Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-25
-.
Erom The Re1,nLLic
he TERRITORIAL QUESTION

from lie great issue involved The Union quotes the
following passage from the message and pronouncesi
"a covert attempt to make Mr. Polk responsible for the
action OF Gen. Riley
therefore did not interfere NTH the po,vers of the
maHtary con1dnddnt, acho continued 10 exercise the
JdhcAons q ctUI governor, before; bat made no
Such appointment, conferred such authority, and
h0oe dHo,ced no increased compensation TO the COM
mqnddnt tor has services"
In this conneXion the Union contends that although
Cen Taylor may not have instructed Gen. Rleyto or
ganize civil government in California yet he is respon-
sible Tor that act, inasmuch as che failed to dsavow
and thereby recognized has action in thnt behalf"
We have no disposition to shirk this responsibility
upon the part OF the Administration. Indeed we are
quite willing that President Taylor should be regarded
as having taken the initiative in the transactions which
led to the formation OF State constitution for the ter
rltory OF California and as having first authorized the
establishment OF civil government there as preliminary
TO that measure Yet it is due to the truth of history,
mat whatever OF blame or praise attributable to the
conception of organizing civil government on the Pa
chic, should be bestowed upon the right parties. The
passage from the message quoted by the Union is
thing more than the simple declaration of fact which,
so lar from being covert attempt by the President of
any sort upon the last administration was the announce
ment OF preliminary policy which he would have been
willing himself to take; nay, more-had such policy
self constrained disturb the arrangements which he
found had existed under his predecessor"
Foe more perfect understanding OF the precise con-
dltlon OF things in California at the commencement of
the present administration the letter OF the
Secretary OF War; covering the documents relating to
that country furnished from his office, and submitted
with the message OF the President:
WAR DEPARTMENT, !
WASHINGTON, January ID, 1850.
SIR have the honor OF laying before you copies of
documents embracing the information called for from
this Department BY the resolution OF the House OF Re-
sentatives on the 3lst ultimo
beg leave to remark that the exercise OF civil autho
rlty by any military officer in California since the ter
mnation OF the with Mexico, was first assumed by
Brevet Brgader General Mason, under his procama-
ton, which issued on the It'll of August lS48-the
next day alter the intelligence reached him that peace
had been restored between the United States and Mex
partmen on the 22d November ls4s and its receipt ac
knowledged by the proper bureau on the 9th Of ia
nuary, lS49, without any comment.
Onthe 18th Of April, lS49, this officer was relieved
othis command in California, and wassucceeded by Bre
vet Brgadier General Riley. AT this period appears
to have been the purpose OF this latter officer with the
advice OF hspredecessor to have secured TO the people
OF that Territory farther enjoyment OF the laws Gus
toms and usages applicable to their condition and
wants and at the same time to have provided for the
organization OF government, such is contemplated
by the ninth article Of the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidago
and the Constitution OF the United States The cause
OF delay in executing the purpose OF this officer fully
explained by the following extract from communica-
ton from the commanding general Of the Pacific divi
SION, dated January 20, lS49, to this Department.
Under the hope that some act Of the last Congress
had PROVIDED or at least defined the government OF Ca
tornia it thought prudent to await intelligence Of
the close OF the session, and them if nothing had been
the laws already existing here, and at the time pro-
pose to the people of California form State constitu
ton and present at the next session Congress- when
their admission into the Union as State would at once
solve so many difficulties and, while it removed a
cause OF disagreement at home, would give them an
opportunity OF legislating for themselves.
1.-The steamer Edith has been Mazatlan for the
necessary intelligence and on her arrival with inorna
ton thai no other than revenue law had been passed,
General Riley issued proclamation Tor the election of
the necessary executive and judicial officers under the
existing laws, and recommending, at the time, the
election OF delegates to convention to form State
constitution. Mr. King arrived at the time these pro-
CARNATIONS were about being issued, and it matter
OF great congratuaton that the Government by antci-
patton, had approved Of the latter measure. Every
means will be used to give the people OF California
opportunity OF expressing their wishes this point and
OF bringing the matters to happy conclusion"
The necessity OF civil government in California;
adequate to protect and control its increased population
composed Of persons who had focked from all quarters
OF the globe, was daily rendered more apparent. The
common employment in which every interest was d-
rtectly or remotely connected, and OF dssim
lar IN habits and languages, and probably part not
without a lively sense OF an exclusive enjoyment,
showed the absolute want Ct an authority capable Of
UNFOLDING public aud private rights Indeed, this want
wasso obvious and urgent, that Legislative assemblies
were established in several districts OF California and by
Their authority the existing customs and laws, already
adverted to, were attempted 10 be superseded, The
whole plan was considered as Irregular and would, in
the end have been dangerous to the public peace and
the public interests.
lICAsLuuty vi Ule army was 10 execute the Of0ef
OF March Is, l848, Ito take measures with view to its
tCafofnla) permanent occupations; and the second, in
my oPnlon was to separate, as far practicable, the
citizens from the control of martial law. The Exeeu-
tive powers exercised by the commanding officers
IN California were varied only by the emergencies
they arose, which may be by their several reports
on the civil affairs OF that territory In their respective
administrations each has endeavored to avoid the ap
pcaton OF the principles and practices Of military law
Respectfully submitted
G. w. CRAWFORD.
1t will be from this letter that the exercise OF civil
authority after the peace in California was first as
sumed by Brevet Brigadier General Mason. The day
after the intelligence that peace had been made reached
MN, he issued his proclamation, notifying the people
that he intended 10 continue the exercise Of the civil au
thority heretofore vested in him
The records OF the war office furnished abundant evil
dence OF what sort of civil authority this was General
Mason had discharged the highest duties of civil COVER
nor lie appointed collectors, por-wardens, notares
public, alcaldes, harbor masters &c. He organized
State Department, of which Brevet Captain w Fl
Halleck was secretary Indeed he discharged the unc-
tlona and dutles common to the office OF civil governor
lhls proclamation and the records OF the acts OF Gen
Mason, as cvil governor, after the peace.
ceved at the Department of War before the opening Of
the session OF Congress Immediately preceding The ex
piration OF President Folks term of service On the
18th OF January, when time had been enjoyed for the
consideration OF General Masons assumption of power
after the peace the receipt OF his despatch was acknow
lodged ~ communication which failed to disavow
and thereby recognized his action in that behalf on the
part OF the last administration,
When General Riley relieved Bngadier General Ma
son, he assumed precisely the powers which his prede
eessor exercised with the assent OF President Folks adj
ministration
The extract contained in Mr.. Crawfords letter. from
a despatch from Major General Smith, Commanding
General OF the Pacific DIVISION informs that the ma
chnery OF the laws in existence in California, and mea
sures for the formation OF State constitution were in
progress before any orders that effect were received
from General Taylors administration. In so far then
as the responsibility OF President Taylor concerned it
is as complete though such had been made
in anticipation OF Mr.. Kings arrival in California The
Government here did not know, at the time Mr. Kings
was despatched to California what had been done there
with view to the formation OF State constitution
President Taylor moved in that matter as distinct
affirmative administrative measure for the purposes and
objects avowed in his message By these he is willing
to be judged by his countrymen. That he was antic
pated in part, does not deract from his accountability
though in giving narrative OF the past it was due 10
truth inform Congress OF what others had done in the
premises
A WHITE NEGRo.-The North Ca,olinia,, tells
story of a slave who has gradually become white The
chgnue is slnnNead IN hay been h, N,