Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1850-08-14

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wherever they please, without their being
subjected, on this accGailt, TO any contrib9
ton, tax, or charge whatever. - ,ss
",rhose who shall prefer to remain n,cs,s !:s
said Territories may cither---''.n tlle .i!ie
and rights -N..i1~n lei!lzens: s. or acqI,te
tbaa...s-enISens of the United States. But
theysshall be under the obligation to make
their election witllin,on year from the date OF
the exchange of ratiica;ions. of this treaty;
and those who shall remain in the said Terri
fories after the expiration Of that year, with
out having declared their intention to retain
tn. character Of lIexicans, shall be considered
to haze elected to. become citizens Of the
United States.
In the said Territories, property of every
kind, now belonging to alcXicans not estab-
lished there, shall be inriolably respected.
The present owners, the heirs Of these, and
all Mexicans who may hereafter acquire said
property by contract, shall enjoy, with respect
TO it, guarantees. equally ample rs if the same
belonged to citizens of the United States"
The ninth article Of the treaty is in these
words: a:%
"Thc Mexicans who. in the ter::tcri";
aforesaid, shall not preserve the character ci
citizens Of the Mexican Republic, contorma-
bly, with what is. stipulated in the preceding
article, be Incorporated into the Union of the
United States, and be admitted at the proper
time Go be judged of by the Congress of the
United States,) to the enjoyment Of all the
rights of citizens of tue United States, ac-
cording 10 the principles of the Constitution;
and in the meantime shall be maintained and
protected in the free enjoyment of their lib
erty and property, and secured in the free
exercise Of their religion, without restriction.
1t is plain, therefore, on the face of these
treaty stipulations, that all Mexicans cstab-
lished in territories north or east of the line
of demarka:ion already mentioned, come with
in the protection of the ninth article, and
that the treaty, being part of the supreme
laws Of the land, does extend over all such
Mcxicans, and assures to them perfect Gecur-
ty in the tIsAenjoyment of their liberty and
property. ~ We'll us in the free exercise of
their religion; and this supreme law Of the
land being thus in actual force over this ter
ritory, is to be maintained until it shall be
displiced OR superseded by other legal pro-
vi.ions; and if it is obstructcd or resisted by
combinations too powerful to he suppressed
BY the civil authority, the case is one which
comes within the provisions, of the law. and
which oblgcs The President TO enforce these
provisions. Neither the constitution, nor the
laws, nvr my duty, nor my oath Of Office,
leave ME any alternative, or any choice in my
mode Of action.
The Executive Government CT the United
States has 10 power or authority to deter
minc what was the true line Of boundary be-
tween Mexico and the United States before
the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, nor has it
any such power now, since the question has
becomes question between the State of Tex
rs and the United States. SO far rs this
boundary is doubtful, that doubt can only be
removed by some act Of Congress, TO which
the assent Of the s.. Of Texas may be
necessary, or by some appropriate mode Of
legal adjudication; but Iii the meantime if dis
turbanccs or collisions arise or should be
threatened, it is absolutely incumbent on the
Executive Government. however painful the
duty, to take care that the laws be faithfully
maintained and he can regard only the actu-
al state Of things as il existed at the date of
the treaty, and is bound TO protect all inhabi-
tants WHO were then established, and who
now renal north and cast of the line of de-
narration, III the full enjoyment Of their lib