Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-02-15
President Message upOnthe Territorial Question.
WASHINGTON Jan, 81.
. ''1o iA0"' offhs T. s.

commandment OF the departure u
..ercisinr the functions OF clYu governor OF
that Territory; and ieit a. d - az mn
H. treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo without me
a. all II anys legislative provision IN estab-
r;-b;ol, \ Government in that Territory, thot
! basf not to disturb that arrangement, made
- nv predecessor, until Congress should
80 s-r,la action on that subject. l therefore
Al net interfere with the power Of the milf
~ coumaudaat who continued TO exercise
tbe functions Of civil governor as before, but
made no such authority, and have allowed no
increased compensation 10 me commandant
for his services.
.-a.t,-. 81 far as law in the power of the Exec
,,,ive. ard TO enable Congress TO act at the
T-asart session with as full know ledge and
a. Ii,tl- di.iculty az possible on all matters OF
ir..rz-t in these territories, sent me ZION.
Thomas Butler King as bearer Of dispatches
T., California and New Mexico, whose duties
are particularly defined IN the accompanying
letters ofins.rCction addressed 10 them seFe-
ral b. the proper department. !.
dit no. hesitate 10 express 10 the people OF
those Territories nv desire that each Ferrlto-
r should. if prepared TO comply with the re-
nnisilions cf The Constitution Of the United
States. form plan ola State Constitution and
submit the same 10 Congress, with a prayer
for admission into the Union as State, but
pID not anticipate. suggest, or authorize the
Establishment, without the assent OF congress,
aor did authorize any government agent OF
off7cer 70 interfere or exercise any influence or
control over any convention, IN making o.
modifying their domestic Institutions, or any
cft6e provisions # their proposed constitution
On the contrary, the instructions given by my
orders were. that al measures Of domestic pol
lev adopted BY the people Of Csllf5rna must
ordinate solely with themselves; that while
the Executive If the United States was desI-
reus 10 protect them IN the formation Of any
government republican IN rs character, to be
al the proper time submitted 10 Congress-, yet
j. was ID be distinctly understood that the
plan of such government must at the same
tiaebe the resulted their own deliberate choice,
and originate with themselves, without the IN
reference Of the Executive.
| am unable 10 give any Information as TO
the LAWS passed by any supposed government
in CaIiflrnia. or Of any census taken in either
Of the Territories mentioned IN the resolution,
as lad not information on those subjects.
As already stated, have not disturbed the
arrangements which found had existed IN
der my predecessor.
III advising an early application by the peo-
PIE Of these Territories for admission as states.
was actuated principally by an earnest de-
s,re 10 afford 10 the wisdom and patriotism Of
Congress the opportunity Of avoiding Occa-
sions Of bitter and angry dlssensIons among
the people cf the United States.
jnler the Constitution every State has the
right cf establishing, and from time to time
altering, its municipal laws and domestic IN
stitutions independent Of every other State
and ofthe General Government, subject only
e the prohibitions and guarantees expressly
set forth II the Constitution Of the L. States.
The subjects thus left exclusively TO the re-
spccIye States were not designed or expect
ed to become topics of national agi.atioa.-
Slil, as under the Constitution, Congress has
power to make all Geediul rules and rcgula-
tons respecting the Territories cf the United
Slatas, every new acquisition Of Territory has
led 70 discussion on tie question whether the
system Of involuntary servItude which prevails
IL many Of the States should or should not be
prohibited ia that Territory. The periods Of
excitement from this cause which have here
tofare occurred have been safely passed, but
during the interval OF whatever length which
may eiapze before the admission Of the Terri
tories coded by Mexico as States. it appears
probable that similar excitement viii prevail
70 IN undue extent
Under these circumstances I thought. and
sill tAfHE. that It was my d-ty 70 endeav0r
8 pg. II III the power Of Congress, by the ad-
mission IF California and New Mexico Is
States, 70 remove all occasions for the unnec-
esssrg agitation Of the public mind.
!. Is understood that the people Of the west
c-E AT Of California have formed d plan Of
state Constitution, and will soon sub
nj. tie same - the Judgment Of Congress,
and apply for admission as a State. This
course on their part, though In accordance,
Hr.th- was not adopted exclusively in consc-
qGe1ce Of, any expression of my wishes, In
as much As measures tending 10 this end had
been promoted By the officers sent there bv
my predecessor, and were already in active
progress Il execution before any communion
tom iEam nae reached California. If the pro-
posed constitution shall, when submitted t.
congress, be 10 compliance with the requisI-
lions 81 The & Institution Of the L nited States.
earn Sly omueEd that it may receive the
sanction Il ourreSs.
Inc part It California not included in the
proposed State ii that name Is believed to be
uEIaalat-ea. except ina settlement of our couu-
tTya.en in tile vicinity Of Sat Lake.
claim has been advanced by the State Of
Texas 70 very large portion Of the most pop
u.ous district q the Territory commonly des-
lEnaied hy the name Of New Mexico. If the
people 81 New Mexico had formed plan ola
State government IF that Territory as ceded
by the treaty 20 t'audaiups IIidaIgo. and had
been admitted hy Congress- as a State. or- CON
stitu:lan would have ar.Ied the means Of d.
timing an adjustment Of the question Of boun-
dairy with teNlS by Judicial decision. At
present, however, ua Judicial tribunal has the
power 81 deciding that question, and i, re-
mains isr Congress TO devise some mode for
rs adjustment. Meanwhile ! submit to Con
g-ess the question, whether il would be eype-
dent aeiace SUCH adjustment to establish
'c'F L...ti government, which by including
me district So claimed, would practically de-
eide the qnesii n adversely to the State Of
Texas, OF, BY excluding 1t. would decide in
her favor Inmy opinion such course would
n7' Pc eNPe3ieHt, especially as the people If
lh's territory >n.i enjoy the benefit and pro-
tecHan Ct their municipal laws, originally de-
fl'ed iron Mexico and have military force
dams. L Is undoubtedly true that The mon
erty, lives, liberties, aud re.irion # the ne5-
PIE u New Mexico, are better protected Than
''sy ever Were before the treaty cf cession.