The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-09

vested III Tue Otaes, tney nave no
There has, tnen been usurpaton OF power by the Pres
dent for act has been done by him tending or pretend
ng TO be binding upon Congress; and this, think, was
clearly demonstrated by the senator from Virginia ~ the
same spirit in which he INDUCED in such unqualified de-
nunciaon OF the President. II il be true however,
that the President has been guilty OF usurpaon oil au
hority let me say that this is not the place where the
charge should be seriously urged The otne branch OF
Coagess s the place where the charge should originate
Mr.. MASON. Will the senator ALLOW me. before he
leaves the point ~ which he is treating Of my Iema,ks 10
interrupt hin, torshe purpose OF explanation said this
that the President OF The United States allowed to pass,
without rebuke the act OF his military subordinate, who
had not ony by his proclamation invited the occupants
for the time being 10 possess themselves of the pubc
propsry (meanng the territory Of California but that ne
had witnessed The act of that military officer IN formally
surenderng it into the hands of these occupants, with
terms OF congratuaon that they had acquired the public
property which he had been ntrused with to preserve
! Tor the United States Now, ask the senator from
| renneesse, wha has thus animadyered upon my re-
marks, say nhai mode the President OF the United
States can BIO justified who permits his military subordl-
naes nrusted with the public property Tor the time be-
ing surrender that property into the hands Of those
mol entitled 10 it. II that was the act OF General Riley,
either with or without executive authority, it was done
Mr. BELL What property does the senator refer to J
Mr.. MASON. The territory Of California, which the
constitution declares is property
Mr. BELL. The sovereignty, or the fruitful domain!
Mr.. MASON. The eminent. domain well as the
fruitful domain--the ungranted lands.
| Mr.. BELL. My answer is, that the President has
neither conniye al encouraged any such thing No
part oi the eminent, nor any portion o the fruitful domain
has been surrendered except you may regard the plum
de5ng q ies S, paceEss rs. Or gold mines as such
| MIR. BELL Well, you have been pundered IRON the
date OF my political existence-ior the last twenty or
thirty years TO my knowedge-and you are plundered
every day al home OF your property in The minerals and
timber Of the public domain Will the honorable sena-
tor stand up and propose some measure TO prevent the
emgant from collecting the gold in the placers OF Cali
\ forna Why, If you march your regiments to those
mines, your officers would find themselves without
any rank and 6e Your sbipso war, with which you at
often found without seanen Does the honorable
tor think fair 10 hold the President responsible Tor the
gold abstraced from the mines OF California! II he
does, think his views now expressed more unjust II
possible, than his original charge The foundation OF The
policy pursued by President Taylor in California in rela
ton to every branch OF the public service was lad un
Mr. KINGl shakes his head. The Instructions gwen
through Mr. Buchanan, after the close OF the war; were
In material respect departed from by the present ad-
mnisraiion was any change made IN the civil goy-
\ ernment
Mr. KING. Does the senator aude to the letter to
Mr. Voorhies
/ Mr. BELL think that is the one.
/ Mr. KING. Ii the senator examines the matter, he
will hnd that II is SIMPLY advice that tney should get
along well as they could till The United States gave
them territorial government That is the sum and sub
Mr. BELL What mean 10 assert is, that the civil
and military administration OF the affairs OF California
whether established BY the instructions of Secretary Bu
chanan OF Secretary Marcy under the late adminstEa
ton changed BY Gen. Taylor in no respect whatev
i
concerned and that according law. But after Con-
gess had failed successive sessions TO provide
territorial government-when scarcely hope could be
indulged that the succeeding Congress would be more
successful in eecing that object and when anarchy and
civil strife might be justly apprehended, the only remedy
which seemed TO be eft TO the people OF California was
10 form State constitution and ask adms ssion into the
Union as Slate Gen Taylor lent the influence oi hs
station to this policy, far as to direct that any sncn
measure, voluntarily entered upon BY the people Of Cali
forna, should not be obsructed, but have the counte
nance and support OF the United states authorities tSen
Riley acted without instructions in issuing the proclama
ton for convention but in this he was only the organ
Of the wishes OF The people, acting their mouthpece-
Just the President OF the Senate IS undefs,ood IN
parliamentary sense, 10 be the mouth OF the senate
speaking under its directions and by its orders Such Is
the OF the Presidents interference ia the affairs oil
California and OF the offence with which he rs chargea
ble And, after ALL repeat the question. what member
OF the last Congress did not anticipate that the people OF
California would do Just what they have donepresen
constitution aud apply for admission into the Union as
State Sll hue aid cry Is raised against both them
and the President, though the whole proceeding had
taken the country by surprise.
Bot sir, Il is charged against General Taylor that he
cannot urge even motive OF PATRIOTISM as an excuse Tor
the policy he has pursued in relation 10 California
Even the charity OF mistaken views OF the public inter-
and the good of his country is denied to hm but all
that he has done is attributed 10 the miserable and das
meeting the Wmo proyiso The charge has been made
and reiterated in hundred different FORMS and circulated
over the country in many different channels, that
General Tayors whole course and policy upon this sub
ect has been the result oi cowardy shrinking from per-
sona and political responsibility and desire 10 eyade
open disclosure OF his real sentiments upon question
which deeply agatei the counry during the late
for the presidency the grosse raud, II Is alleged
praclised upon the country in the late canvass upon
this subject, and General Taylor breads an arrangement
before the bar oi the public; he shnnks from issue
which would expose his dupicy. and lei the coun
try know whether the North the South was "eheated
the late election. regret exceedingly TO have TO advert
such topics debate upon subject o such grave I'M
portance but while continue TO give my confidence and
support 10 the President, my own sefrespect demands
that should take notice oil such unqualified Grim
nations OF his motives and policy In the late
or upon the question OF the Wmot Proylso, nor wheh
he had formed any opinion determination as 10 what
his course would be- should he be called upon 10 give or
withhold his sanction 10 territorial bill Tor California OF
New Mexico; but IN answer 10 all the speculaons and
conectures upon that subject, whether emanatng from
the North the South, took the ground that neither
prudence. WISDOM patriotism required that any can
or declare his purpose, regard TO question upon the
decision of which hung not only the peace OF the coun
try but the safety oil the Union ITSELF took The ground
that who had any Just pretenson TO the suhrages
OF his cuuntymen for the presidency would dare TO take
such course and thatf General Taylor should declare
his intention either 10 sanction veto the Wimot Pro-
vso in advance, should regard il act OF the most
his total untness for the high station TO which his friends
sought 10 elevate him. Upon such question contend
ed, still contend, that the highest dictate OF duty,
wisdom, and patriotism required that President should
reserve TO himself the privilege OF debeaiion and re-.
ecion OF weighing tendencies and consequences, until
the last OF time allowed him by the constitution,
before he comes TO conclusion 20 pregnant OF momen-
tous results
| have said that neither knew, nor sought to know,
he