Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-26

PUBLIC OPINION on rnE CALIFORNIA MESSAGE.
rnom THE BALrrMoRE AMERICAN (wHIs) OF rEsrEanAr.
THE PRESIDENTS SPECIAL MEssAcE.-H any
reader Of the Presidents Message to the House OF
Representatives should fail to understand Its meaning
throughout, in every word and sentence, the cause
of obscurity will not be found IN the document
itself. Nor can those who may be inclined 70 con-
test the Presidents position in relation to the subecma'te
of the Message alege pretend for moment that there Is
any room for doubt the cleaydefned natueof the
position.
II is not our habit eulogze official personages official
papers, Both are best left speak for themselves Nothing
but vain affecaton indeed could prompt any one would
SEEM to upon proeng his terms of euogum upon
such sturdy downright document this which, in its whole
impress indicates profound indifference to bodys praise
or censure an emnenily characteristic productions and
might have been written by that pen of iron which told
prosecuting Administration that the who welded it
he welded his sword, asked favos and shunk from no
responsibilities
The right Of the People, under our system of Government
frame their domestic institutions and manage their own
local concerns subject only the provisions Of the Constiu
sn is the central ground upon which the Message takes its
stand The reader will the clear and comprehensive
views which illustrate this whole subject The simple mode
which the President points by which the slavery question
may settle ITSELF or rather by which the People in every COM
muniy may settle for themselves, presented so plainly
vet with such consera moderation of language and tone,
that there should be undue excitement about the matter
hereafter any quarter the agtatos will have to bear the
whole blame Of in the calm estimation of the country
"Any attempt" says the Message, in alusion to Cali
fonia deny to the people of the State the right of self
government, which peculiarly affects themselves,
will naby be regarded by them an invasion Of their
rights and, upon the principles laid down in own De-
caraon of Independence they will certainly be sustained by
the great mass OF the American people To that they
a conquered people, and must State submit to the
will Of their conquerors, in this regard, will meet with
dial among American freemen Great numbers OF
them are native citizens Of the United Sates not inferior
the rest of countryen intelligence and patriotism, and
no language restrain them in the exercise of
undoubed right, substantially guaranteed to them by the
treaty of cessicn ITSELF shall be uttered by
couaged and sustained by persons acting under authority"
This, think, pretty well to the point, These words.
as EMERsos would say, strike like bullets Every of
them would weigh least pound in the specific gravity of
forceful uterance Gen. TAYLOR is evidently in in
this business The Old Hero his way to Fort Brown,
and if the enemy should oppose his march, IN uhaterer
number, he acH fight him. We have only to add, that if
this ndomi,able soldier is after the heart Of the
American People, then greatly mistake both the and
people.
FROM BALTIMORE CLIPPER YESTERDAY, [SEUTRAL.l
PRESIDENTS Neutrality-suspicious. having been
expressed by members of both Houses of Congress
that the President had improperly interfered to
troll the people of California in the formation of their
Constitution and that other impropreties had been
committed by his authority, the House of Repre-
sentaves passed resolutions Of inquiry the 3l of Deem
Der last the response which viii be found in to-day paper
Some members of the Senate, although informed that the
President had replied to the inquiries of the House, still in
fed-thus giving the Departments the additional labor of
copying documents, without the least practical utility.
The reply of the President is full candid and satisfactory
and entirely reues the suggestions which had been made Of
misconduct in his transactions with California. It that
he left the government of that Territory in the hands in which
had been placed by his predecessor attempting no CONTROL
offering interference Of any description, only sending out
such officers and agents considered necessary carry
the treaty with Mexico into full effect and to obtain such in
formation in relation the number and character of the In
dian tribes the soil and climate, and other particulars,
might be Of service to Congress in its legislation the subject
The President distinctly approves Of the policy Of emitting
all legislation for the Territories the subject Of sla
very leaving that question the decision of the inhabitants
in the formation of their constitution. We rejoice this
avowa avors think the safest policy that could be
pursued and dispenses with all for agitation. But,
whether be be adopted by Congress, the result will
be the The people will claim and exercise the right
to act for themselves No read the Of the
President without being satisfied Of his ankness sound udg
ment, and patriotism. He invites Congress to admit the
State Of California into the Unon should the constitution
which she has formed be found consistent with the require
of the constitution. We believe that this is the gene
raj desire, it will withdraw the main for the
sectional controversy which has already produced much
necessary excitement and which threatens greater disasters
We wish that every American could he induced adopt the
sentiment contained in the last the message for we
should then be able to laugh all ndious open
efforts disturb the harmony Of the Union. Every pa
tot can heartily repeat after the President Connected
the Union is with the remembrance of past happiness the
of present blessings and the hope of future peace and
prosperity, every dictate Of wisdom, every feeling of duty,
and every emotion of patriotism, tend to inspire fidelity and
devotion to 1t, and adnonish cautiously avoid any
necessary controversy which either endanger impair
its strength the chief element Of which be found in the
regard and affection Of the people for each other and
clude the recital with emphatic amen The sentence
breaihes the pito WAsHIseToN, and hope will have the
effect Of calming sectional excitement and uniting in the
common duty Of endeavoring topreserve the Union.
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CAPTURE OF AMERICANS BY THE APACHEs
We have received by the way of Vera Cruz, Ell Faro,
published in the city of Chhuahua the goth November,
inclusive This is not very date certainly, but
OF these papers contains of unfortunate
'con1trymen who fell