The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1850-08-21
letter Of Hon. Daniel Webster.


Letter OF Hon. Daniel Webster.
DEPARTMENT nF STATE
Washington, August 5, 1850.
To his Excellency, p. II. Bell, Governor d
Ie1ds.
SIR:--A letter addressed 10 YOU by tht
hale President Of the United States, dated or
lAe l4ik Of June last, has, since his lamenleC
decease, been transferred TO the hands of li'
SUCCESSOR, BY whom am directed to address
you in the following answer:
IN that letter you say, that by the auhorit,
of the Legislature Of Texas, the Executive
Of that State, in February last, despatched
special commissioner with full power and in
sttuclions to extend the civil jurisdiction o
that Slate over the unorgaDized counties o
El Paso, Worth, Piesidio, and Santa Fe, sit
unted upon its northwestern limits; and tha
tie Commissioner has reported 10 you in al
official form, that the military officers EN-
ployed in the service Of the United States
stationed al Santa Fe, inlerposed adversely
with the inhabitants to the fulilment of hi.
DHject, by employing their influence in favor
Of the establishment Of a separate State gov.
aFnment east of the Rio Grande, and within
the rightful limits Of tine Sinte Of Texas
Yum also transmit a copy Of the proclamation
Of Cal John Monroe, acting under orders o
the Government Of the United States, under
che designation of Civil and Military Cover
noE Of The territory of New Mexico, and re-
SpechulIy request the President to cause
you TO be informed whether or notthis Office
ias acted ia this matter under the orders oI
his government, and whether his PROCLAIM
zion meets with the approval Of the President
Of the United States.
In the events which have occurred, the
President hardly knows whether your Excel
Iency would naturally expect an answer ia
ths letter from him. predecessor in Office.
" whom il was addressed, and under whose
authority and direction the proclamation oi
Col Monroe was issued, is no more, and al
this time, that proclamation, whatever may
he rPea ded as its true character, has ceased
10 have influence or effect. The meeting oI
lhe people Of New Mexico, by their repre-,
Fenatives, h;ch ii invited, is understood lc
have tasen place. although this Government
has as yet recciyed 40 official information oI
II; No
Partsking however, in the fullest degree
In that high respect which the Executive
Government Of the United States always en-
SeFtains towards the Governors and govern
Tnenis Of the States, the President thinks /
his duty, nevertheless, to manifest that feel
ing Of Vespcc, by acknowledging and answer
iug your letter. And this duty, lei me assur,
your Excellency, has been so long delaye'
only by unconIrOlsble circumstances, and i
now performed sl the earliest practicable mo
ment, after the appointment OF those head
Of departments, md their acceptance ofoffice
with whom, it is usual On important occa
casions, for tho President of the Unite,
States TO advise.
IL snswer therefore TO your FIST inteHogn
tory, viz whether Colonel Monroe, in issuing
ihe proclamation referred 10, acted under tht
orders Of this Government, the President d
reefs me to state, that Col. Monr0e's procla
pnalioa appears to have been issued iu pur
susnce, or in consequence, of IN order o
letter Of instructions, gwen by The lat
Secretary Of War, under the authority Of tn,
ysse President, 10 Lieutenant Col. Mccall
of this order, which bears date on the l9t
Of November, l849, your Excelency wa
undoubtedly informed ot the cate Of you
letter. A full and accurate copy, however
lD attached TO this communication. COlone
McCaliis Is therein instructed, that if the peo
pie Of New Mexico, for whom Congress hat
provided no government, should manifest
wish TO any steps 10 establish government
for themselves, md apply for admission int
the Union, il will be his duty, and The duty
Og others with whom he is associated, not I,
Jhysrt, but advance their wishes. This or
der does not appear 10 authorize any exercise
Of Military authority, or of any official o
even personal Interference 10 control or ef
feet ia any way the primary action Of th'
people, in The formation Of a government
nor 70 permit any such interference by subor
dinate officers.
cOloneI Mccall and his associates wer'
moi called upon 10 take the lead 10 any meas
pIe, or even 10 recommend ANYTHING as f
10 be adopted by tue people. Their whole
duty wss continued 10 what they might be
nbls 10 perform, subordinate 10 The wishes o
ahe people. In this matter il was ey,denll,
contemplated that they we're TO act as th'
hReni of the inhabitantss and moi as The Off
6ers Of lhe government. II must be recol
Sqcled that The only government then exist
nna 10 lho territory wns a quasi military gov
drnmeni, and az Congress has mlde no pro
visions Tor the establishment Of any form 0
ctIl government, and az fhe President doubt
less believed that, under thesc cciScumsIances
ahe people had tight 10 frame goVernn:sn
gcf themselves, and submit tito Congress 70
fi6 approval The order was q direction iha
The ihen existing military government shoul'
moi stand ia lhs way Of The accomplishmcn
tpl lho wishes Of tle people nor thwart llios'
wishes, II ths peonlo enteriaiaed them, 70
ybe caldbliBhpthl d ftpe, popular, repubIi.
can. civil government IoS Aheir own ptotec
ilon and benefit This Is evidently th'
whole purpose md object Of the order. e
The military officer in command, aud hi
associates. were American citizens, ucquain
I'd with Tie form of ciyii and popdlar pro
eoodIhas, and II was expected that the.
rvouId 1Id lhs iniahitanls of the territory, b
shsIf advico dnd hssissance, 10 theif proceed
mas lor esiabIishing government Of lifei
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