The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-12
Texas aud New Mexico Dimc uIty.
oRT or MAI. NEiGHBoRs.

Texas aud New Nexieo Difficulty.
REroRT or MAI. NEiGHBoRs.
CRY 81 AUSTIN, June 4, 1850
SRI hays the honor to inform you that arrived
in this city on yesterday having left Santa Fe the
2ith April. and ri Paso on the 1ith OF May here
wit enclose, for your especial consideration copy Of
proclamation issued on she 23d of Aprby Col John
Monroe, u. 3. A, commanding the Ninth Military De-
parment BY II you will perceive that the people OF
New Mexico are about to go into separate State
espization. This moyemeut,I am induced to believe,
has been brought about by the encouragemsnt given
tbem by the President Of the United states through
his instructions TO Col Mccall. U. g. A. as they
published and very generally circulated through that
territory.
Having, sioce my arrival. been informed that YOU
did not receive my letter of the 18th April, which
forwarded With other documents letters you by
the military mail via III paso, deem t proper to call
your atteEtion 10 my movements after the organiza.
ton of the county OF HI Paso Having received copy
of Gov Monroos circular letter to the command ing
officers OF the seventh Military Department, ordering
-srict non interference with in the discharge
of my duties and several letters FROM private indvi
duals in Santa Fe advising to to santa Fe.
time and arrived that place on the sth of
April under the impression that should be able to
effect an organization was well aud c,urtsousy re-
ceived by the inhabitants. AS possible after
my arrival commenced an investigation Of public
sentiment and endeavored to ascertain the practical
de- med it my iirst duty to call upon Colonel Mon
the Military svernor. found by his converse
tion that he would give me no encouragement nor
adopt any measure policy that would forward the
views or wishes Of Texas; en- tho contrary, he ex-
pressed himself decidedly favorable to the then
istng state Of affairs and believed it best that the
present government, with the Mexican laws now
forced. should he maintained until Congress sha es-
tablish some other" During the conversation asked
him the plain question, Z" Are you willing to acknow-
ledge the jurisdiction Of Texas provided hold the
answer was IL am not prepared to say so 1 have no
right to abolish the present governmest The judges
aud other officers commission by the L. g. Go.
vernment and have power to remove them unless
instructed TO do so by my Government" called his
attention to the probability Of the Executive Of the
ba 1f IN unia land
ing our jurisdiction by proclamation, and enforcing
the laws by military force
His reply was: " That would be the proper course
for Texas to pursue there viii in that case be OPP
the Territory, who expressed his determination to
maintain the existing Government, aud to I'M prison
any person who should attempt to enforce the laws Of
The civil Jurisdiction Of the territory rests entirely
with three individuals, viz Jsdge Houghton, Chief
Justice and two Mexican District Judges-0tero and
Bobino. They own and fully control the only press
in New Mexico, (7ae Nev Merieanl and no document
can be printed. or information dinused by 1t, except
what is approved by committee OF supervisors at the
head Of which stands Judge Houghton, the Chief
Justice Of the territory and the masses are kept en-
tirely uniformed or misinformed in regard to the
Texas and every other question except the particular
views Of the party in power This Is the party that
opposes the claim Of Texas-a party that completely
and absolutely controls the whole Mexican population
above the Journardo del Muerto-a party so void Of
TO hostility, resort any other whatever
to prevent the extension Of the jurisdiction Of Texas
Il informed
tempered with on the subject Of Texas.
Enclosed you will find copy Of one efJudge Hough-
tons circulars to the Mexicans This Is one Of the
original documents, and bears Houghtons own sigma
ture This party had slso circulated many prejudicial
reports such ~ the enormous amount Of taxes that
Texas would require them to pay &C. and some OF the
Mexican population were excited to considerable de-
The psrtymost favorable to the organisation were
the original State party. A few evenings after my
arrival in Santa fe L met . considerable party OF
gentlemen, principally Of that party, and amongst
them some Of the most distinguished members of the
bar for q consultation the subject Of Organization
At the time that they willing to go into
organization and pledge themselves to carry the vote
OF what Is sauts Fe county, they decidedly
of the opinion that IL would be necessary for the State
to send military force, before she could exercise
urisdict!on The party proposing to organizes are of
course. under the operations of the existing govern
ment; In the minority. and the organization would
have been partial and incomplete.
Having authority to pledge the State to maintain
her Jurisdiction, and not being informed the
tion Of the Legslaurs Of the State the subject
compelled, contrary to the wishes of many, TO de.
fer the election until could be better informed In
the meantime notices had been posted up in Santa We.
calling public meeting for the purpose OF taking into
confederation the paonisty Of organising state 60
Der Of nersons assemSeS At the eourt houss and
resolutions passed In favor OF State osganixation q
committee was appointed to wait the Governor and
Of opposing this measure deemed proper to protest
IS anst it, COPY OF which protest and the Governors
acknowledgement of It, have the honor to enclose for
deem 1t proper to call your attention particularly
to the ecsl character Of the movement In the Terri
tory OF New Mexico In favor Of State govern IN mt
At the meeting In santa We, Major Cunningham u. s.
Paymaster presided. and Mr.. Ellison, the Governors
private secretary and interpreter acted as secretary
and Judge Houghton the principal spokesman,
and out Of two hundred persons present large
portion we're the employees of the governments In the
Cuartermsster's and other departments.
have no hesitation in saying that this movement
Is entirely got up by the officials In that Territory
an Informed that the reported meetings in other
places were Of the same cast Orders issued to
the projects by Jsdss Houghton and the petitions for
. convention tho retult In my interc with
the ctseps that Territory became fully convinced
Of the fact and believe there is not person in New
eide with in the belief that to do away with the
opposition and influence exercised by the United
States authorities Texas could at once and without
dnculty establish and exercise jurisdiction over the
whole Of that Territory.
! end many Of the leading cltisons willing TO 40.
knowledge our claim, and . large portion Of those
most opposed to US have and hold large tracts Of
land that they acquired from the Mexican government
So seos as 1 ascertsined that Col. Monroe regard
less OF the claims OF Texas had issued his
for . convention. deemed IL unnecessary to remain
longer IN that Territory could In no way benefit
the State by so doing. and finding my means nearly
exhausted, dste, mined at once 20 ..,urs home.
on my arrival at Nj PAso. found that the indians
held complete possession of the RE rspde below that
point, and committing msa" s.rr-ds,ions tho
the it would DO npos.ls' ,i.ii Prssidso del
Norte without strong cscort % "a com unicatsn
Ny duty :. comm l.siessr As,irs ben executed n
the best Of my sbiity hop. that my action In tho
premises viii prove s.iise,ory % the state Dcsming
improper 20 maks any rugxy stion In regard 20 her
future action upon the tuhrct of extending jurs
dcton that Territory, can but express regret
that have not BEN sessful Hopiag to meet
with your appreciation. have the honor be, very
respectfully your obsdient servant,
RS NErGHBoRs
Commissioner, ne.
TO his Ereelicncy, r. m. BrLI.
r4ocLAhArIoS or THK sUrnKxg JUDGE or NEW