The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-08-16

whole country. 1t recommends the promp
adjustment o. the difficulty with Texas. AM
every other Iues ion connected with tn,
territories recently acquired from Nj, xicH:
WASHINGTON. Aug. 6. 1850.
To the Senate and House Of Represents.
tires:
| herewith transmit 10 the two Houses o
Congress. letter from HIS Excellency the
Governor Of Texas, dated on the l4rh da,
Of June last. addressed TO the late Preslden
of the United States. which. not havlnL
been answered BY hmm. came 10 nv hand.
on his death; and also transmit a copy
Q, the answer which have Eel, il 10 be-
nv duty TO cause 10 be made 10 thar cons
munlcaucn.
Congress will perceive that the Governor
OF Texas officially states thai, bv auInorty
Of the Legislature o. that State. he DIS
patched Speclal Commissioner, with full
power and instructions 10 extend the clvll
jurisdiction Of the State over the unorsa.
nizsd counties o. E PaSo. Worth, Preside
and Santa Fee. situated on the norlhwss.
tern limits.
He proceeds 10 say thar the Com missions
er had reported 10 hlm. in an otficIaI form.
tina, The military officers employed IN the
service OF the United States. stationed al
Santa Fe, intsrposed adversely. with the
inhabitants. 10 the fu lflmen, Of his object.
in favor OF the establishment Of separate
State Government east Of The Rio Grande,
and within the righltul limits o! the Stale
Of Texas. The lour counties which Tex
as thus proposes TO establish and organze,
as being within her own jurisdiction. ex.
tend over the whole OF the territory east OF
The RIO Grande, which has heretofore been
regarded as an essential and integral par,
o. the Department Of New Mexico. and
actually governed and possessed nv her
people. until conquered and severed from
the Republic Of Mexico by The American
arms.
The Legislature Of Texas has been cal.
led together by her Governor. for the pur.
pose. as is understood, Of maintaining her
claim TO the territory east Of the Rio
Grande. and Of establishing over i, her own
jurisdiction and her own laws ny force.
These proceedings OF Texas may well
ares, the attention Of all branches Of the
Government Of the United States; and
rejoice that they occur while the Congress
is yet IN session. Ii is, | fear. far from be-
ing impossible that, in consequence oflhese
proceedings of Texas. crisis NAV he
brough, on which shall summon the two
Houses of Congress, and still more EN-
phatcallv the Executive Government. tn
an immediate readiness for the performance
OF their respective duties.
Bv the Constitution of the United States,
the President is constituted Conmand"r-in
chief Of the Army and Navy; and of the
! militia OF the several States. when called
into the actual service OF the UniIed States.
The Constitution declares also that he shall
take care that the laws he faithfully execu-
ted, and that he shall, from time TO time,
give 10 the Congress information Of the
Stale OF the onion.
Congress has power, Nv the Conslltu.
ZION. 10 provide for caIll1g forth the mill.
tia 10 execute the laws Of the Union; and
suitable and appropriate acts OF Congress.
have been passed, as well for providing ioI
calling forth the militia. as for placing 9th
er suitable and efficient means in the hands
Of the President to enable him 10 discharge
the constitutional functions OF his office.
The second section OF the art OF the 18th
oil February. 1895. declares that whenever
the laws OF The United States shall be op.
posed, or their execution nbstructpd. 10 any
State, nv combinations too powerful To he
suppressed by the ordnar course Of udi
cial proceedings, or the power vested in the
marshals, the President may call forth the
militia, so far as may be necessary 10 sup
press such combinations, and 10 cause the
laws 10 be duly executed
By the &C, Of March Sd, 1907, it is pro-
vlded that, in all cases o. obstruction tt
the laws. either o. The United States, or an,
individual State or Territory, where il II
lawful tor The President to call forth thu
militia Tor the purpose of causing the law
10 he duly executed, It shall be- lawful fn
him to employ, for The same purposes
such part Of the land or naval force Of ,h'
United States as snail he judged necessary
| These several enaclmrnis are now II
full tUrcr; 50 that IT the laws OF the United
States are opposed or obstruc,ed. in an!
State or Territory, by combinations To-
powerful 10 be suppressed BY the judicia
or civil authorities, il becomes a case il
which it is the duty Of the President, rilhe
10 call out the militia or to EMPLOY The mil
iiary and naval force of the United States
or TO do both, if in his jud men, the exI
gency Of the occasion shall so require. 70
the purpose Of suppressine such combina
tons. The constitutional duty of the Pre-
sident is plain and peremp,ory. and the au
thority vested in him BY law for It's per!or
nance clear and ample.
Texas is a Stale, authorized to MAINTAIN
her own laws, so lar as they are not repug
nant TO The constitution, laws, and 'reatie
Of The United States; 10 suppress insurrac
lions against her authority. and TO punis
those who may commit treason against III
State, according 10 The forms provided b
her own constitution. and her own laws
But all this power is local, and con6ns
entirely within The limits Of Texas hersel
She can possibly confer no authority who
can be lawfully exercised beyond her NV
boundaries. All This is plain, and hardl
needs argument or elucidatiun. !! Texa
militia, therefore, march into any one q
the other States, or into any Territory q
the UnIted States, there TO execute or en
force any law OF Texas, they becnme a
that moment respassers; they are no long
er under the protection OF any lawful au
lhority. and are to be regarded merely a
Iniruders; and If within such Stale or Ter