The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-15
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Sir letter addressed by you to the late
President Of the United States, and dated on the
l4th Of June last, has, since his lamented de-
cease been transferred TO the hands of his success
sor, by whom | am directed to transmit to you
the following answer
la that letter you say that, by the authority
of the Legislature of Texas, the Executive of
that State, in February last, despatched special
Commissioner, with full power and instructions
to extend the civil jurisdiction of that State over
the unorganized counties of Ell Paso, Worth,
Presidio and Santa Fe, situated upon its north
western limits and that the Commissioner has
reported to you, in official form, that the
military officers employed in the service of the
United States, stationed at Santa Fe, interposed
adversely with the Inhabitants to the fulflment
Of his object, by employing their influence in ia
vor Of the establishment of separate State Gov
ernment east of the Rio Grande, and within the
rghtful limits of the State of Texas You also
transmit a copy of the proclamation of Colonel
John Munroe, acting under the orders of the
Government of the United States, under the
designation of Civil and Military Governor Of
the Territory of New Mexico, and respectfully re-
quest the President to cause you to be informed
whether or not this officer has acted in this mat.
ter under the orders of his Government, land
whether his proclamation meets with the ap-
prevail of the President of the United States?
In the events which have occurred, hardly
know whether your Excellency would naturally
expect an answer to this letter from him His
predecessor in office, TO whom II was addressed,
and under whose authority and direction the
proclamation of Colonel Munroe was issued, is
no more; and, at this time, that proclamation,
whatever may be regarded as its true character,
has ceased to have influence or effect The meet
ing Of the people Of New Mexico by their rep
resentatives which il invited, is understood to
have taken place, although this Government has
as yet received no official information of IT,
Partaking, however, in the fullest degree, in
that high respect which the Executive Govern
ment of the United States always entertains to.
wards the Governors and the Governments of the
States, the President thinks it his duty, never
theess, to manifest that feeling Of respect, by
acknowledging and answering your letter. And
this duty, let me assure your Excellenoy, has
been so long delayed only by uncomfortable cir
cumstanoes, and is now performed at the earliest
practicable moment, after the appointment Of
those heads of Departments, and their accept
ance Of Office, with whom it is usual, on important
occasions, for the President of the United States
TO advise.
In answer, therefore, to your first interrogatory
viz whether Colonel Munroe in issuing the
proclamation referred to, acted under the orders
of this Government | have the honor to state
that Colonel Munroes proclamation appears to
have been issued inpursuance or in consequence
of order, or letter Of instruction given by the
late Secretary of War, under the authority Of
the late President, to Lieutenant Colonel Mccall
OF this order, which bears date on the 10th Of
November, ls49 your Excellency was undoubt-
eddy informed at the date of your letter full
aud accurate copy, however, is attached to this
communication. Colonel Mccall In therein in
structed, that il the people Of New Mexico, for
whom Congress had provided no Government,
should manifest wish to take any steps to estab-
lish Government for themselves, and apply for
admission into the Union, it would be his duty,
and the duty of others with whom he was asso.
cated, not to thwart, but to advance their wishes
This order does not appear to authorize any ey.
erton Of military authority, or of any official or
even personal interference to control or affect in
any way the primary action Of the people in the
formation OF Government, nor to permit any
such interference by subordinate officers Col
Mccall and his associates were not called upon
to take lead in any measures, or even to recon-
mend anything as fit to be adopted by the people.
Their whole duty was confined to what they
might be able to perform, subordinate TO the
wishes Of the people. In this matter it was evi,
IDENTIFY contemplated that they we're to act as the
agents of the inhabitants, and not as officers of
this Government. Ii must he recollected that
tory was a quasi military Government, and as
Congress had made no provision for the establish
ment Of any form of civil Government, and as
the President doubtless believed that under these
circumstances the people had right to frame
Government TOR themselves, and submit il TO
Congress for its approval the order was q direc-
ton that the then existing military Government
should not stand in the way of the accomplishment
ofthe wishes ofthe people nor thwart those wish.
e. ifthe people entertained them for the establish
msnt of . free, popular, republican civil Govern
ment, for their own protection and benefit. This
Is evidently the whole purpose and object Of the
order The military officer in command, and his
associates, we're American citizens, acquainted
with the forms Of civil and popular proceedings,
and il WAS expected that they would aid the In
habtsnts Of the Territory by their advice and as
sistsnce, In their proceedings for establishing
Government Of their own. There 10 no room to
suppose that Colonel Munroe, an officer as much
distinguished for prudence and discretion as for