Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-08-16
Special Message OF the President on the
Texan Boundary Dispute

To The Senate ard House Of Representatives:
| herewith transmit to the two Houses o
Congress letter from his EXccencv, the Coy.
ernor OF Texas, dated on the 14rh dnv Of June
last, addressed to the late President of the
United States, which not having been ans wered
ny nm came to my hands on his death and
also transmit a copy OF the answer which | E,l,
Ii to be my duty TO cause to be made to tina,
communication. Congress will porceivc tha,
The Governor OF Texas officially states that BY
authority OF the Legislature of that State. he
d s'atchcd a Special Commissioner with fill
power and instruction to extend the civil imis-
dicnon of the State over the unorganiz d cour-
ties OF FL Paso, Worth, Pre,i 10, 4 nd Santa Fe
situated on It's Northwestern limits He pro
ceedS to say that the Commissioner had re-.
ported 10 him in an official form that the Mill
!ary officers employed in the service of the
United ttcs, stationed at Santa Fe intprposC d
adversely with the inhabitants to tire nllGlmont
OF his object, in favor Of the establishment Of
separate State Government east of the Ric
Grande and within the rigltlul limits of The
state OF Texas. These four counties which
Texas proposes 10 establ sh and organize as
being within her own jurisdiction, extend over
The whole tthe territory east of the RIO Grande
winch has heretofore been regarded It's AN es.
,entai and integral part Of the Department of
New Mexico, and actually governed and pos
sessed by her people until conquered and sever
ed from The Republic of Mexico by the Amer
lcan arms. The Irgislalurr ct Texas has
been called together by the Governor for the
purpose, as is understood, of maintaining her
cIam TO the Territory east of the Rio Grande.
and o! establishing over it her own Jurisdiction
and her own laws by force. These proceedings
OF Texas may well arrest the attention of all
branches of the Government OF the United
States, and rejoice that they occur while the
Congress is yet in session. Il is, fear. FIR
rom beng impossible. that in conscQ fence of
these proceedings OF Texas crisis may b.
brought on which shall summon the two Houses
OF Congress, and still more emphaljcallv. the
Executive Government, 10 an immediate reaii-
ness for the performance of these respective
duties.
BY the Constitution of the United States. the
President is constituted commander-n-r chief of
'he army ana navy and of the militia of the
several Stats when called into the actual ser.
vice of the United States The Constitution
declares also that he shall take care HAT tn,
laws be faithfully executed, and thai ho shall
from time 10 time give to the Congress inform
alton OF the state of the Union. Congress has
power by the Constitution 10 provide by calling
for the militia to execute the laws Of tho Union
ard suitable and appropriate acts of Congress
have been passed, as well for providing for ca
ing forth tie militia as for placing other suita. |
Bile and efficient means in the hands of the Pre- |
'ident TO enable him 10 discharge the constitu- |
ional functions of his office. The second sec
ion of the act of the 2Sth of February. 1896. |
ieclares thai whenever the laws Of the United
States shall be opposed. or their execution OBJ
''rIc'ed. in any State, by combinations too
powerful TO be suppressed by the ordinary
'onrse Of Judicial proceedings ofthe power vest
ID in the marshals, the President may call forth
he militia so far as may be necessary to sup
lress such combinations and to cause the laws
o be dnly executed BY the act of March Sd.
oO7, il IS provided that in all cases of obstrrc.
ION to The laws either of the United States. or
my individual State, or Territory, where it i,
awful for the President to call forth the mill
airy, for the purpose of causing the laws To b.
uly executed, ii shall be lawful flr him 10 en-.
10y for the same purposes such part of the
and or naval force Of the u. States as shall be
udged necessary. These several enaelments
re now in full force so that if the laws Of the
United States are opposed or obslruclcd in any
state or Territory by combinations too power
ul to be suppressed by the judicial or civil an.
horlty and It becomes ii case in which it is the
uty Of the President either 10 call out the mill.
ia, or to employ the military or naval force ni
he United States, or TO do both, if in his inds.
nent the eXigency of the occasion shall so re-
ure, for the purpose of suppressing such com.
ination, the constitutional duty of the Pre,i.
ent is plain and peremptory--ihc authority
es,ed in him by the laws for tie Performance
lear and ample. Texas is a State, authorized
o maintain her own laws. so far as they are
lot repugnant 10 the Constitution, laws and
rea,ies OF the United States to suppress insur.
ectlons against her authority, and TO punish
hose who commit treason against that State,