Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-01-31
M y = FIfFfN3l 7ty7Nf = = =
q tlf H,rse of Representatives.
Il IF ne FHited S.ates /.

4 + WAsaISeTox. Jam I'll 1850.
+ lgtit H,ase ef RepresnG3sfrts
#.f IF nc Eaitcd Ssates
/ | transmit tothe House Of Representatives
ia answer to resolutiontof that body, pass.
I ed OF the 3lst of December last the accom-.
y p1nying reports Of the heads Of Departments
which contain all the official information siiu
+ wv possession Of the Executive asked for by
/ the Resolution
il ON coming into office I found tile military
! comnandant of the department of Califprs
/ ni4 exercising the functions Of ciIii govern
orlinI that Territory and left al | was Ito
aet nnder the treaty pf Guadalupe Hidalgo
/ without The aid Of any h,gtSlatira provision
/ inH establishing government in that Terri-
/ tory, thought il best MOTTO distarb that ar.
/ rahgement, made under my predecessor, iIn-
till Congress should take solae action on THAT
subject ! therefore did not interfere with
the powers of hemiI3tary commandment, who
continued to exereiseEthe functions Of ei4il
GOVERNOR rs before, but | made 10 such ILL.,
polhtment and have allowed no increased
compensation to thcf commandment for lis
sefrires A# I
With d view to th9 faithful execution Of
; the treaty, so far as lily in the power ofthe
. EAecptive. and to enable Congress to act al
the present. session with as full knowledge
ana a. little difficulty Jas possible on all mat
i teTs Of interest in these Territories, | sent
!. th& Hon Thomas Butler King az bearer 81
dispatches to California, and certain officers
/ 70 California and New Mexico, whose duE
tieR are particularly defined III tue accom- taE
nsfng letters ofinstruetionaldr eskedto them
seSerally by the proper department #ft
| dad not hesitate to express to the people
ofthose Territories my desire that each Ter-
ritPry should, ifprepared to comply withthe
acquisitions ofthe Constitution of the United
States, form plan Of State constitution,
AND submit the same TO Congress, with L
priyerfor admission into the Union asl
STATE but | did not anticipate, suggest, III
authorize the establishment ofany slfch gba
cramcnt without the assent Of Congress, n6r
dtd \ authorize any goyernm agent or ofti-
cen 70 interfere with, orexercise any inaucnSh
or control over the election Of delegates. HI
srany convention, III making Or modify
ina their domestic Institutions, sor any Of the
provisions Of their PROPOSED constitutional
IN the contrary, the instructions given by
my orders were, that all measures Of donel-
tlcHPplicy adopted by thc people iof Califba-
MID must originate solely with themselvesi.t
that wlsilcthe Exeentiyo ofthe United States,
was aiesirons to protect them in the forna
tldh Of any government republican in Ills.
character, to beat the proper time submit
ted u Congress yet il was to BID distinctly
understood that the plan of such govern
mHnt must at the same time be the result of
thfir own deliberate choice, and originate
bd, al
tha Executive f. IN
<If am unable to givs any information al 10
iaWs passed BY any supposed government HI
California or sof any census taken in eithAr
of THE Territories mentioned in the resqla
tibh, as I-have no information Oh those sub
jddts. }i#
As already stated, h. have not DISTURBED
thS arrangements WHICH | found fhaa existed
under my prede sessof. .I
In advising an eafly application hy the
people Of these Territories for admission lis
States, was actuated principally BY an eafrr-
| nest desire to afford To- the wisdom aud II,
/. ttiptism Of Congress the opportunity Of III
| yoiding occasions Of bitter and angry 1dis-
sEeRRsions among the people Of the Unital
States vi Hi
Under the Constitution every State has
i thy right'of establishing. and from time tb
time altering, its municipal lawsBahd dones-
ADMINISTRATIONS, Independently of every 9th
Or State and of the General Government, sub
jcdk onlyto the prohibitions and guarantees
! expressly set forth inIthe Constitution of the
! United States The subjects thus left ell
/ cukively to the respective States were not
4 designed or expeetedto becometopics of MI
Il tiotal agitation Still, as under the Gonsti-
tuition Congress has power to make all need
/ fulErules and regulations respecting the Ter
britaries 6f the United States, every new ae-
/ duisitieIfQf Territory has led tp discussion
| on the Question whether the system Of III
4 voluntary seryitude which prevails in many
/ Of the States should BE- should not be pro.
hititel i'm that Territory. The period III
Excitement from this cause which have here
tof6re occurred have been safely passed, bit
during the interval Of whatever length which
H may elapse before the admission Of the Tar-
| ritories eeded BY McKee, as States, it appears
/ probable that siaiilar exeitemeni viii pre,
vail TO an undue extent
Il Under these circumstances Thought, add
still think, that IL was my dutyEto endeaySr
1 to put il in the power of.Gongress, By the all
/ mission3of California and New Mexico as
States. 10 remove all occasion for the uh-
necessary agitation of Tic public mind.
1t is understood that the people Of The
westernpart Of California have formed plan
4 ofa State constitution. and will soon submit
the same to the Judgment Of Congress, ami
1 apply f1r admission as a State This course
4 on their part, though 10 acceptance with
/ was notadopted exclusively in tonscqnencs
Il Of, any expression Of my wishes, inasmuch Il:
Il measures tending To this end has been PRO
melted by the officers sent there By my prs
] desessof, and we're already IN active prugress.
Il Of execution before any Communication from
mereached California Iftbe proposed cor
stitutioh shall, when submitted ID Congress
be found.to be inconipliancc With the requi
H sitions of the Constitution Of the UniteH
II States, earnestly recommend that il mag
receive the sanction of Congress
The part Of California not included iii til,
proposed State 81 that name i believed Y
be uniHhabited, except ii asettIementof ou
eolntryanen in the vicinity Of Salt Lake.
y clafm has been advanced BY the Stat
Of Texas to a very large portion of the mos
populous district Of the Territory comincnI
designated By the name IF New Me xico
the people Of New Mexico had formed i PHI
Of State government for that Territory 4
ceded by the Treaty Of Guadalupe HislaleE
and Ind been admitted 81 Congress Is
State, our Constellation would have affordt
the mesns Of obtaining IN adjustment pf II