Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-09

nii its tSoty hiuoe icot SA A''
bility. Americans are now called upon to say,
whether this politico-religous power is consistent
with American liberty. II. NJ. N.
Correspondence between Gen. Wool and
the Secretary Of War.
HEADouARrERs, DKrARrNEKr or THE
PACIFIC, BESIoIA, Oct Is, 1884.
To Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Sec. Of Var.
6R have received your communication OF
August 10, "a, In answer to mine of May 80, 1854.
Excepting the 4th and 9th paragraphs, shall.
defer until some future period an answer to this
communication.
In the fourth paragraph you remark, " My let
ter of the 4th April is explanatory Of the instruc-
tons of January l2, 80 far as relates to unlawful
expeditions against the territories of foreign Powers
II is not necessary to argue whether your con-
struction of them Is sustained by the letter II Is
sufficient for the department to presume that the
Interpretation you originally put upon them was
sincere and that you acted in accordance with that
Interpretation, but when you received my letter Of
April Ia, stating to you the construction that the
department designed you to place on your instruc-
TONS you should have been content TO act in con-
formity thereto"
| In reply, it is due to myself to say that have
been content to act since received IL, strictly in
accordance with your Interpretation Of your in
structions of the 18th January, as will be seen by
1 u
Hammond, in August last, forwarded toyou through
| General Scott, Slst August, and the correspond
ence with Mr.. Gadsden, our Minister at Mexico, in
| September last-a copy Of which was transmitted
| to you through the same channel by the mail Of
| the lst instant. But while ! was content with
your nterpretation-which, however, think will
be able to convince even yourself was On erro-
| ne0us one, and not the one intended by you when
you drew up my instructons-I was not content
to be represented as exceeding my instructions,
and doing that which was neither expected nor de-
sired Of me--namely, the interfering, which did
not do, but which you apprehended, with the du-
ties Of the civil officers of the government Hence
my letter to you of the 30th May. No officer Of
the government can entertain higher respect for
the civil department Of the government than my
self and none can be more ready and 60 further to
sustain them in all their rights and prerogatives.
TO convince you, however, that was right and
correct in my construction of your instructions, to
say nothing Of the interviews and conversations
had with You and the President on the subject,
which were emphatic and could not be nisunder-
stood, would simply refer You to an extract Of
my communication to you dated the 18th January,
1854, which reads as follows:
WAsHINGToN, Jan. Z, 1854
Sir: Agreeably to. the conversation we had
yesterday, and your expressed wishes, have the
honor to present my views in regard to some Of
the duties which may deyolye on me as command
er Of the Pacific department
sIf understand the object of my assignment,
it is to preserve, far may be practicable, the
peace and quietness Of the inhabitants within and
without and to restrain those Of our citizens from
violating treaties on the neutrality of the country
by fitting out expeditions against nations with
whom we are at peace. If comprehend the law
upon the subject, in order to act efficiently in all
such cases. it will be necessary for the President
70 delegate the power to me by special instruc-
tons.
"In conformity to these suggestions and af
frming my views, you transmitted to me your in
structions of the 18th of January, which, in con-
nexion with this subject are as follows
"WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, January H. 1854.
Sir: In addition to the ordinary duties of the
military command, to which you have been assign
ed it is deemed proper to direct your attention to
certain special duties which will devove upon you
Among these will be the duty of maintaining
our international obligations by preventing unlaw
full expeditions against the territories of foreign
Powers Confidence is felt that you WILL to the ut
most of your ability use all proper means to detect
the fitting out of armed expeditions against coun-
tries with which the United States are at peace
and will zeaously cooperate with the civil autho-
rites in maintaining the neutrality laws
These instructions are strictly in accordance with
the conversation had with you and the President
on the 18th December, 1858, when, according to
the memoranda before me, made at the time, you
asserted that it was ga question of peace war,
referring to the importance Of putting down the IL
legal expeditions forming against the territory of
Mexico So anxious was the President on the sub
ject that he wished me to reach California soon
as possible, and fixed as early day ms the 9th of
January for the time of my departure from New
York this, in order that these expeditions might
ot.ot,n
being then pending with Mexico, it was necessary
that prompt and decided measures should be taken
at the earliest moment lest there might be produc
ed rupture in our relations with that Republic. 1t
also stated in that conversation that you want
ed an officer Of my discretion and Judgment, on
whom to confer a command ofsuch grave and deli
cate responsibility and necessary discretionary
power, as 1t was too remote for you TO exercise
immediate control
It was under these circumstances that said that
whatever might be the sacrifice, / would go, and
with pleasure, and that neither you nor the Pres-
dent should have cause to regret that you had Sc
lected me for SO important n command. At the
same time, remarked that no officer should be
intrusted with mission of such importance and
responsibility, without possessing the most implicit
confidence OF the President, as well as the Secre-
tary Of War, which both assured me possessed.
II was with my views of duty thus formed that
entered upon the command of the department, In
February with determination to carry out faith
fully and to the fullest extent your views and those
of the President, having no other object before
but the good Of the country and the service, and
what has been the result? In accordance with the
express wishes Of the President, and your positive
and unequvocl Instructions, prevented expcdi-
tons being fitted out against Mcxico was the
cause OF the arrest, trial, and conviction Of Wat
kins; Of the arrest, trial, and conviction of the
Mexican consul the arrest and trial Of the French
consul, who ought to have been convicted, and
who would have been convicted, had he been tried
second time, and compelled the surrender Of
Walker and his party.
Through the vigilance of the officers stationed
throughout the department, / have preserved
peace and quiet in the Indian country, erected bat
teres, Mt small expense, for the protection Of the
hsrbor OF San Francisco, and ordered arsenal
building to be erected at Bcnicia for the protection
OF the ordnance stores, and the establishment of
new post on the Indian reservation at the Tcion
Pass. VI
Being confident that was promoting the inter
o.t~ a., oo,,Ytrr and that acf,rfapcc with