The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-05

forna during the war by direction of the late Presi
dent, recognised and continued the Mexican laws
IN force, except as modned by these iorms OF civil
government
1t would be recoected that Mr.. Polk, in his mes
sage of July 1545, vindicated his right, under the
law OF nations, TO establish these civil governments
In his last annual message, he said; "The only
government which remained (after the treaty. was
that established by the military authorities during
the war. Regarding this to be de taeto govern,
ment, they were adcised to conform and
submit to il for the short intervening period before
Congress should assemble and legislate on the sub
ject" This government, established In California
continued in existence until the formation OF the
Constitution of that State, when General Riley
rendered il to the duly constituted authorities
selected by the people. California, notwithstand-
ing an expressed desire TO remand her back into
territorial condition, will remain State, and main
tain her present government. The government
established by General Kearny, In 1896 for New
Mexico, is still the government of that territory
Col. Monroe is the civil governor. Mr.. y pro-
ceeded at some length TO answer the objections to
the admission Of California into the Union, and TO
show that certain gentlemen designed that the &C
QUESTION from Mexico should extend slavery; and
now, because it likely to come In as free terri
tory, they must not undertake to shift their acts
upon the present Administration. Nor was this
the only instance in which they got more than they
bargained for The late administration sent Cen
eraI Taylor to Mexico, with view to conquest and
popularity, and to perpetuate their own power !;
but in less than three years from the time that the
first blood was shed on the field OF Pao Alto, they
themselves
room for the victorious general-now the Chief
Magistrate of the nation.
During the past week, book Of two hundred
and fifty five pages had been laid upon his (Mr sgd
table, entitled Scuba and the Cubans," which he
garded due notice that project was foot to
| annex that island to the United States. Now, he
| wished to give what the lawyers term cross no
| hce, that when Cuba comes into this Union she
free. That is the decree of the people of
| the free States, and il will be obeyed.
He then contrasted the proposed Nashville con-
yention with the Chicago harbor and river conven-
ton, showing that the latter was to concentrate
public opinion in opposition to the man power,
arbitrarily exercised by the late President, and
| that the former is regarded reasonable
ment against the Union of the States.
In conclusion, he desired to say that General
Taylor has shown himself equal to the great crisis
at which have arrived in the history of this ma
ton. He declared, "Whatever dangers may threat
en- the Union, shall stand by it and maintain il in
its integrity to the full extent of the obligations
imposed and the potoer conferred upon me by the
Constitution"
| This patriotic and determined resolution has
| found response in every American bosom. The OBJ
legations imposed on him to s'preserve, protect,
and defend the Constitution, and take care that
the laws be faithfully executed The power con-
ferred upon him is that Of Commander in chief of
the Army and Navy of the United States, and of
the Militia of the several States, when called into
the actual service of the United States" With
| these obligations imposed, and power conferred,
by the Constitution, who doubt that the hero of
Buena Vista will crush every attempt at disunion,
| or resistance to the laws1 He has strong hold
upon the affections Of the people Of the whole
try; and the first covert act of resistance to the
| laws would bring to his aid millions of freemen,
who would rally with enthusiasm around the flag
Iof their country, to aid him in maintaining the
Constitution and the Union, which has been &C.
mented by the blood of our fathers. But he trusted
the day would never come when such aid would be
necessary. President Taylor desires harmony and
concord, and the pcrpetuation of the Union Of the
States. He has pledged himself to carry out the
nofth la hat x,sll he
we need have no fears that he will violate any of
| the principles claimed for him in the campaign
that resulted in his elevation to the position which
| he now so gloriously occupies.
| Mr.. WALLACE obtained the floor when the
| committee rose,
| And the House adjourned.
The following petitions presented yester-
| BY Mr. SCHERMERHORN: The petition Of
James F. Conckn and sixty other citizens of Mon
roe county, New York, asking for the repeal of the
act of February, lS45, extending Woodworth's
planning machine patent
By Mr.. BURROWS: The petition of E. H. Gar
| butt and one hundred and twenty Others citizens
New York, praying Congress to establish mail
route from Carlton, Orleans county, New York, to
Charlotte, Monroe county, New York.
By Mr.. PITMAN: The petition of William Lick
| and sixty six other citizens of Lebanon county,
Pennsylvania, asking Congress TO establish an Ag-
rculturnl Bureau.
Also, the petition of Seth X. Smith and twelve
other citizens Of the same place, and for the same
BY MIR. NELSON: The petition of Edward Ke-
meys and others, citizens Of Osining and Sing Sing
New York, praying for cheap postage, &c. Re
| ferred to the Committee the Post Office and
| Post Roads.
BY Mr.. HOWE: The petition of John Read and
| one hundred and two others, officers and soldiers
of the war Of 1872 and other citizens of Lawrence
| county, Pennsylvania, praying Congress TO make
suitable grants of land TO the officers and soldiers
Of that war, and TO the widows and heirs Of such
| as deceased. Referred.
| BY Mr.. HARMANSON: The petitions of A. G..
Penn, of the widow and heirs of Frederick s. KEEP
with, of Nathan Lee, Of William King, of Samuel
| Wickman, and others.
By Mr.. FOWLER: The petition of Hon. Ma
| thanie B. Bowden, John Westall, and about one
hundred and twenty other citizens Of Fall River,
| Massachusetts,, praying that slavery and the slave
trade may be expressly prohibited by act Of Con-
gross in all the Territories of the United States
| Referred To the Committee on Territories.
| By Mr.. HENRY The petition of N. It. Fitch,
| Ashley Stone, and hundred and twenty five
other citizens Of Wilmington, Windham county,
Vermont for reducing the charge for postage on
| prepaid letters 10 two cents each
Also, the petition Of Ruel Smith and forty six
others, OF the same place, that slavery and the
slave trade be expressly prohibited by law in the
| territories Of the United States.
| Also the petition Of Justus II. Dix and forty-one
others, Of the same place, that the present seat Of
general government be removed, unless the exist-
ing AWE aunorllihB siaNerJ anu tue save TRADE De
| repealed.
Also, the petition of Ruel Smith and forty EIGHT
others, of the same place, that State be hereaf
ter admitted into the Union whose constitution does
not exclude slavery therefrom.
| Also, the petition of Ruel Smith and forty four
others, Of the same place, that persons claimed
fugitives from slavery shall, out Of the State to
which they claimed to belong, only be dev-
cred 10 the claimants upon the finding Of jury
By Mr.. FOWLER: The petition of James d. Butler
and seventy-two others, legal voters Of Sandwich,
Massachusetts,, against the admission Of slave
States into the Union.
Also, the petition of Giles Pean and seventy two
others, legal voters Of Sandwich, Massachusetts,,
praying that provision be made by law that fugi-
tive slave shall not be delivered up, except the
finding of jury that he is the slave Of the claimant
Also, the petition Of B. Il. Hammond and seventy
others, legal voters Of Sandwich, Massachusetts,
| praying that slavery and the slave trade may be
expressly prohibited by act Of Congress in all the
| Territories Of the United States.
Also, the petition Of Giles Pean aud forty six
others, legal voters of Sandwich, Massachusetts,,
for the repeal Of all laws for the support Of slavery
| In the District Of Columbia.