Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-08-16
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
AUsTIS, Texas, June IA, 1850.



President Of the United States:
SlR,-By authority Of the Legislature Of Tex
a., tic Executive Of the State, in February
last, despatched special commissioner, with
full power and Instructions to extend the civil
jurisdiction Of this State over The unorganized
counties Of FL Paso, Worth, Presidio, and
Santa Fe, situated upon its northwestern limits.
That commissioner has reported TO me, in
an official form, that the military officers en-
ployed in the service Of the United States.
stationed at Santa Fc, inerposod adversely
with the inlabanl to the lufillment OF his
object, by employing their influence in favor of
the esab shment of a separate State govern
ment east of the Rio Gande. and within the
lighlful limits Of the State of Texas trans
NIT to you, herewith, the proc 'ana,ion OF Col
orel John Monroe, 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.
have very respectfully to request, that your
EXceIencv will cause me to be informed, at
rour earlie6t possible convenience, whether or
not. this o'icor has acted in this matter under
the orders OF his Government, and whether his
nroclanation meets with the approval Of the
President Of the United States?
Win assurances Of distinguished consider
alton, | have tie honor to be your Excecncy S
most ubedent servant, Il. II. BELL.
or Mr. WEBsrER's reply, the Bos'o Adrer-
tiSer says
This document reached us by the mail last
| evening. We have not room for it at length in
/ today's paper. The general scope Of the letter
is to show in reply to the letter of the Govern
or, which is rather querulous in its tone, that
neither the late President nor the present, has
entertained any views hostile to The interests or
/ rights Of Texas. His reply to the first ques-
| ton, whether i. Monroe had acted in con
| formiiy with orders from the Executive close,
as follows:
The military government, therefore, existing
! in New Mexico at the date of the order, existed
there Of inevitable necessity. 1t existed as
much against the will of the Executive Gov
ernmenl Of the United States, as against the
will of the People, The late President had
adopted the opinion, that it was justin tble in
the people Of the Territory, under the circum-
stances, to form a constitutional government
without any Ir vous authority conferred by
Congress. and lhererpon to apply for admission
into the Unior. 1t was under this state o.
things, and under The influence Of these opin
ions, that the order Of the l9,h November last
was given, and executed in the manner we
have seen. This order indicates no boundary
and dehnes no territory, eHcpet ny Tue udlIlf VI
New Mexico; and so far as that indicated any
thing it referred to known territory, which
had been organized und' military authority
approved by the Executive, and left wthou
rcmon,trancc or alteration BY Congress 10
more Than three years 1t appears TO the Pre-
sidcni that such an order could not have bcel
intended to invade the rights of Texas.
To the question the President approves o.
Col Monroe's proclamation! he replies that
the object was 10 settle the disputed boundary o
Texas, 'lhen the President has no hesitation il
saying such object does not meet his aPproha
, tlon, because he does not believe that the eX
; eculjve branch Of this government, nor the III
habllants Of New Mexico, or both combined
} have any constitutional authority to settle tina
question, That belongs either 10 the Iud'eIa
department of the federal government, or to tn
concurrent action by agreement OF the leglsla
tive department of the government OF tie I'M
ted States and Texas. But 1t has been suiii
GENTLY shown that Col. Monroe could have ha
no such object, and that his intention va