The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-08-16

DTOVal Ot RreSlueut IOlks III tue mean
time, a treaty Of peace has been conclu-
ded with Mexico, by which boundary
line was established that left this tettito-
ry within the United States, thereby con
6rmiug to the United States by treaty.
what We had before acquired by CON
quest. The treaty, in perfect accord.
ance with the proclamation 0f General
Kearuey, declared that the Mexicans le.
manning in this territory should be iucnr.
pnrated iutn the Union of the United
States, and be admitted at the proper
time, ito be judged Of by the Congress
of the United States TO an enjoyment Of
all the rights Of citizens of the United
States, according to the principles of the
Constitution: "And in the meantime
should be maintain ed and protected in
the free enjoyment of their liberty aud
property, aud secured In the free exer.
else uf their religion without restriction" F"
Illus it will be perceived that the author.
ity If the United States over New Mex.
leo, was the result of conquest; and the
possessiou held Of it, in the first place.
was Of cuurse a military possessiou.
The treaty added the title by cession TO
the already existing title by successful
achievements in arms. With the peace,
there arose a NATURAL expectation that, as
early as MS possible, there would come "a
civil government Ia supercede the militia
~. But unit some such form 0fgovern'
mehl should come into existence, 1t was
matter Of absolute necessity that the mil
ilary government, shouId continue, as 9TH
erwise the country must fall into abs"lute
anarchy And this has been the course
generally, in The practice OF civilized ma
liuns. when coionies or territories have
been acquired Ly war, and their acquisi
ton confirmed by treaty.
The military government, therefore
existing in New Mexico at the date oI
lLe order. existed there of inevitable ne
cessily. 1t existed Us much against the
will of the Executive Government Of the
United States. as against the will of the
people Tho late President had adopted
the opinion, that it was juslifiable in the
people Of the territory, under the circum'
stances, to fulrn a constitution ofgovern
! meut, without any previnus authority con
ftrred by Congress. and thereupon to ap
, ply for admission into tho Union. IL wa
under this state of things, and under TIN
v influence Of these opinions. that the orJe
4 oflhe l0lh November last was given. all,
executed in the manner we have seeI
i The order indicates no boundary, an
defines M territory, except by the nam
Of New Mexico; aud 81 far as that ind
Gated anything. II referred to terrtot,
$ which had been organized under mililar
r authority, approved by the Executive
v and left without "Reminiscences Ur alteri
;, lion by Congress for more than tire
years.--ll appears to the President, thu
such an order could not have been nteI
/ ded to invade the rights of Texas.
r Secondly you ask whether the procli
nation of Colonel Munroe meets with til
approval of tue President Of the Unite
Stutesl
II To determine this question, it is nece
sary to look at the Olject Of the proclaim
# tion. aud tho cgect oft the proceedings ha
Ir under it. If the object was To assume Il
70 authority To settle the disputed boundal
with Texas, then the President has n
;, hesitation in saying, such objec doeG nj
}. meet his appreciation, because lIe do,
e not believe that tho Executive branch (
" this Gnvernment or the inhabitants {
f New Mexico, or both cumbiued, have an
u. constitutional authority to settle thu
question. That belongs either to the ju
5 diciul department uf the Federal Go'
ernmenl Ur To the concurrent action b
agreement of the legislative deparlmel
4 Of the Governments Of the United State
!. and Texas. But it has been sufficient
|. shown TINT Colonel Munroe could hav
k had no such object, aud that his intertio
G was merely To act in aid Of tho people
# forming State constitution to be SUI
% mitte1 to Congress.
a Assuming then that such cnnstltulio
10 has been formed, what is its effect upt
is The DISPUTED boundaryl lfit compromi
Is the rights Of eilher party to ih It question
10 then il does not meet the Presidents o.
N probalion for he deems il his duty
leave the settlement uf that question
% the tribunal to which it consttuionlly bt
,, longs. 1t is sufficient for him that th
If boundary is in dispute. That tho terr
:. tory east ofthe Rio del Norle sesms To b
d claimed in good faith, both by Texas an
!, New Mexico, or rather by the Unite
n States. Whatever might be his judi
). ment in regard tn,heir respective right
!. he has no power to decide upon them, {
y even 10 negotiate in regard to them; al
n lhetef1rc it would 6e improper for him
r. express amy opinion. The subject matte
J. Of dispute is between the United State
1, aud Texas. not between the inhubitan
II OF Now Mexico aud Texas.
- II those people should voluntarily col
i. sent To come under the Jurisdiction I
=. Texas. such consent would not bind I'll
III United States, or take away their tit
10 To the Territory, So, on the other ham
ID if they should voluntarily claim tho tit
Of TOT the United States, it would not d
70 prive Texas Of her rights, whatever tho'
b. rights might be. They eau only bc Il
Mt footed by her own acts, or u judicial d
u. cision. The State constitution form,
ho by New Mexico can have no legal vail
ut. i,y until IT is recognized by tho law.ma
ID. ing powers Of tho United States. Uu
that is dnno il has no sauct. on. and G.
nv have NJ ollec, upon tho rights Of Texg