Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-01-25
[E'ron The Ii,aSiineton i'nion.l
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| TflE CALIFORNlA MESSAGE.
We lay before readers the Presidents
the House OF Repesen Yesterday, communicating
formation relative 10 California in obedience resolution,
brought forward by Mr.. NcnabIc Of North Carolina The
documents accompanying this message have yet been
ordered 10 bc printed; and of cannot pcscn;
avail ourselves Of the light which they will throw upon tn,
words of the But there certain III the
message Itself which We cannot over without comment
The first thing which must strike every reading
this paper is the Of dcctness in lis statements ii
have been prepared under impression that il
necessary make communication the House u Re-
pescnlatvrs while there is plain and patent attempt Ia
make that communication as barren possible. Those who
surround General Taylor 10 know that the papers
which accompany message be read only by few,
while the itself is within the reach Of all And the
plan be adopted I" make The
possible with The knowledge that IT, hidden meaning
only bc unravclcd by few, who may have the time the
opportunity 10 read the papers that accompany IT, This
feature was prominent in the annual message of General
Tavlor and il is if possible still prominent in the
sage which we lay before readers to-day.
II is known 10 ALL that since Gen. Rlcys proclamation
was received the Atlantic coast, rontcnded that
peace having been concluded it srpalion of power
recsabish the Mexican government the people ri
California and that any coercion which may have been
crcscd in California was III violation OF the principles oi
constitution and in derogation o the rights Of pcn
pie Pacific 1t is apparent that Mr. Ncnah ;
resolutions sought for direct and specific information ON
those points 1t was therefore, the duty of the President if
he did than simply communicate the papers and
respondence touching California affairs 10 state distinctly
what had been done in that Territory But although his
credited leader in the Senate had charged upon Mr. oks
administration the responsibility of the proceedings Of Gen.
Rleya charge which he forced 10 ctract afterwards
General Taylor speaks in and unsatisfactory
ner which tends ncupate the last administration, while
he leaves shield himself from the consequences of
such charge For example: he SAYS that when he came
into power he found the military commandan of California
exercising the functions Of civil governor in that territory
and adds:
IL therefore did interfere with the powers If the mill
tay commandan who continued 10 exercise the functions
of civil GOVERNOR before; but made such appointment
conferred such authority and have allowed increased
compensation IL the cominandant for his services
This il will be is covert attempt To make Mr.. Polk
responsible the action Of Gen. Riley while assertion
10 tha, ccc, il studou>y avoided And Gcn Taylor
diouslv avoids also mention whether General Riley
proclamation, which reached the Atlantic coast after Mr.
Polk was in his .ravr his friends have alleged Is
sued in obedience 10 instructions from Mr. Pok's admins
ration That would have been specific. But, mark he
leaves the inference (whou asserting the fac That The
proclamation was IN accordance win instructions from The
late administrations for he says in another part OF the mes
aAs already stated have not disturbed the arrangements
| which ] found had existed under my predecessor
/ Now any who has the correspondence between
Gen Riley and Mr.. Crawford accompanying the report
the Secretary of War will The dsngenuousncss of th,
portion of the message. General Riley appointed mill
ary commandment of California by Mr. Polk and such
acted told civil governor; but he did not attempt
to up and recognize the Mexican government in Caio
MA or issue his proclamation for convention until
months after General Taylor naugurated Granted a
General Taylor did not instruct him TO take this course ye
it is nconcstahy that the present administration ailcc
to dsavow and thereby recognised his action in That bcdf
Mr. Crawords despatch 10 Gen. Riley dated nj Washing
Il ton "August "a, lSi9 says expressly;
right which appcr,ans 10 the people OF Caifoniaha
forming constitution and asking admission into the UnioI
of these Staes-ths department has watched with grca
care and socitudc the steps already taken effect these oh
ccts Regarding your proclamation of the 81 Of June las
as notice intended in part TO render popular action uniform
in respect TO the desired organization of California into
more perfect government Is secn with great satisfaction
that your propositions had been accepted with great cheer
uncss and aacrty except in few instances, where il is
supposed selfish and unpatriolic motives prevailed"
This is only direct endorsement of Gen. Riley proc
amation which called convention, apporiioned its mem
bcrs and re-esabshcd the cricdn g0rcrnmen but dspo
ses of the opposition made that proclamation in Caor
mia bv the supposition that II sprung from SelS and
pntrioc Botires But il seems that Gen. Riley. went fur
her and proposed TO allow the people of California To
THE ACTION OF CoSGREss" This disavowed by
the administrations for Mr.. Crawford, writing from Wash
naton under date of 'Novcmbcr 2S lSi9,' says:
aThe Adutant General has submitted to this department
your letter of October l. the subject of the civil affair
of California in which your propose should it be the wis
of the people put the new into operation
without waiting the action of Congress- surrender you
civil powers into the hands of the executive of tha
Territory unless specially ordered 10 the contrary AZ IN
arrangement contemplated by yon may already have beef
made any instructions from this department contrary t
your views the subject might initiate against tho
and quiet Of the community and be productive of evil Tn
frs, consideration is due observance OF law and order
and this is hoped and believed will be attained under tn
new state oi things
Mr. Crawford distinctly declines ordering General Rle
"u the contrary and thereby expressly authorizes him,
be the wish of the people, 90 PIT The eorernme int
opsrafion ,rhom rafting he dctioH IF Congress- And yc
this administration cndeavors 10 avodts nst responsibility
and hides itself behind Mr. Polks administration because
forsoath when General Tay or into power he ioun
the military comnandant of California exercising the tune
tons of civil GOVERNOR But another point in the mes
sage.
distinctly announced that The administration al
vocates the admission of California State with her pre-
sent boundaries leaving the Of the territory acquire
from Mexico to form State governments and apply hereaitc
for admission sovereign States. Within the last ley
DAYS. have than exposed this scheme Yet W
feel that ii is raught with danger that it cannot be ex
posed too Often IL s intended merely as an evasion oi m
Wimot provisoan unmany shrinking from that respons
bity which the Constitution imposes on The Executive.
Yet ii will satisfy the people OF the North nor YET w
quiet the people Of the South They will thai they ar
excluded The scheme is full Of peril, and we fear m'c
that those who recommend it, see that peril bur sun aa
here 10 for party purposes General Iaylos admin
by the people from one end of the country to the other an
we believe the cabal which rules it has deliberately omene
and kept alive the slavery agitation so that the 1alon ma
he placed in peril and they may M the has OF IN
ndo nf fha nafi0