The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-30

NJ Mexico. Il was the inevitable resulted war,
N'9,shiy continued in peace. Ibepeye no one coni-
4, IN any one did complain, thai no measures were
y correct supposed evil, when me government
sornia assumed the execution and discharge OF the
fiies 81 that State. Decessaryto maintain law and
California was so governed until the people re 4
Inc government by establishing civil constitution
ganizing State government What happened
IN happened from the same causes, and in the
say. in New Mexico That is all. repeat that
nv 10 defer debate on this subject until we shall
opportunity 10 examine il upon the report OF that
tlee But am not willing, Tor one, to imply by
snee that admit that there has been anything in
adact OF the governor OF New Mexico deserving
CASS. have not the slightest wish to prolong
scussion. did not suppose that a single member
ongress in this or the other wing OF the Capitol
object to such an inquiry; and therefore, on its
LiactIon did not say word in its explanation or
IA. really thought that to do so would be to in
he patriotism and wisdom OF the Senate. am now
eled, however. 10 notice some Of the observations
4 senator from New York, IMr. SEwARD,l which
sood him, said that the military code Furnishes all
ofiences--meanlng, suppose, that either this is
iilItary offence. or that there is an adequate pun
lot already to be found for it, But have before
If that an act like this is casus on,issus in the
code OF our army and repeat that | do not sup.
that il ever occurred to The trainers Of that code that
fcer would convert himself into civil and military
NOR, and assume the highest functions Of govern
over extensive districts Of country. The senator
The Executive has power 10 bring to punishment all
ry offences. Mr.. President, we have much safer
ty against the abuse OF power than is to be found
disposition Of any Executives; and that security is
jealous guardianship Of their own liberties by the
&ican people, and in the vgant action Of their rep
natives the first appearance OF an attempt to vo-
hem. defy that senator or any other to put his
upon that clause oil the constitution or OF the
which jusfes in the remotest degree, these start
proceedings in New Mexico. With respect to Cali
a. the proceedings there were just as destitute OF all
authority as those in New Mexico. The proclama-
|o Gen Riley, so far respects any valid effect, was
las much piece OF waste paper as is that OF Colonel
oe So far as it becomes precedent, has already
iced its legitimate fruit; and how mach further these
assumptions may 20, unless checked BY our in
IN, the most cursory examination OF the history
n nations will easily teach US
senator from New York has referred to my
4 and stated his own, in relation to the right OF
can citizens to establish a government tor them
y = where none is established for them by COM
A. authority They have both the right and the
lily 10 do this. am not going to argue the question
any at this lime and IN this country, as to this
L Of providing government, and thus providing for
existence OF lie, liberty, and all the elements OF
Ia order. If the paramount government, when there
me- do this. in the discharge OF its proper duty, all Is
l if they do not, the people must take the matter
their own hands. and they would stand justified in
ewes of God and man. And am as little disposed
pnler into any argument respecting the capacity OF the
erican people thus, by their own action, 10 provide
the very first wants OF society ALI experience has
wn their power 10 do this. From the days when
III OF Jamestown, we have gone on making govern.
is wherever they were wanted, neither asking nor
tng any military inierposltion II Is the hrst time
history that the sword has been thrown into the
and the people have been taught by military au-
what they ought to do.
Is state OF things demands prompt and immediate
on our part There is first step in every thing.
Cesar paused upon the Rubcon, contemplating
v fate and the destiny OF Rome, ne had already
d for his enterprise by long series OF measures,
to his own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and his country's
row. His first step had been taken long before
respect to California, say again that Gen. Riley
OF the slightest legal authority for what he did In
oning the people of that country to meet in conven
This whole proceeding was mere assumption OF
!, and as such not to be Justified But the present
is even stronger than that Congress Is now IN SEES
and is anxiously occupied with the discussion OF all
,ics arising out of this great subect-and this was
q v well known to the officer who undertakes to
lie our action by an action OF his own. The po-
nd geographical questions connected with New
I'D far more difficult than those which affected
fornia The population OF the latter was larger than
If some OF the States OF the Union. II was com.
a in great degree Of American citizens, able to
uct their own affairs as the ellow-citizens they had
behind them; and there was no vexed question OF
ndary, as there was no contentious State with
en- tney cOuu interfere. Dull SlluauOn Oh view
Sico is entirely different. The amount OF her
lstion, capable Of conducting State government, is
esented far inferior TO that OF any State ever adj
into the Union; and their moral and Intellectual
ition is represented to be such as would necessarily
Ter our action very cautious in such grave question
l. besides these difficulties there is still another, grow
out of the disputed boundary, with Texas. How It is
'ible 10 create a State government in New Mexico,
e authority should extend east OF the Rio Grande,
ut the previous adjustment oil this boundary line,
tofs aEa In luda fkan aaQ AZ
VI river within the population out OF which the
is to be formed, we decide by that very act SO far
can decide, that Texas has no claim to extend her
TO the Rio Grande; and thus we attempt to settle
military officer has decided, and in effect has arrested
hstion Of Congress, and superseded il by his own.
ID SEWARD. | am still at loss to perceive the
fence between the case OF New Mexico and that OF
tnia. Congress, It is true, is now in session but
ess had been in session for two terms, for the whole
moi the 30th Congress, and had been occupied with
eseci of providing government for California, as
tls New Mexico; and il was only during recess
gress that the people OF California assembled and
aire Constitution. The whole difference then, is,
a,ngress was actuallyn session in the one case and
alouned or taken recess IN the other. u SIX IN
tss case, and half dozen in the other. The prln.
Pm precisely the same. Well, the senator iron
ian says that it is the right OF the people. whether
% len thousand TO assemble, without previous law,
J ID government--so | understand him. He says
fAsnusl be beginning somewhere. i agree that II
%, night to assemble, as they have once assembled
sd believe that nobody complained Of il when they
Rseled in New Mexico, and, by their convention,
|nere an application for the establishment OF terri
"a government Nobody objected TO that applica-
~ Il went for nothing; II amounted TO moth
b unless sanctioned by Congress. That Is pre-
nj what will happen in this case. The hold
d another convention, and the framing Of
anution are conditional. preliminary acts, inchoaie
Is acts OF no validity or force I'LL sanctioned BY Con-
,s Now il the people have that right TO assemble TO
Inc constitution, which the honorable senator con-
des that they have, how is the transaction affected by
fact that the officer in charge OF the Territory, under
nnand OF the President OF the United States, sane
ned that proceeding II good without his interference,