The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE ON THE TEXAN
BOUNDARY.

To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
herewith transmit to the two Houses of Con-
gress letter from his Excellency the Governor of
Texas, dated on the nth day Of June last, adj
dressed to the late President of the United States
which, not having been answered by him, came
to my hands on his death and | also transmit
copy of the answer which have felt il to be my
duty TO cause to be made to that communication.
Congress will perceive that the Governor Of
Texas officially states that by authority Of the
Legislature Of that State, he dispatched special
Commissioner, with full power and instructions
TO extend the civil Jurisdiction of the State over
the unorganized counties of FL Paso, Worth,
Preside, and Santa Fe, situated on it's north
western limits.
He proceeds to say that the Commissioner had
reported to him, in official form, that the militia
ry officers employed in the service Of the United
States, stationed at Santa Fe interposed adverse
ly, with the inhabitants, TO the fulflment of his
object, in favor of the establishment of separate
State Government east Of the Rio Grande, and
within the rightful limits Of the State of Texas
The four counties which Texas thus proposes to
establish and organize, as being within her own
jurisdiction extend over the whole of the terrific
ry east Of the Rio Grande, which has hegetofore
been regarded as an essential and integral part
Of the Department of New Mexico, and actually
governed and possessed by her people, until con-
quered and severed from the Republic Of Mexico
by the American arms
The Legislature of Texas has been called to-
gether by her Governor, for the purpose, as is
understood, of maintaining her claim to the ter
ritory east Of the Rio Grande, and of establish
ing over 1t her own jurisdiction and her own laws
by force
These proceedings Of Texas may we'll arrest
the attention Of all branches of the Government
Of the United States; and rejoice that they oc-
cur while The Congress is yet in session IL is,
fear, far from being impossible that, in conse-
quence of these proceedings of Texas, crisis may
be brought on which shall summon the two Houses
OF Congress, and still more emphatically the Ex-
ecutlve Government, to an immediate readiness
for the performance Of their respective duties
BY the Constitution of the United States the
President Is constituted Commander-in -chief of
the Army and Navy and of the militia Of the
several States, when called into the actual service
of the United States. The Constitution declares
also that he shall take care that the laws be faith
fully executed and that he shall, from time to
time, give TO the Congress information Of the state
Of the Union.
Congress has power, by the Constitution, to
provide for calling forth the militia to execute the
laws Of the Union; and suitable aud appropriate
acts OF Congress have been passed, as well for
providing for calling forth the militia ms for pla-
cling other suitable and efficient means In the
hands OF the President to enable him to discharge
tho OVnsuVutlonsl functions or his ofhoe.
The second section Of the act of the 2sth of
February 1898 declares that whenever the laws
of the United States shall be opposed or their
execution Distracted, in any State, by com bina-
lions too powerful TO be suppressed by the ordi-
nary course Of judicial proceedings or the mower
vested In the marshals, the President may call
forth the militia, so far as may be necessary TO
10 suppress such combinations, and to cause the
laws TO be duly executed.
BY the act Of March Sd, 1907, it Is provided
that In all cases Of obstruction to the laws either
OF the United States or any individual State or
Territory, where 1t is lawful for the President to
call forth the militia for the purpose Of causing
the laws to be duly executed, II shall be lawful
for him TO employ, for the same purpose, such
part Of the land or naval force Of the United States
as shall be judged necessary.
These several enactments are now In full force;
so that il the laws Of the United States are OPP
posed OF INSTRUCTED in any State or Territory, by
combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the
judicial or civil authorities 1t becomes case in
which 1t is the duty Of the President either TO call
out the militia or to employ the military and naval