The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-08-13
CONGRESS-.

/ ne iiii t0f t!ie SuHisSloH vi S"iiip'h h's' ""S
ag.,iu taken mp.
VI. Turaey moved to amend by striking it
al ont, and insert bill providing that when
California shall adopt constitution in conven-
tiou, making her Southern limits the line OF 80
20 she shall be admitted into the Union by the
nroclamaliou of the President of the United
States.
But the discussion of this amendment was
interrupted by the reception OF the following
Message OF the President of the United States,
on the Texas Boundary Question
To The Senate and Honse Of Representatives.:
| herewith transmit to the two Houses ol
Congress. Il letter from his Excellency the Go
vernon of texas, dated on the 18th day OF June
last. addressed to the late President OF the U.
States, which, not having been answered by
Him. came into my hands on bis death: and
also transmit 4 copy of the answer which have
felt tito be my duty to cause to be made TO
that communication.
Congress will perceive that the Governor OF
Texas officially states, that by authority OF the
I,erislatnre of that State, he dispatched spe-
ciaI Commissioner, with full power and instruc-
tions to extend the civil jurisdiction of the State
over the uuorgansed counties of I'll Paso,
Worth Presidio, and Santa Fe, situated OIL its
northwestern limits.
He proceeds to say, that the Commissioner
had reported to him, in an official form, that the
military officers employed i'll the service OF the
United States, stationed at Santa Fe, interposed
adversely, with the inhabitants, to the fufment
OF his object, in favor of the establishment OF a
separate State government, east OF the Rlo
Grande, and within the rightful limits OF the
State of Texas. These four counties which
Texas proposes to establish and organise, as be-
inc within her own jurisdiction, extend over the
whole of the territory east of the Rlo Granue'
which has, heretofore, been regarded as m es.
septial and integral part of the Department OF
New Mexico, aud actually governed and pos
sessed by her people, until conquered and sew
cred from the Republic ofAlexico, by the Amer.
lean arms,
The Legislature of Texas has been called to-
gether by the Governor for the purpose, as it is
understood, of maintaining her claim to the ter
ritory east of the Rio Grande, and of establish
inu over it her own jurisdiction and her own
laws, by force.
These proceedings of Texas may well arrest
the attention of all branches of the Government
Of the United States, and rejoice that they oc-
cur while the Congress is yet in session. ltis,
fear, far from being improbable that, in con-
sequence of these proceedings of Texas, crl
sis may be brought on which shall summon the
two Houses of Congress-and still more en-
phatically the Executive Government-to to an
Immediate readiness for the performance of
their respective duties
Bv the Constitution of the United States, the
nh. I,f
the army and navy, and Of the militia of the sew
eral States, when called into the actual service
of the United States. The Constitution de-
clares, also that he shall take care that he shall,
from time to time, give to the Congress informa.
tion Of the state Of the Union.
Congress has power, by the Constitution, to
provide Tor calling forth the militia to execute
the laws of the Union; and suitable and appro.
pirate acts of Congress have been passed, as
well for providing for calling forth the militia,
as for placing other suitable and efficient means
in the hands Of the President, to enable him to
discharge the constitutional functions Of his Of
fee.
The second section Of the act of the twenty
eighth of February, seventeen hundred and nine.
ty-fve, declares, that whenever the laws of the
United States shall be opposed, or their cxccu'
ton DISTRACTED, in any State, by combinations
too powerful to be suppressed By the ordinary
course of judicial proceedings, or the powc,
fvestod in the MarsllaIs, the President may call
sorth the militia, so far rs may be necessary, to
luppress such combinations, and to cause the
avs TO be daly executed.
BY the act Of March 3, 1907, it is provided
that in all eases OF obstruction to the laws, ei.
ther of the United States or any individual State
or Territory, where it is lawful for the President
to call forth the militia for the purpose of caus-
ing the laws to be duly executed, it shall be
lawful for INN rur--,'oy, Tor TIE Saline r..-pnscs
such part of the land or naval force of the U.
States as shall be Judged necessary.
These several cuactments are now in full
force, SO that if the laws of the United States
are opposed or DISTRACTED, in any State or Ter
ritory, BY comb ,ations too powerful to be sup
pressed by the Judicial or civil authorities it be-
comes n case in which it is the duty of the Pre-.
sdent, either to call out the militia or to en-
ploy the military and naval force of the United
States, or to do both, if in his Judgment the ex-
igency Of the occasion shall so require, for the
purpose Of suppressins such combination.
The constitutional duty of the President is
plain and perenptory; aud the authority vest
ed in him by law, for its performance, clear and