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

And now Mr. Chairman, before the sands Of my brief
late recent and extraordinary movements the Territory
OF fraught with Ineaiculaee mis-
chief and not arrested, destined to entail caamtes the
most terrible upon this country am told that the late
s in some degree responsible for these
movements. know not II this be true. hope i is
Indeed have authority for saying Certainly
evidence has been advanced that the statement true
But | not who prompted the anomalous state OF
things now existing in California At whatever time
and BY whomsoever doHe, il has been without precedent
against the voice OF the peoples representatives. IN dero
CATION of the constitution Of the United States, and in
tended 10 rob the southern States of their just and right
fu possessions Viewing the transaction in this light
and without stopping TO inquire whose IT was, de-
it unwise unpatrioc, sectional in its tenden
ces insulting to the Souih and in the last degree des-
picabe.
Twelve short months ago II was thought necessary to
invoke the authority OF Congress for the people OF Cali
ornia to form State constitution. The present Secrea-
~ Of the Navy then member Of this Hous did on the
h day of February lS49 introduce bill for that pnr
pose The first section declared that the Congress doth
consent that new State be erected oa Of the terri
Globe, I'd ssss 30h Con, p. 477)
Whether the honorable Secretary, as member Of
the cabinet advised and consented to the late exraord
nary proceedings 10 California, pretend know
do know that he bitterly nveighed against Gen. Cass
in lsIs, for supposed nmation that the people osthe
Territories might settle the slavery question Tor them
Selves and chiefly the ground that monsous
outrage allow aliens and foreigners TO snatch from the
South territory by the valor Of her troops know
that he introduced the bill to which have adverted and
urged its passage in speech which was Said to have
given him his position in the cabinet. He certainly
thought at that time that the consent OF Congress was
necessary to the formation OF State government IN CAL
lforna The bill itself, to say nothing OF the speech,
signed pregnant for this thought Tor by its
second section declared "tha the foregoing consent is
given upon the following reservations and condiions
First, that the United States hereby Internationally re-
to the federal government all right Of property in
the public lands" 46tf
Ii was then thought matter OF some moment to re-
in thoirr in
the soil But the progressive spirit OF the President and
cabinet has gone far beyond such idle whims, and the
introduction of California into the Union sovereign
State is earnestly recommended" without reservation of
any kind, alone that constitution shall conform TO
the constitution OF the United States any one here knows
the OF the cabinet councils he best inform
whether Mr.. Secretary Preston thought worth his
while intimate the President and his associates that
the formation of an independent government in Cafor
OF properly in the SOIL and that her Incorporation into the
Union without reservation would be 10 surrender the
right OF eminent domain It would disclose interest
ing piece Of cabinet history TO ascertain whether so trivial
a matter ever engrossed the thoughts OF that most
gust body-he President and his constitutional advisers.
1t is amusing to see with how much cunning the au-
thor OF the late special message endeavos to divide the
responsibility of this nearous proceeding with the late
administration Several times in the message is broadly
limited that President Polk took the initiative n this bs-
ness. This may be So have seen no evidence of il,
and do not believe but whether true false, does
render the transaction less odous worthy of
support The President himself seems to think ittoo
much for one ADMINISTRATION 10 bear, and therefore
strives to divide its responsibility with his distinguished
democratic predecessor commend his discretion
than his generosity 1t discreet in him shake off
much Of the odum Of this thing as possible II il had
been worthy action, doubt il he would not have ap.
propriated the honors of it entirely to himself.
The President Sees well you or |, that there is
fearful accountability ahead and he cries out in time.
"Polk 10 blame. | only followed up what he be-
gun" would to God he were willing TO carry out
all OF Polk's unfinished plans.
Is there nothing wrong let me ask the friends OF the
President. in this thing OF the Executve-of his own
Iition, and upon his own
State government over The territory OF the United States
and that too, after Congress had been invoked and had
refused her consent 10 the establishment oil such gov
ernment' have seen the time when. il this thing had
been done, the nation would have reverberated with the
eloquent burst OF patriotic indignation from gentlemen
the other side. Gen. Jackson charged with taking
the responsibility but he never assumed responsibility
like this
The manner Of doing this thing is still more extraordi
nary than the thing itself Gen. Riley, military COM
mander charged with the execution of certain necessary
civil functions is made the of power in this business
That officer the Sd day OF june ls49 issued his proc
lamaton-a paper at once novel and bold His object
is to make new State, and be commences thus:
Congrcss having fitsd It's session provide
government for this country, the undersigned would
call alton which he deems best" no. Sc
Yes, sir there il is Congress having failed to give
government TO California, General Riley notifies the in.
habians that he has taken matters into his own hands
that he will give them government and that He will
authorize them 10 make State for themselves He does
this, too, because Congress had refused.
must do General Riley the justice TO say ne IS not
wholly an usurper in this business lie declares TO the
world, in this same proclamation, "a document by the
way, drawn up with and legal precsion,) that
the course indicated by him is advised BY the President
and the Secretaries OF State and War;" and he General
Rley) soemnly afirms that his acts :" fully author
ized by law" hope the General did not understand
that Mr. Secretary Pestons bill the law that " fully
authorized" his acts There might be difficulty in
tanning the opinion that basis, inasmuch the bill did
not pass Congress.
There are stranger things than these in this Riley pro
camation, advised BY the President and Secretaries
Clayton and Crawford" The General not only sets
mates the persons who to do the things which be bids
TO be done. Hear him:
Every free male cltiz,n Of United State. and OF
Upper Caifornf1 ~ OF will be entitled the
right o suffrage All citizens o Lotcr CdDoraia who have
ced this Territory OF hav.
ing rendered istance the American during the
recent with Mexico should also be allowed In
the district where they actually reside" &c, ss
Now, sic, hunbly ask, who gave the President and
his cabinet the right TO advise this military commander
by sweeping proclamation to admit the :" free male
Lotcu Caiyoraia," Qhen in the country under certain
crcumsances) to the night OF vongi In so important
matter forming State constitution, which was to az.
feel important interests within the Territory, and still
more important interests wthoat the Territory, il would
have been al least respectful to his southern constituents
il the President had confined the voting to oas people
but all free males Of Upper California, and ALL from
Lower California, Whether bond or free, were fully
authorized to vote Shame, shame upon the man who,
in the midst OF struggles for blood bought rights, thus
cooly submits them 10 the arbtrament OF such people
have been speaking OF what the President expressly
authorized lie, by his agent General Riley, in terms,