Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-08-19
Presidents Message.
TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO.

To The Senate ana House 0J nePTeSentd-
tives:
herewith :ransmi, TO the two Houses of
Congress a letter from his excellency, the
Governor Of Texas, dated on The l4lh day
Of June last. addressed to the late President
of the United States, which. not having
been authorized by him, came into my
hands on his death; and also transmit
COPY Of the answer which | felt it to be my
duty 10 cause to be made to that communi-
cation. Congress will perceive that the
Governor of Texas officially states tina: by
authority of the Legislature of that State
he dispatched special commissioner with
full power and instruction TO extend the
civil jurisdiction of the State over the un-
organized counties of Ell Passo, Worth,
Preside and Santa Fe, situated on its
Northwestern limits.
He proceeds to say that the commission
er had reported 10 him in an official form
that the military officers employed IN the
service of the United States. stationed al
Santa Fe, interposed adversely with the
inhabitants to the fulflment Of his object,
in favor of the establishment Of a separate
State Government, East of the Rio Grande,
and within the righlful limits of the State
ofTexas. These four counties which lex
as proposes 10 establish and organize as
being within her own jurisdiction, extend
over the whole of the territory East of the
Rio Grande, which has heretofore been
regarded as an essential and integral part
of the department Of New Mexiso, and &C.
tually governed and possessed by her peo-
pie, until conquered and severed from the
Republic of Mexico by the American
arms. The Legislature Of Texas has
been called together by the Governor
for the purpose. as is understood, OF main
tanning her claim TO the territory East Of
the Rio Grande, and of establishing over
il her own jurisdiction and her own laws
by force. These proceedings of Texas
may we'll arrest the attention OF all branch
es Of the Government Of the United States,
and rejoice that they occur while the Con.
gress ils ct in session.
Ii is, fear, far from being impossible
that in consequence of these proceedings
of Texas crisis may be brought on which
shall summon the two Houses Of Congress
and still more emphatically, the Executive
Government, to an immediate readiness
for The performance of these respective du-
ties. By the constitution of the United
States the President is constituted comman-
der-in chief Of the army and navy, and OF
the militia of the several states, when call
ed into the actual service of the United
States. The constitution declares, also,
that he shall take care that the laws be
faithfully executed, and that he shall from
time 10 time give to Congress information
Of the state of the Union. Congress has
power by the Constitution to provide by
calling for the militia to execute the laws
of the Union, and suitable and appropriate
acts Of Congress have been passed, as well
for providing for calling forth the militia,
as for placing either suitable and efficient
means in the hands of the President. TO en-.
able him 10 discharge the constitutional
functions Of his Office.
The second section of the act Of The 26th
Of February, 1875, declares that whenever
the laws of the United States shall be op-
posed, or their execution obslrucied, IN any
state, by combinations too powerful to oe
suppressed by the ordinary course OF judi
cial proceedings Of the power vested in The
mershals. the President may call forth the
militia so far as it may be necessary to
suppress sach combinations, and 10 cause
the laws to be duly executed. BY the act
Of March Sd, 1907. it is provided that in
all cases of obstruction 10 The laws either
OF the United States, or any individual
state, or territory, where it is lawful for
the President to call forth the military, for
the purpose or causing the laws to be duly
executed, it shall be lawful for him 10 en-
ploy for the same purposes such part Of
! the land or naval force of the United
States as shall be judged necessary. These
several enactments are now in full force;
so that if the laws OF the United States are
opposed or obstruc,ed by combinations too
powerful TO be suppressed by The judicial
or civil authority, and it becomes a case
in which it is the duty Of the President
either to call out the militia, or 10 employ
The military or naval force Of the United
States, or 10 do both, if in his judgment,
the exigency OF the occasion shall so re-
quire, for the purpose of suppressing such
combination, the constitutional duty Of the
President is plain and peremptory-the
authority vested in him by the laws for its
performance is clear and ample.
Texas is state authorized TO maintain
her own laws, so far as they are not re.
pugnant to the constitution, laws and trea-
ties of the United States. 10 suppress insur-
rec,ions against her authority, and punish
those who commit treason against the state,
according to the forms provided by her
own constitution and her own laws. Bu,
this power is local, and confined entirely
| within the limits of Texas herself. She
can possibly confer no authority which
can be lawfully exercised beyond her own
boundary. All this is plain and hardly
needs argument or elucidation. If Texan
militia, therefore, march into any one of
the other States, or into any territory of
the United States, there TO execute Dr en-
force any law of Texas, they become at
that moment trespassers-they are no
longer under the protection of any lawful
authority. and are 10 be regarded merely
as intruders; and if within such state or