Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-10

With Of distinguished consideration have the
honor to be your Excellsncys most obedisnLservant
p. H. BELL
To his Excelency z. TAYLOR, 9-
President of the United States.
DE7ARTMENr STATE,
Washington, August S, 1850.
Sra letter addressed by you to the late President Of the
United States and dated the l4h of June last has,
his mented deceasc been transferred to the hands of his sue
cessor by whom directed to transmit you the follow
ing
In that letter you say that by the authority Of the Lega
ture of Texas the Executive Of that State. in February last
dispatched special commissioner with full power and in
sctions extend the civil jurisdiction Of that State over the
unoganzed counties Of Ell Paso WORTH Presdo and Santa
Fe situated upon its northwestern limits and that the
missioner has reported to you, in official FORM that the
military officers employed the service of the United States
stationed at Santa Fe, ineposed adversely with the nhab
tsnts to the ulfmen Of his object by employing their nu-
favor Of the establishment of separate State Govern
ment Of the Rio Gande, and within the ightfu limits
Of the State Of Texas You also transmit copy Of the pro-
camaon Of Colonel John Munoe, acting under the orders
Of the Government of the United States under the desgna
ton Of Civil and Military Governor Of the Territory Of New
Mexico aud respectfully request the President you
to be informed whether not this officer has acted in this
matter under the orders Of bis Government and whether his
proclamation meets with the approval Of the President Of the
United States
In the which have occurred hardly know whether
your Excellency would naturally expect this
letter from him. His predecessor in Office to whom it
addressed and under whose authority and direction the pro-
clamaton Of Col Munroe was issued and this
time, that proclamation whatever may be regarded its
character has ceased to have influence effect The
ing of the people of New Mexico by their representatives.
which invited understood to have taken place. although
this Government has as yet received official information
oft.
Paaking, however, the fullest degree, in that high
spec which the Executive Government of the United States
always entertans towards the Governors and the Governments
of the States the President thinks his duy nevertheless
Of hv acknou
swerng your letter. And this duty, let your Ex
celency has been long delayed only by uncomfortable
circumstances, and is performed the earliest pacica
BILE moment after the appointment of those heads of Depart
ments and their acceptance Of Office with whom it is usual
important occasions for the President Of the United States
to advise
In answer, therefore, to your first ineTogatory, viz
whether Colonel Munroe in issuing the proclamation referred
acted under the orders of this Government, have the
honor to state that COL Munroes proclamation appears
have been issued in pursuance consequence Of ORDER
letter Of instruction. given BY the late Secretary Of War;
under the authority of the late President Lieut. Colonel
Mccall Of this order which bears date the 10Th of No
vembe ls49 your Exceency undoubtedly informed at
the date Of your letter. full and accurate copy however,
is attached 10 this communication COL Mccall therein
instructed that if the people Of New Mexico for whom Con-
gress had provided Government should manifest
wish to take any steps to establish Government for
themselves, and apply for admission into the Union,
it would be his duty, and the duty of others with whom
he associated not to thwar but to advance their wishes
This order does appear authorize any exeron Of mill
ary authority, any official personal interference
CONTROL affect 10 any way the primary action Of the
people in the formation Of Government to permit any
such interference by subordinate officers COL Mccall and
his associates WERE not called upon take lead any
to recommend thing fit to be adopted
by the people. Their whole duty confined to what they
might be able to perform subordinate to the wishes of the
people, In this matter it evidently contemplated that
they to act the agents of the Inhabitants and not
officers Of this Government It must be recoected that the
only Government then existing in the Territory quasi
military Government and Congress had made provision
for the establishment Of any form Of civil Government and
the President doubtless believed that under these circumstances
the people had right to frame Government for themselves,
and submit it to Congress for its approval the order
direction that the then existing military Government should
not stand in the way Of the accomplishment of the wishes OF
the people, thwa those Wishes the people entertained
hem for the establishment of Free popular republican civil
Government for their protection and benefit This Ii
evidently the whole purpose and object of the order The
military officer in command, and bis associates Amer
citizens acquainted with the forms of civil and popular
proceedings and expected that they would aid the In
habans Of the territory by their advice and assistance, in
their proceedings for establishing Government OF their own
There is to suppose that Col Munroe, an ofhcer
as much distinguished for prudence and discretion as or gal
liant conduct arms, to act did act otherwise than
in entire subordinaon and subserveHcy to the will Of the
people among whom he placed He was not authorized
do nor do understand him intending do, any thing
whatever in his military character to represent in any
way the wishes of the Executive Government of the United
States.
To judge ntelgenty and fairly Of these transactions
recall recollection the circumstances Of the case,
as they then existed. Previous the with Mexico which
commenced in May 1885, and received the sanction Of Con-
gress the 18th Of that month"; the Territory of New Mexico
formed Department State Of the Mexican Republic and
governed by her laws General Kearny, acting under
orders from this Government invaded this Department with
an armed oce the Governor fed his approach and the
troops under his command dispersed and General Keamy
entered Santa Fe the capital the 18th Of August lS46,
and took possession of the Territory in the the United
States On the 2ad Of that month he issued proclamation
the inhabitants stnng the that be had taken possession