Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-03-29
EXECUTIVE INTERFERENCE IN CALI
FORNIAs

FNlSNlA.t
Since the subject Of the admission of Califor.
niaas a State, has been presented to Congress
much has been said rs to whom the credit of the
movements due, Ex-Governor Brown, rep
resentative in Congress from Mississippi, assei-
ted in recent speech in the House, that it was
due to the present administration Thie has
been denied by T. Butler King, in a letter pub
hsiied extensively in the wing papers Mr..
King charges it upon the late ADMINISTRATION
upon Dir. Polk, Mr.. Buchanan, and Mr Marcy.
Mr.. Brown has calledupon the two remaining
parties living, for evidence in the matter
Messrs Buchanan and Marcy, and the follow,
mg is their reply CoastitatioaaIia.
WREAriAND, tnear Lancastor,) Feb, 26, 1880
DEAs SR:--I have This moment received
yor favor of yesterday, enclosing copy of the
card of Mr. Z. Butlsr Ring, of the 23rd instant
which contain the following extract from the
proclamation of Gen Riley.
The method here Indicated to attain what
js desired by all viz: more perfect political
organization, Is deemed the most direct and safe
that can be adopted. and fully authorized by
law, itisthe course advised by the President
and by the Secretaries of State and of War of
the United States, and is calculated to avoid
the innunnerable evils which must necessarily
result from any attempt at illegal local legisla-
ton 1t is therefore hoped it will meet the ap-
probation of thepeople of California, aod that
all good citizens will unite in carrying it into
execution"
You inquire whether Gen. Riley had your
lmy] authority to issue that proclamation, or
to say that you II had advised the method
therein indicated for forming n State govern
ment in California" 30 this question answer
without hesitation, in the negative. My letter
to Mr.. Voorfios, of the Tth October, 184S, was
carefully considered by Mr.. Polk and his cabi.
net, and received their unanimous appreciation.
1t was written chiefly for the purpose rs APP
pears upon its face, of inducing the people of
California to submit patiently to the condition
in which they had been left, until Congress
should prroyiea! for them territorial govern
ment My pelsonal acquaintance with Gen,
Riley is very slight, and never had any com
munication with him verbal or written, on the
subject offorming State government for Cali
forna. ,r o. ,ssss,.s -
You further request me to state whether ex-
President Polk or ex-Secretary Marcy, as far as
you | II know, authorised Gen. Riley to issue
that proclamation, or whether either of them
advised the course of policy therein indicated
iii reference to California.
To this / answer that to my knowledge nei-
ther Mr.. Polk nor Mr. Marcy ever gave such
authority or advice to Gen. Riley, If either of
them issued any instructions, or gave any ad-
vice to him, at variance with my letter ofthe
7th of October, 1s4s, / am entirely ignorant of
it; and do not believe they did. 1t is certain
that SAit PollStin his annual message fthe 9th
December, ls4s, approved of thst letter in
strong terms, and communicated copy of II
to Congress,
Yours, very respectfully.
JAMES BUCHANAN,
Hon. Il. @. Bro,cn
DEAR iSR.--I have seen Mr. Buehannn's let
ter to you of the 26th ultimo, and assure you he
is correct in his statement ofmy action, as Sc
cretaryo of War, in the matter referred to. Gen
Riley had no instructions from me but those
contained in the public documents, and am
sure they furnished him no authority or warrant
for the part he took in regard to the civil grv-
eminent California.
Very respectfully,
your obt servant,
w. L. MARCY.