Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-01-30
SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT

To The House of Representatives. the q. States
transmit 10 The House Of Representatives, in
answer 10 resolution Of That bUdy, passed on the
3lsl Of December last, the accompanying reports OF
Heads of Departments, which contain all The ofti-
cal information in the possession Of the Executive
asked for by the resolution.
On coming into office found the military COM
mandant Of The department Of California exercising
the functions of Civil Governor in that Territory,
aud, left as was 10 act under the treaty OF Gauda-
lupe Hdalgo, without the aid Of any legislative pro-
visions establishing Government IN that Terrific
nv, thought it best not To disturb that arrangement
made under my predecessor, until Congress should
take some action on that subject. therefore did
not interfere with the powers of the military com
mandant who continued to exercise the functions of
civil governor as befure, but made such appoint.
ment, conferred no such authority, and have allow
ed no increased compensation 10 the commandant
for his services
With a view to the faithful execution Of the Trea
,y, so far as lay in the power The Executive, and
to enable Congress to act at the present session with
as full knowledge and as little difficulty as possible
on all matters ofnerest in these Territories, sent
the Hon. Thos Butler King as bearer Of despatch
es TO California and certain officers 10 California and
New Mexico, whose duties are particularly defined
in the accompanying letters of instruction, address
ed to them severally by the prnper Departments.
did not hesitate to express to The people Of those
Territories my desire that each Territory should, If
prepared to comply with The acquisitions Of the cum
slitution of the United States, form plan ola State
Constitution, and submit The same to Congress, with
a PRAYER for ad omission into the Union as a Stale
but did not anticipate, suggest or authorize the es-
adjustment Of any such Government without the
assent of Congress, nor did authorize any Govern
ment agent or officer 10 interfere with or exercise
any influence or control over the election OF Dele
gates, or over any Convention, in making or mndl-
flying their domestic institutions. or any OF The pro-
visions of their prupnsed constitution. On the CON-
rary the instructions given by my orders were that
all measures of domestic pulley adopted by the peo
pie Of California, must originate solely with them
selves; and while the Executive of The U. States
was DESTROYS to protect them in the formation Of any
Government, republican in lis character, 10 be at
the prnper time submitted to Congress, yet it was
To be distinctly understood that the plan of such
Government must at the same time be the result Of
their own deliberate choice and originate with them
selves without the interference Of the Executive.
am unable to give any information as TO laws
passed by any supposed Government in California,
or of any census taken in either of the Territories
Mentioned in The resolution, as have no informa-
'tion on those subjects.
As already stated, have Hot disturbed the ar
engagements which found had existed under my
predecessor.
In advising an early application by the people of
these territories for admission as states, was acu.
sied principally by an earnest desire to afford TO The
wisdom and patriotism of Congress the opportunity
Of aaoding occasions of bitter and angry dissensons
aiming the people Of the United States.
L. al. Gtato boot tho r0hf
of establishing, and from time 10 time altering its
municipal laws and domestic institutions, indepen-
IDENTIFY ofevery other State and The General Gov
ernrnent subject only to the prohibitions and guar
antics expressly SET forth in the Constitution of the
United States. The subjects thus left exclusively
in the respective States, were not designed or ex.
pected' to become topics of national agitation. Sill
as. under the Constitution, Congress has power to
make all needful rules and regulations respecting
the Territories of the United States, every new 40.
QUESTION Of Territory has led 10 discussions on the