Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-26

plated by the ninth article The treaty of uadaupe Hialoo
and the constitution OF the United States The
in executing the purpose of this officer is fully explained
by the following extract from communication from the com
manding general Of the Pacific DIVISION dated January 90
ls49, to this Department.
"Under the hope that Of the last Congress had
provided, at least Defined the government of California
ii thought prudent await intelligence Of the close Of
the session, and then, if nothing had been done in WASH
ngon to put in action the machinery of the laws already
existing here and at the time propose to the people
California to form State constitution, and present the
next session of Congress- when their admission into the
Union State would at solve many difficulties
and, while removed of disagreement at home,
would give them opportunity of egsatng for themselves
"The steamer Edith has been to Mazatan for the
scessay intelligence, and, her arrival with information
that other than law had been passed, General
Riley issued proclamation for the election 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
rived at the time these procamaons about being
issued and matter of great congratuaton that the
Government by anticipation, had approved Of the latter
measure Every 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 ocked from all quarters Of the GLOBE
daily rendered apparent The employment in
which interest directly remotely connected and
Of dssmiar in habits and languages and probably
part not without lively Of exclusive enjoyment,
showed the absolute want of authority capable Of uphold
vous and urgent that legislative assemblies established
in several districts Of California and by their authority the
existing customs and laws already adverted attempt
ed to be superseded The whole plan was considered as ire
ua and would in the end have been dangerous the pub
lie peace and the public interests.
Tho first duty of the army the order Of
March TO- ls4s, to take measures with view to its Goa
ona permanent occupation =; and the second, in my opin
ion to separate far practicable the citizens from
the control Of martial law The executive powers exercised
by the two commanding officers in California varied only
hu
several reports the civil affairs of that territory In their
respective administrations each has endeavored avoid the
application of the principles and practices Of military law.
To the PnEsIprsr 6. W. CRAWFORD.
1t will be from this letter that the of civil
thoriy, after the peace in California, first assumed by
Breve Brgadier General MASON. The day after the nte-
that had been made reached him. he issued his
proclamation notifying the people that he intended continue
the exercise of the civil authority Heretofore vested in him.
The records of the War Office furnished abundant evidence
Of what sort of civil authority this General Mason had
discharged the highest duties of civil governor He appoint
ed collectors port wadens notaies public acades harbor
masters, &c. He organized State department, of which
Breve Captain H. W. HALLKcK was secretary. Indeed. be
discharged the functions and duties the office Of
civil governor.
This proclamation and the records Of the acts of General
Mason, civil governor after the peace received at
the Department of War before the opening of the session of
Congress Immediately preceding the expiration Of President
PoLKs term of service On the 9th of January, when time
had been enjoyed for the consideration of General MAsos
assumption power after the peace the receipt his despatch
acknowledged in communication which failed to dis
and thereby recognised his action in that behalf"
the part of the last Administration.
When General RILEY relieved Brigader General Mason,
he assumed precisely the powers which his predecessor
csed with the assent of President PoLKs Administration.
The extract, contained in Mr.. CnAwFoRDs letter. from
despatch from Major General SMITH, Commanding General
of the Pacific DIVISION informs that the machinery of the
laws in existence in California, and for the forma
ton of Stale constitutions progress before any orders
to that effect received from General TATLoRs Admins
ation. In far, then, the responsibility Of President
TAYLOR is concerned is complete though such
move had been made in anticipation of Mr. KINGs arrival in
California The Government here did know, at the time
Mr. KING dispatched to California, what had been
done there with view to the formation of State consttu
ton President TAYLOR moved in that matter distinct
affirmative administrative measure, for the purposes and OBJ
jecs avowed in his message By these be is willing to be
judged by his countrymen That he anticipated in part
does not detract from his accountability though in giving
narrative Of the past due to truth to inform Congress
Of whatothers had done in the premises
If there ever was a Document entitled to the
praise OF honesty, frankness, and devotion to the
welfare of the Republic, it is the Message of the
President in the preceding columns.
Yet, whoever has brought himself to the conclu-
sion that to State paper it is necessary to
find something in it to condemn, will have found
himself undeceived on taking up the {" Union = of
yesterday morning, and perusing its comments
upon this Message.
The plain English of the commentary, as a
whole, is, that the Message is not satisfactory to
the commentator, and that it is not so, simply be-
cause it presents no points which even an avowed
enemy can turn against its author. The chief
particular exception to any part of it is, that this
Administration has evaded responsibility, because
it would not, before it could even hear how they
would work, revoke the Instructions of the last
Administration to Agents of its own appointment
in California, and arbitrarily annul all that had
been done under them Of the sense or congruity
Of such objection as this, let every reader Judge
for himself.
The g Union takes exception also, however,
to the recommendation to leave the Territory mot
included in the State of California; under its exist
ing Government until the people who inhabit it
shall be disposed to form Constitution Of self
government; and it takes that exception on the