Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-08-22


has ceased to have influence or effect The
meeting Of the people of New Mexico. by
their representatives, which it invited, is
understood to have taken place, although
this Government has as yet received no Off
cial announcement of it.
Partaking however, in the fullest degree,
in that high respect which the Executive
Government of the United States always en-.
tertains towards the Governors and Govern
ments Of the states, the President thinks il
his duty nevertheless to manifest that feel
ing of respect by acknowledging and an
swering your letter.
And this duty, let me assure your excel.
lency, has been SO long delayed only by un-
comfortable circumstances, and it is now
performed at the earliest practical moment,
after the appointment of those heads OF de-
partments, and their acceptance Of Office,
with whom it is usual, on important occa-
sions, for the President of the United States
to advise.
In answer therefore, to your first inter-
rogatory, viz: whether Colonel Monroe,
in issuing the proclamation referred to, act
ed under the orders of this government, the
President directs me to state that Col. Mon
roe's proclamation appears to have been is
sued in pursuance or in consequence of an
order or letter of instructions given by the
late Secretary of War, under the authority
of the late President, to Lieutenant Colonel
Mccall.
Of this order, which bears date Noyem-
Der 18th, lS49, your excellency was uii-
doubtedly informed at tine date of your let
ter. A full and accurate copy, however,
is attached to this communication. Colonel
Mccall is therein instructed, that if the
people in New Mexico, for whom Congress
had provided no government, should mani
fest wish to take any steps to establish a
government for themselves, and apply for
admission into the Union, it will be his du.
ty and the duty of others with whom he is
associated, not to thwart, but 10 advance
their wishes.
This order does not appear TO authorize
any exertion Of military authority, or of any
official or even personal interference to con-
troll, or affect in any way the primary action
of the people in the formation of govern
ernment, nor to permit any such inierfer-
ence by subordinate officers. Col. Mccall
aud his associates were not called upon to
take lead in any measures, or even to
recommend any thing as fit to be adopted
by the people. In this matter it was evil
IDENTIFY contemplated that they were to act
as the agents of the inhabitants, and not as
the officers of this government. 1t must be
recolected that the only Government then
existing in the territory was quasi militia
ry government; and as Congress has made
no provision for the establishment of any
form of civil government, aud as the Presi-
dent doubtless believed that, under these
circumstances, the PeoPir had right to
frame government for themselves. and
s..h -.>i. C-,-,-ns- co. ;.s ann-...I H.
der was direction that the then existing
military government should not stand in
the way of the accomplishment of the WISH
rs Of the people, nor thwart those wishes if
the people entertained them, for the estab-
ment of free, popular, republican govern
ment for their own protection and benefit
This is evidently the whole purpose and OBJ
ject of the order. The military officer in
command, and his associates, were Ameri-
can citizens, acquainted with the forms Of
civil and popular proceedings, and it was
expected that they would aid the inhabi-
tants of the Territory, by their advice and
assistance, IN their proceedings for estab-
fishing government of their own. There
is no reason to suppose that Cplone. Mon
roe, an officer as much distinguished for
prudence and discretion as for gallant con-
duct IN arms, meant to act, OF did act 9TH
erwIse than in entire subordination and
subseryiency to the will of the people among
whom he was placed. He was not author
lied to do, nor does the President under
stand him as Intending to do, any thing
whatever in his military character, nor to
represent in any way the wishes of the Ex-
ecutive Government of the United States.
Toiudge inteligeu,ly and fairly of these
transactions we must recall 10 our reccol-
lection the circumstances ofthe case as they
then existed.
Previous to the war with Mexico, which
menced in May, 1916, and received
! the sanction of Congress on the 18th OF
that mouth, the territory of New Mexico
formed department or State of the Mex
lean Republic, and was governed wholly by
her laws.
General Kearney, acting under orders
from this government, invaded this depart
ment with an armed force the governor
fled at his approach, aud the troops under
his command dispersed, and General Kear-
ney entered Santa Fe, the capital, on the
ISh of August, le46, and took possession
of the territory in the name of the United
States. On the 22d Of that month, he is
sued proclamation to the inhabitants.
stating the fact that he had taken posses
sion of Santa Fe, at the head Of his troops,
and announcing " his intention to hold the
department with its original boundaries Ton
both sides Of the Rio del Norte) and under
the name of New Mexico"
BY that proclamation he promised to pro-
tect the inhabitants OF New Mexico in their
persons and property, against their enc
mics, and all others; and assured them
that the United States intended to provide for
them government when the people would
be called to exercise the rights OF freemen
in electing their own representatives. TO the
territorial Legislature. On the same day
he established a territorial constitution by!
an organic law, which provided for execu.