The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-07
CITY OF WASHINGTON.


The Executive Usurpasion In New msxics.
The more we reflect on The recent news from New
Mexico the more we are asounded at the outrage which
has been committed. General Taylor pledged, BY
every engagement which could bind an honorable man.
10 conne himself strictly the discharge Of his
tive duties. On most OF the important questions which
agtaed the country when he was candidate, he protect
ed himself from direct committal by pleading his will
lngness to defer the will of the peoples and since the
commencement OF his administration he has pleaded his
Difference for the rights Of Congress- in order toevade and
avoid declaration OF his purposes and designs when
ever -committasm suited his objects. Yet now we
find that despite these professions OF meekness and mod
eaton he has been induced, by the irresponsible and I'M
scrupuIous men who surround him. not only 10 insult
Congress and the people, but 10 usurp powers which be-
long TO the Supreme Court-to set the constitution at
Defiance and to the power and authority to settle
adecate and dangerous boundary question by the agency
OF the sword.
If rightly informed, il was admitted on the floor
Of the Senate. fully and explicitly, Friday, that the
President responsible for the late transactions in Santa
Fe, by which State convention was organized and
a State constitution was framed II this be true, the
President should be impeached for usurping kingly
powers and for trampng on the rights OF sovereign
her boundary from its mouth to it's source Whether
that claim be abstracy just unjust. ques,
lion that il is good against the United States But adj
hitting il to be utterly unounded. yet is not competent
for the President to decIe that matter His executive du
ties confer no such authority upon him. and be has
more right to undertake such task than any Other cit
izen Of the United States But il that be has un
dertaken II and while Congress was celebrating upon
New Mexico to call convention TO meet in the territory
claimed by Texas, to carve counties out OF part Of
the State Of Texas and to give to persons whom Texas
claims her citizens, resident her soil, and
anenabe to her sovereignty, all the privileges and inn
mnni,ies Of a separate and distinct people. II the
President can rightfully do these things, what limit
is there to his authorityi Where the metes
and bounds Of his power'
We hold that any claim OF sovereign Stale OF
this Union is not invalid until the competent
sttniional tribunal has SO decided In the present
instance the claim Of Texas to the Rio Grande has
been repeatedly sustained by the United States Be-
fore the Mexican war was anticipated, and before
General Taylor left Corpus Christi, the laws
OF The United States had been extended to the Rio
Grande and officer appointed reside beyond
the Neuces BY her treaty with Santa Anna, Texas OBJ
aimed the Rio rande, from its mouth to It's source
her boundary She claimed that boundary up to the PEE
Rod Of annexaiion and by the articles Of annexation
she transferred, she bound TO do, the boundary
question to the United States, and the United States be-
came bound to protect her rights far they extended
against any claim which Mexico, the only party TO the
controversy, might bring forward. The Mexican
sued because the Mexican forces crossed the Rio Gande
and assaied General Tayors troops in the State Of
Texas When that war terminated, all the claim oil
Mexico east Of the Rio Grande extinguished and
the United States became the purchaser OF other territories
beyond that river and extending the Pacific and high
up as Oregon.
Under these circumstances, hold that the govern
nent OF the United States has no right to question
,he claim Of Texas. The federal authority--the guar
dian Of the territorial rights Of each and every Stale
against foreign asgressonhas no right TO purchase uT
foreign titles. and then despo those il is bound TO pro-
iect II ever New Mexico should be admitted into the
Union then the Supreme Court may decide any question
Of boundary which may arise between Them But in the
time the federal government has such authority
Yet branch OF the federal government-the execu-
ivehas usupcd that authority; and. backed by the army
which il controls, has undertaken coverty and secretly
without notice and without argument, decide the ques-
lions involved 10 the Texan boundary. The Gordian
knot has been severed with the sword and the has
been committed while Congress was in session, and
celebrating the issue presented, and engaged
devisng the best OF adjusting the difficulties be-
tween Texas and New Mexico. No can fail TO
member the simulated horror which the wing party
fesed when they found that Mr. Polk bad acceded Gen
Taylofs recommendation and authorized the march from
Corpus Christi. The wings seemed TO be indignant be-
cause the President dared march army into territory
which was disputed" although the revenue laws Of The
United States had been extended that territory. and
Mexico had made any dispute relative to the coun
try west OF the Nueces. Congress session, they
said and therefore they denounced the war the Pres
denrs war; and insult to Congress. well as an out.
rage 10 Heaven. Is the claim OF State less holy in the
eye OF the constitution than the claim OF Mexcos Has
President Taylor any authority seize upon ter.
rory claimed by Texas. and endeavor to establish
State, than President Polk had to order march from
Corpus Christi to Fort Browni Have the relations be-
tween Congress and the Executive changed since 1916
Has the President in the year 1880, the right to wresi
from Congress questions coming within its rghfu urs-
LECTION And has he the right. during session OF Con-
sress at any other time, to set up State within the
jurisdiction OF sovereign State OF the confederacy, and
10 incite the citizen to act OF and rebellion
against his Commonwealth Yet General Taylor, In.
s,gsted and seduced BY the corrupt who surround
him, has done thee things, II Mr. Bell has been rightly
understood II he has, he deserves impeachment and