Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1850-02-14
The Presidents Message.

The Secretary of State to Mr.. KING, q
letter from Mr.. BUCHANAN to Mr.. Won
HES, and Mr.. CLAYToN's report to the
President. THE remaining papers re.
late more TO the details of what was
done, than 10 the policy upon which the
Administration adopted its measures
in regard to the Territories acquired by
the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
The message now before US is an am.
plification of the recommendation con.
tanned in the annual message in relation
TO these possessions. and the suggestion
of distinct and specific method of ad-
justing the vexed and difficult questions
to which they have given RISE"
WASHINGTON, JANUARY 81, 1850.
To the House of Representatives.,
OF the United States:
transmit, 10 the House of Represen.
latives, in answer 10 resolution of that
body, passed on the 3lst of December
last, the accompanying reports of heads
of Departments, which contain all the
official information in the possession Of
the Executive asked for by the resolu.
ton.
On coming into Office / found the
military commandant of the depart
ment of California exercising the func-
lions of civil governor of that terrific
ry: and lef, as was to act under the
treaty of Guadalupe Hydalgo without
the aid Of any Legislative provision in
establishing government in that terri
tory, ! thought it best not to disturb
that arrangement, made under my pre-
decessor. until Congress should take
some action ON that subject. l there
fore did not interfere with the powers
of the military commandan.. who con-
tinued 10 exercise the functions of civil
governor as before, bu, made no such
appointment, conferred no such auther-
ity. and have allowed no increased COM
pensation 10 the commandant for his
services.
With a view to the faithful execution
Of the treaty, so far as lay in the power
of the Executive, and TO enable Con.
gress TO act at the present session with
as full knowledge and as little difficulty
as possible on all matters of interes, in
these territories, l sent the Hon. Thorn
as Butler King as bearer of despatche,
to California, and certain officers &c
California and New Mexico, whose du
ties are particularly defined in the &c
companying letters of instruction ad
dressed to them severally by the proper
department.
| did not hesitate 10 express to thu
people of those Territories my desire
that each Territory should, if prepared
to comply with the acquisitions of th'
Constitution of the United States, form
a plan of State Constitution, and sub
nit the same to Congress, with pray
er for admission into the Union as {
State; but | did not anticipate, suggest
or au!horise the establishment of any
such government without the assent 0
Congress, nor did l authorize any gov
ernment agent or officer to interfer'
with, or exercise any influence or con
troll over the election of delegates, o
over any convention, in making or mod
flying their domestic institutions, or an.
: of the provisions Of their proposed con
stitution. On the contrary, the instruc
/ tions given by my orders were, tha, a
: measures of domestic policy adopted b.
: the people of California must original
n solely with themselves; that while III
Executive of the United States was dc
= sirous 10 protect them in the formatio
J, of any government republican in il
z character, 10 be at the proper time sui
j. i. mitted to Congress, YET it was TO be di
t. tinc,y understood that the plan of sue
y, ~ government must at the same time b
D. the result of their own deliberate choic
as and originate with themselves, withol
r the interference of the Executive.
r. | am unable to give any informatlo
I'd as to laws passed by any supposed 60
ds ernment in California, or Of any cens'
taken in either of the Territories me
toned in the resolution, as have !
ia information on those subjects.
As already stated, | have not distu