tial law, to be within their houses from 10 o'clock at night until sunrise in the morning. R. F. STOCKTON, the Territory of California. On the 15th day of September, 1846, an election will be held in the several towns and districts of California, at the places and hours at which such elections have usually been holden, for the purpose of electing the alcaldes and other municipal officers for one year. In those places where alcaldes have been appointed by the present government, they will hold the election. In places where no alcaldes have been appointed by the present government, the former alcaldes are authorized and required to hold the election. Given under my hand this twenty-second day of August, anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty-six, at the government house, " Ciudad de los Angeles." R. F. STOCKTON, Commander-in-chief and Governor of the Territory of California. No. 6. I, Robert F. Stockton, commander-in-chief of the United States forces in the Pacific ocean, and governor of the Territory of California, and commander-in-chief of the army of the same, do hereby make known to all men that, having by right of conquest taken possession of that Territory, known by the name of Upper and Lower California, do now declare it to be a Territory of the United States, under the name of the Territory of California. And I do by these presents further order and decree that the government of the said Territory of California shall be, until altered by the proper authority of the United States, constituted in manner and form as follows-that is to say: The executive power and authority in and over the said Territory shall be vested in a governor, who shall hold his office for four years, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States. The governor shall reside within the said Territory; shall be commander-in-chief of the army thereof; shall perform the duties and receive the emoluments of superintendent of Indian affairs, and shall approve of all laws passed by the legislative council before they shall take effect. He may grant pardons for offences against the laws of the said Territory, and reprieves for offences against the laws of the United States, until the decision of the President can be made known thereon: he shall commission all officers who shall be appointed to office under the laws of the said Territory, and shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. There shall be a secretary of the said Territory, who shall reside therein, and hold his office for four years, unless sooner removed, by the President of the United States. He shall record and preserve all the laws and proceedings of the legislative council hereinafter constituted, and all the acts and proceedings of the governor in his executive department. He shall transmit one copy of the laws and one copy of the executive proceedings, on or before the first Monday in December in each year, to the President of the United States; and, at the same time, two copies of the laws to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the use of Congress. And, in case of the death, removal, resignation, or necessary absence of the governor from the Territory, the secretary shall have, and he is hereby authorized and required to execute and perform all the powers and duties of the governor, during such vacancy or necessary absence. The legislative power shall be vested in the governor and legislative council. The legislative council shall consist of seven persons, who shall be appointed by the governor for two years; after which they shall be annually elected by the people. The power of the legislative council of the Territory shall extend to all rightful subjects of legislation; but no law shall be passed interfering with the primary disposal of the soil; no tax shall be imposed upon the property of the United States; nor shall the land or property of non-residents be taxed higher than the lands or other property of residents. All the laws of the legislative council shall be submitted to, and, if disapproved by, the governor, the same shall be null, and of no - effect. The municipal officers of cities, towns, departments or districts, heretofore existing in the Territory, shall continue to exist, and alí their proceedings be regulated and controlled by the laws of Mexico, until otherwise provided for by the governor and legislative coun cil. All officers of cities, towns, departments or districts, shall be elected every year by the people, in such manner as may be provided by the governor and legislative council. The legislative council of the Territory of California shall hold its first session at such time and place in said Territory as the governor thereof shall appoint and direct; and at said session, or as soon thereafter as may by them be deemed expedient, the said governor and legislative council shall proceed to locate and establish the seat of government for said Territory, at such place as they may deem eligible; which place, however, shall thereafter be subject to be changed by the said governor and legislative council, and the time and place of the annual commencement of the session of the said legislative council thereafter shall be on such day and place as the governor and council may appoint. No. 7. [Circular.] From this date, August the 15th, 1846, the tonnage duties on all foreign vessels arriving in the ports of California will be fifty cents per ton. And the duties on all goods imported from foreign ports will be fifteen per cent., "ad valorem," payable in three instalments of 30, 80, and 120 days. R. F. STOCKTON, Commander-in-chief and Governor of the Territory of California. No. 8. CIUDAD DE LOS ANGELES, August 15, 1846. SIR: It has been deemed advisable to adopt the enclosed tariff of duties. To ascertain the true value of the goods in the ports at which they are entered, two judicious and disinterested persons must be appointed to make the appraisement; one selected by the government, the other by the party owning the goods. Bonds with good security must be given for the payment of the duties. Faithfully, your obedient servant, R. F. STOCKTON, Commander-in-chief and Governor of the Territory of California. No. 14. Extracts from a despatch of Commodore D. Connor, dated" Before Tampico, November 17, 1846." "On approaching the town, a deputation from the ayuntamiento of the city came on board the flotilla, with proposals for its surrender, which are herewith enclosed, with conditions upon which its surrender was accepted by Commanders Tatnall and Ingraham, under my instructions.1 * "I transmit, herewith, copies of communcations from the English consul at Tampico, and the com mander of H. M. sloop Daring, in relation to British interests in that city. I have stated in my replies that, at present, no relaxation in the rules of the blockade already established can be made, and that the port will remain closed to all neutral nations, as heretofore. On these matters, as well as in regard to the continued shipment of treasure from this place, on the account of English merchants, in the steam packet, I shall be glad to be made acquainted with the views of the department." U. S. STEAMER SPITFIRE, Off the city of Tampico, November 15, 1846. Commodore Connor declines a capitulation with the authorities of Tampico, as he considers it unnecessary. He accepts the surrender of the city, and takes military possession of it. He assures the inhabitants, at the same time, that he will not interfere with their municipal regulations, or their religion; and that private property shall be respected, provided that the public property of all kinds be delivered up at once, and in good faith. Should an assault be made by the inhabitants of the city on the - American forces, the inhabitants will be held responsible for the consequences. Commodore Connor, so long as the authorities and inhabitants of the city observe good faith towards him, will consider them under his protection. A different course will expose them to serious evils. Approved: JOSIAH TATNALL, Commander United States Navy. Commander United States Navy. D. CONNOR, Commanding Home Squadron. La comision del ayuntamiento de Tampico acepta las garantias que por la precedente contestacionofrece à la Ciudad el Comadore Connor, por conducto de los oficiales arriba firmados. JUAN JOSE DE LAYOR, FRANCISCO CERVANTES. CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL TAYLOR. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TRANSMITTING The correspondence with General Taylor since the commencement of hostilities with Mexico, not already published. MARCH 1, 1847. To the House of Representatives of the United States: I communicate, herewith, a report of the Secretary of War, with the accompanying documents, in answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 1st instant, requesting the President "to communicate to the House of Representatives all the correspondence with General Taylor since the commencement of hostilities with Mexico, which has not yet been published, and the publication of which may not be deemed detrimental to the public service; also, the correspondence of the quartermaster general, in relation to the transportation for General Taylor's army; also, the reports of Brigadier Generals Hamar and Quitman of the operations of their respective brigades on the 21st of of September last." As some of these documents relate to military operations of our forces which may not have been fully executed, I might have deemed it proper to withhold parts of them, under the apprehension that their publication, at this time, would be "detrimental to the public service;" but I am satisfied that these operations are now so far advanced, and that the enemy has already received so much information from other sources in relation to the intended movements of our army, as to render this precaution unnecessary. JAMES K. POLK. WASHINGTON, February 27, 1847. |