The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-25
Mr.. Webster to Mr.. Ellis.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
IHy ~

Nh Webster to Mr.. Ellis.
DEPARTMENT STATE,
Washington, January 3, 1912
Sir: The friends of Mr. Franklin Combs son Of
General Leslie Combs, of Kentucky have applied
for the nerpositon of this Government in behalf of
that young gentleman, who accompanied the late
Texan expedition to Santa Fe in MeNco, and is
supposed to have been captured and if alive to be
held in bondage in that country with the other sur
yyors Of the expedition 1t has been represented to
this Department that young Combs has never been a
citizen of Texas that he did not repair to that
try with any intention Of relinqushing his allegiance
to this Government, or of remaining in Texas but
that he went tbither in the autumn of 1910 upon pr
vate business Of his father, and for the benefit which
he was assured his feeble health would derive from
the milder winter climate of that region He was,
however, detained there by both until about
the time when the expedition referred to set out
This he determined to accompany, merely for the
object of confirming his health, and gratifying GU
riosity, both liberal and natural in regard to the
known lands through which the course of the expe-
don lay
this information, you will, accordingly, forthwith
make the necessary representations to the Mexican
Government upon the subject, with view to avert
from young Combs, if he should be alive, the dangers
to which he may be or may have been exposed. You
will state that from the responsibility of his family
and for other reasons there be ground for the
belief that he would have accompanied the expedition
for any other objects than those mentioned and that
ii ne naQ Dec0 aware lHat the views OIL the leNlan
Government, in despatching it, had been hostile or
predatory rather than friendly and commercial they
were understood to have been at the time he would
not have gone in its company If to this it be OBJ
ected that the expedition military in its array,
and must therefore be presumed to have had warke
designs against the Mexican authorities it may be
answered that the avowed motive of the members of
the expeditions in bearing arms, was TO ward off the
attacks of hostile Indians, and especially of the Ca
manches, who, it is well known, roam in great force
md tha track hch b.,,,o haa,
pursued. This objection would apply with much
less, if with any force, to young Combs as he
soldier, and had never been one; and if found with
arms, there could in his be no better ground for
the opinion that they to have been used for pur-
poses of attack and not for those of Defence than if
ka-had accompanied one of the caravans from Mis-
souri, to Santa Fe, by means of which, as is well
known, an extensive trade is carried on between this
country and Mexico to the mutual advantage of the
parties.
Although young Combs is the only American cit-
zen who accompanied the expedition for whom the
interference of this Government has been asked it
understood that there was another who as little de-
serves to be subjected to any penal proceedings on
the part of the Mexican Government. This is Mr.
George w. Kendall of New Orleans.
You will press this with the utmost earnest
ness the Mexican Government, as the Govern
ment of the United States feels itself bound to inter-
fere and signify its confident expectation that the
lives of American citizens will not be sacrificed who
have not Intentionally done any thing of hostile cha
racter against Mexico Even if the conduct of
young Combs indscreet and ill-judged, yet this
Government cannot suppose that the Government of
Mexico will treat him armed combatant found
among its enemies.
You will spare no SPANS to impress the Mexican
authorities with the feelings which would be excited
in this country if any harsh proceeding should be
adopted towards this youth
You will avail yourself of the opportunity Of max
ing to that Government the communication, to sug-
gest that while this Government is well dispos d to
maintain with strict fidelity amicable relations with
the Mexican Republic and will not attempt to screen
from merited punishment any of citizens who
may be guilty of an infraction of the laws intended
to preserve those relations, yet that summary, SAN
culinary undue punishment of either Texans or
citizens of the United States in Mexico inevitably
tends excite and foment in this country an acerby
of feeling against Mexico which will be much more
apt to defeat the supposed objects of those punish
ments than if the offenders to have fair trial
and if then convicted, were to be punished in
proportion to their offences.
You will, however, make this suggestion in con-
cilaory tone, without allowing it to be supposed that
this Government has any intention to dictate the pol
icy to be adopted by that of the Mexican Republic
upon this any other subject but, supposing their
disposition towards the United States to be amcabe
our wish is merely to point way by which it seems
to us that reciprocal disposition well the integ-
rty OF the Mexican territory may be more efectuay
maintained. Accustomed ourselves to regular iu-
dcla proceedings, fair and full trials, and mild pun
shments the opposites of these if exercised by other
Governments, always to check the growth of
amity and good will.
Any reasonable expenses which may be necessary
TO defray the charge of special messenger from the
Mexican capital to the place Of captivity of young
Combs and his American associates, or for any other
proper purposes necessary for their safety and lib
Grafton, will be borne by this Government and will
be betrayed by you, and for them you will draw on
this Department, specifying in your drafts their pur
pose, and sending with them such vouchers as you
may be able to procure.
The interest which we feel for Combs, whose case
has been particularly presented to us, and for Mr.
Kendall ALSO will lead to the despatchng of this COM
muncation in the way most likely to carry it soon to
your hands.
am, sir, your obedient servant
DANIEL WEBSTER.
To PowHArAN ELLIS Esq.
Enroy Extraordinary &C., .Merico.
p S. Since the above was written application has
been made in behalf Of MIR. j. c. Howard youth of
nineteen years of age, who also with the expedi
tion and who, are informed was not citizen of
Texas. You will likewise inquire into his case, and
do for him any thing else which you do with pro-
priey. DIV
UNITED STATES MNsTERs- The salaries Of Mi |
nsiers of the United States Great Britain France
Russia, Prussia, Austria, Spain, Mexico and Brazil
SO 900 per each; Secretaries of Legation to
the same places $1,000 each. The salaries of the Char
gcs affares to Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Holland
Belgium Chill, Peru, Venezuela, New Grenada, Tex
as Naples and Sardinia, "a 500 each Resident Min
lister at Turkey 5000; dragonan Of the Legation to
Turkey 81, 500. Contingent expenses OF all the Mis-
sons abroad $4,000 Contingent expenses Of Fo-
reign Intercourse 100000 Consul at London So 600
clerk hire office rent &c. ofConsulat London - 500