States.
| Tojudgc iniclligenily and fairly ofiheso
transactions, we must recall TO our Iecol-
lection the circumstances Of the case, AZ
they then existed. Previous 10 the war
with Mexico, which commenced in May,
1916. and received the sanction OF Con.
|gress on The l3ih OF that month, The ter
ri,ory Of New Mexico formed Depart
men, or State Of the Mexican Republic,
and was governed by her laws. General
! Kearney, acting under orders from this
i Government, invaded this Department
. with an armed force the Governor fed
4 al his approach, and The troops under his
command dispersed; and General Kear-
I ney entered Santa Fe. the capital. on the
' 18th Of August. ls46, and took posses.
sion Of the Territory in The name Of the
|. United States. On the 22d OF that month
!. he issued proclamation TO the inhabi.
e tsnis, stating the fact that he had taken
possession of Santa Fe, at the head Of his
!. troops. and announcing his I" intention 10
hold the department with ils original
/. boundaries. ION both sides of the Del
Norte.) and under The name Of New Mexi-
!. co." By that proclamation he promised
A 10 protect the inhabitants of New MeXi-
!. 60 in their persons and property, against
!. their Indian enemies and all others, and
assured them that the United States in
J. tended 10 provided for them free Govern
!. men,. where the people would be called
8 upon 10 exercise the rights Of freemen in
8 electing their own representatives 10 this
g Territorial Legislature. On the same day
!. he established Territorial constitution
!. by an organic law, which provided lor
!. executive. legislative. and Judicial depart
|. men,s Of The Government. defined The
! right Of Suffrage. and provided for Trial by
\ jury, and nj the same time established Z
J. code OF laws. This constitution declared
s that "ihe country heretofore known al
,f New Mexico shall be known hereafter
!. and designated as The Territory OF New
a Mexico in the United States Of A merica,
and the members Of the lower House o
!. the Legislature were apporiioned among
\. the counties established by decree Of ,h'
d department of New Mexico, Of June IL
\. 1874; which counties il is understood in
/. cluded all the Territory over which Texa
se has lately attempted 10 organize coun.ie
). aud establish her own jurisdiction.
G. On the 22d Of December, lS48, cop,
IT. Of this constitution and code was transmit
II, ted by President Polk 10 the House q
y. Representatives, in pursuance of call o
" utuI w WAT oOuy. iu WIZ ueesdgc udu'
n. miiting The constitution, he says that "po
ur tions Of il purport TO establish and orgaI
W ize permanent Territorial governmeI
n. over the Territory. and to impart to il
il inhabitants political rights which, undt
IN the constitution Of the United States. ca
nj, be enjoyed permanently only by ci,izer
ps of the United States. These have M
es, been approved and recognised by mi
On, Such organized regulations as have bee
,h. established in any Of the conquered Te
to riiories, for the security Of our conques
his for the preservation Of order, for the pr
my lection Of the rights Of the inhabi.an,
my and for Gepriving the enemy Of the a
to vantages Of these Territories. while {,
ary military possession Of them BY the fore
,f a Of the United States continues, miN
in. recognised and approved" Near 70
,ol. years have now elapsed since this qut
all military Government was established.
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