The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-05-22
Nh, Murphy 10 Nh. Legare.
Private
LEGATION or THE u. STATES,


Washington, (rexas) July s, I5i3.
SIR 1t is a painful part of my duty, and Of ex-
IRENE delcacy, in regard 10 my predecessors, TO
make known 10 the Department Of State that the
rierdly policy Of the United States rds the Re-
public Of Texas seems 10 have been greatly misun-
derstood throughout the country well ~ the Co
yernment as the people. Wherever / have been,
general sentiment seems to peryade all parties
importing an III feeling, and, IN some instances, re-
sentiment towards the Government Of the United
States have endesvored to trace this feeling TO its
source and in that effort have been led 10 believe that
ii has aaisen partly from general misunderstanding g
or want OF information Of the true policy Of the United
States towards this Republic and tina, Of Mexico and
partly from the fact that our public archives have
not been always or wholly hid from the eye Of public
curiosity l have more than once heard the sub
stancr Of dispatches from the Government of the
United States TO this legation and from the Govern
ment OF the United States TO Mexico, (Which from
their very nature must have been int nued TO be sa
cred TO our own legation, and purely confidential }
talked If and discussed BY Wei informed political
dlsputanls, and cite on occasion TO prove that
Texas could not look to the United States for
enancc and support in any emergency, but that her
whole hope rested upon The friendly Offices OF Eng.
land and France.
have been laboring since have been here TO
place the archives which have some stale Of re-
guiar y, asserting what oiiicIa documents have,
aud giving order 10 the confusion which pre-
vailed amongst them. But it is a vain effort Ma
terla papers, which ou ht 10 be here are not to be
found. The correspondence and record books have
been kept with 80 much irreguarity and the index.
es to both so confused and incorrect, aiurdipg no
guide whatever for papers or documents sought ,or,
that you can obtain no information in any regular or
CERTAIN connexion. Moreover, many important pa
pers are not recorded some recorded in the wrong
book, out OF all connexion and almost all that are
recorded have their places the record out of all
order, and where they would scarcely be looked for
=.
find out or know, from any thing that appears here
the files the records what has been or what
now Is the policy Of the Government Of the United
States towards this Republic and that of Mexico or
what questions Of negotiation have existed or now
exist between the United States and this Republic
might, perhaps, make rough guess upon the pa
per, before me- but those papers are of nature too
delicate aud important TO be acted upon without
surer Cata. IL may be that the residue of the ar
chiyes at Austin would supply all these defects in
the files and it may be that they, too have been long
exposed TO the eye Of every busy cur Gus OBJ
| server
Under these distressing and harassng cifcunis n
ces, must await instructions from the Department
OF State on all subjects intended for MY future
action.
In looking the record and the correspondence
books and their indexes, feel constrained 10 recon-
mend that a new set of books be furnished 10 this
legation, and that clerk be employed TO copy in
gular order, aud record, all the papers documents
| dispatches, sc, proper 10 be recorded. Where the
| i.es here are deficient, they doubtless be sup
/ Piled from the Department OF State his would be
a work Of some three or FIVE months perhaps; but
until IT Is dobe, tell, hereafter what has
been the political action of this legation in time past
The Office in which have been compelled TO ,Iace
the archives, though The best could get in this small
town, very en-, and exposes the archives 10 C
danger OF being damaged in case Of severe rains.
wish to know OF the department. If expenses incur
red in fitting this Office up better sly lie will be al
lowed by the department as part Of the contingent
expenses Of the legation Mechanic work is hisf
here, and timber scarce and Oh; and told
that IT [woud about 500 or $50 to make this
office comfortable and dry in winter. ! should
| be very glad 10 be enabled to place this legation
in proper order before the meeting Of Congress
| for the session will be Of vast Importance A
major genera will be elected by Congress to com.
mand the army, and an efficient expedition will al
once be set on foot against Mexico. This party
which will carry these active measures euterains
kinder feelings towards United States than does
the Executive party; indeed, they sometimes call the
| Executive party the English party"
i send with this letter anotb, newspaper the Vim.
dicator, and beg your attention to paragraph mark
ed as contsining the avowed sentiments of the Ad.
ministration in regard 10 the United States IL j,
be rue, that paragraph alleges, that the United
States has not kept her faithful promise with Texas
| why, then, we have not much 10 plain or Your
archives will enable you TO iostruet me fully on that
subject, but mine afford no light whatever
General Rusk, one Of the NEST popular and eff
cicnt general officers Of the Republic, has lust ar.
rived fom Galveston, and informs me that he Learn
there that commissioners On he part of Yucatan had
shortly before LEFT Csmpoaohy for Mexico to treat
Of peace between Yucatsn and Mexico. ] his I. ru
NOR Of course.
Your obedient servant,
W. s MURPHY.
| Sscrfiafu Of STAFF offhf TtntffI STAFF.