The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-27
TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO.

The President last week transmitted to the
Senate the following message:
WASHINGTON, June II, 1850
To the Senate Of the United States:
have received copy Of the resolution of the
Senate of the 18th June instant, requesting me
to inform the Senate whether any orders have
been issued to any military officer or officers at
Santa Fe, to hold possession against the authority
Of Texas, or in any way to embarrass or prevent
the exercise other jurisdiction over that country
and to furnish the Senate with copies of any cor
respondenoe which may have taken place between
the War Department and the military stationed
at Santa Fe since the date of my last communica-
ton to the Senate on that subject
In reply to that resolution l state that no such
orders have been given herewith present TO
the Senate copies Of all the correspondence refer
red to in the resolution. All the other orders re-
lating to the subject matter of the resolution
have been heretofore communicated to the Sem
ate.
have already, in former message, referred to
the fact that the boundary between Texas and
New Mexico is disputed have now to state that
information has been recently received, that Ger.
tain Robert s. Neighbours, styling himself com.
missioner Of the State of Texas, has proceeded to
Santa Fe with view of organizing counties in
that district under the authority of Texas While
have no power to decide the question of boundary
and no desire to interfere with it as a question Of
title, have to observe that the possession of the
territory into which it appears that Mr. Neigh
bours has thus gone was actually acquired by the
United States from Mexico, and has since been
held by the United States, and in my opinion
ought to remain until the question of boundary
shall have been determined by some competent
authority. Meanwhile, think there Is no reason
for seriously apprehending that Texas will prac-
tcally interfere with the possession of the United
States. u. TAYLOR.
As we read this, the President denies the
authority of Texas over New Mexico The in
qury was, whether orders had been issued to
United States officers ito hold possession of the
country against the authority Of Texas The
answer is, that "no such orders have been given,
but that the possession of the territory into which
it appears Mr.. Neighbours has thus gone was
actually acquired by the United States from Mexi-
co, has since been held by the United Statesn and
ought still to be SO held till the question of bound
airy be determined by the competent authority
The presumptionis, then, that orders were issued
to the United States officers, in command in New
Mexico, to hold possession Of the country thus
acquired, not "aganst the authority Of Texas
because Texas had no authority over it,
With this construction Of the message, We do
not understand why "a certain Robert s. Neigh
bours styling himself Commissioner Of the State
of Texas" was permitted to usurp jurisdiction
over Territory, the possession Of which had
been acquired by the United States from Mexico,
and held ever since that event. and which ought,
in the opinion Of the President, so to remain.
How could he, as the Chief Executive Of the Uni
ted States, bound to maintain unimpaired their
rights, permit Major Neighbours, styling himself
Commissioner Of Texas, to Gust them from their
possession by foroei For certainly, the organi-
zation of New Mexico into districts Of Texas, and
the extension Of the jurisdiction of the latter over
it, involved forcible exclusion Of United States
authority and possession.
We confess We are unable TO understand clearly
the exact position Of the Executive towards New
Mexico After the advent Of Major Neighbours,
II seemed - II his proceedings by which the Uni
ted States were to bs elected from the possession
Of New Mexico, resolved the countenanoe Of tho
officers Of the United States, in the Territory,
acting under orders from the Administration
Nothing could be more inexcussble, Il appeared
Ike cowsrdly betrayal Of trust