Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-01-29
The Presidents Message on California,
sc.

sc.
On coming into Office the President
found the military commandant of the de-
parlment Of California exercising the fHnc-
tons Of civil Governor in that Territory;
and thought it best not to disturb the ar
rangement in any way.
With view to enable Congress to act
with full knowledge, T. Butler King had
been sent to California, and certain officers
to California and New Mexico, whose
duties were defined in letters from the va
rious departments, accompanying the mes
sage. The President says:
| did not hesitate to express to the peO-
pie of those territories my desire that each
territory should, if prepared to comply
with the acquisitions of the Congress Of
the United States, form plan of State
Constitution, and submit the same to
Congress, with prayer for admission into
the Union as a State but did not antlcI-
pate, suggest, or authorize the establish
ment of any such Government, without
the assent of Congress, nor did authorize
any Government agent or officer to inter
fere with nor exercise any influence or
control over the election Of delegates, or
over any Convention, in making or modi-
fving their domestic institutions, or any
nf the provisions of their proposed Con
stitution on the contrary, the Instructions
given nv nv orders were, that all meas
urcs of domestic policy must originate
solely with themsclvcs-that while the
Executive was DESTROYS TO protect and de-
Gend them in the formation Of any Govern
mcnt, republican in ils character, o'be at
the proper time submitted to Congress
vet it was to be distinctly understood that
the plan Of such governmentmust, at the
same time, he the result Of their OWN de-
Iberate choice, and originate with them
selves, without the interference of the Ex-
ecutive."
The President refers to the excitement
on the Slavery question which has always
attended the acquisition Of new Territory,
and concludes as follows:
Under these circumstances, | thought,
and still think, that it was my duty TO en-
dcavor to put it in the power of Congress,
by the admission of California and New
Mexico as States, to remove all occasion
for the unnecessary agitation Of the public
mind. It's understood that the people Of
the western part Of California have formed
plan of a State Constitution, and will
soon submit the same 10 the judgment of
Congress, and apply for admission as
State. This course OH their part, though
in accordance with my wish, was not
adopted exclusively in consequence of any
expression of my wishes, inasmuch as
measures tending to this end lad been
promoted by the officers sent there by my
predecessor, and were alread y i'll active
progress Of execution before any commu-
nication from me reached California. If
the proposed constitution shall, when sub
mitted TO Congress, be found to be in COM
pliance with the acquisitions of the Con-
stitution of the United Suites, earnestly
recommend that ii may receive the sane
ton OF Congress.
Should Congress, when California shall
present herself for incorporation into the
Union, annex condition TO her admission
as State, affecting her domestic insttu-
lions, contrary to the wishes of her people,
and even compel her temporarily TO COM
ply with it, yetthe State could change her
condition a, any time after her admission,
when to her i, should seem expedlent. 1t
is to be expected any attempt to deny TO
the people of tie State the right Of self
government, in matter which peculiarly
affects themselves, will infallibly be re-
garded bv them as an invasion of their
rights and upon the principle LAID down
in our own Declaration Of Independence,
they will certainly be sustained in their
resistance against it by the great mass OF
the American people. TO assert that they
are conquered people, and must submit
10 the will of their conquerors in this re-
gard, will meet with no cordial response
among American freemen.
| Conre It'd, as the Union is, with the
remembrance of past happiness. the sense
/ of present blessings, and the hope of future
peace and prosperity, every dictate Of
wisdom, every feeling of duty, and every
emotion of patriotism, tend to inspire fdel-