Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-08-23

representatives, which it invited, is
understood to have taken place, al
though this Governmetha has as yet re-
ceiyed no official information fit
Partaking, however, in the fullest
degree, inthat high respect which
the Executive Government of the
United States always entertains to-
wards the Governors and the Gov
ernments of the States, the Presi-
dent thinksit his duty, nevertheless,
to manifest that feeling of,respect,
by acknowledging and answering
your letter. An this duty, let me as
sure your Excellency, has been so
long delayed only by uncomfortable
circumstances, and is now performed
at the earliest practicable moments,
and their acceptance of Offices with,
whom it is usual, on important occa-
sions, for the Presider Of the United
States to advise. g.a aei, 52.
In answer, therefore, to your first
interrogatory, viz: whether Colonel
Monroe, in issuing the proclamation
reterredto, acted under the orders of
tbiG Government, lhave the honor to
state that Col. Monroe's proclama-
ton appears to have been Issued in
pursuance, or in consequence, of ain
order, or letter of instruction, given
by the late Secretary of War, under
the authority of the late President. to
Lieut.. Colonel Mccall OF this or
der, which bears date on the 10Th of
November, lS49, your Exeehoncy
was undoubtedly informed at the
date of your letter Il A full and ac-
curate copy, however, is attached TO
this communication. Col. Mccall
is therin instructed that if the people
OF New Mexico, forwhom Congress
had provided no Government, should
manifest a wish to take any steps TO
establish Government for them.
selves, and apply for admission into
the Union, it would be his duty, and
the duty of others with whom he was
associated not TO thwart, but to adj
vance their wishes. This order does
TO appearto authorize anyexertion
OF military authority, or of any of
flclal or even personal interference,
to. control, or affect in any way, the
primary action of the people IN the
formation Of Governments, nor to-
permit any such interference by sub
ordinate effeots. Col. MCCALL and
his associates were. not called upon
to take a lead in any measures, or
even TO recommend any thing as fit
to be adopted by the people. Their
E "A mt ~
they might be able to perform, sub
ordinate to the wishes of the pr ople.
In this matter it was evidently con-
templated that they were 10 act as
the agents of the inhabitants, and
not as officers of this Government.
1t must be recollected that the only
Government then existing in the
Territory was quasi military Cow
ernment and as Congress had made
no provision for the establishment of
any form of civil Government, and
as the President doubtless believed
that under these circumstances the
people had right 10 frame a,Gov-
ernment for themselves, and submit
Tito Congress for lis approval, the
order was "a direction that the then
existing military Government should
mot stand in the way of the accom-
piis ment of the wishes of the peo-
/ pie, i.or tll.Part those wishes. if the
people entertained them, for the es-
tabiishment of a free, popular, repub-
lican civil Government, fortheir own
protection and benefit. This is evi-
IDENTITY the whole purpose and object
of the order. The military officer in
command, and his associates, were
| American citizens, acquainted with
the forms of civil and popular pro-
ceedings, and it was expected that
they would aid the inhabitants of the
-territorys by flteir advice and assis-
tance,in their proceedings for estab-
lIshing a Government of their own.
i l here is no room to suppose that
4 Cols Munroe, an officer as much dis
| ting'iished for prudence ard discre-
Etion as for gallant conduct in arms,
meant to act, or did act, otherwise
1 thanin esitife subordination and sub
servlency to the will of the people
among whom he was placed. He
was not authorized to do, nor dol
understand him as intending to do,
lany thing whatever in his military
character, nor TO represent, In any
lwpy, the wishes of the Executive
Goyernmentof of the United States.
| 10 Judge intelligent,y and fairly
OF these TRANSACTIONS, we mustrecaIi
Eto ourreeollecuon the circumstances