Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-08-29

VefSalIy OlSLruSLeu ,Dye tuS -oouku'
AS Fillmore's friends in the South pre-
tend to find in his administration abund-
ant evidence Of his rennuciation of Aboli-
tionism and Of his fidelity to the consitu>
tional guarantees OF slavery. we invite
particular attention TO the following ex>
animation Of his
PRESIDENTIAL RECORD.
When Mr.. Fillmore became President
the agony Of the struggle was over. Clay
and Cass and their associates had won the
battle, and it was obvious that the Com
promise measures would pass the two
Houses of Congress. The administration
schemes of settling each measure on its
merits was beaten. The question is.
which plan did Fillmore favor? Was he
for the Compromise, or for the immediate
and independent admission of California !?
In reply TO this inquiry, we invite atten-
tiou to the following paragraphs from a
recent communication to this paper:
The questions arising under these cir
cumstances were still further complicated
by an event which brought the country
to the verge Of civil war. Col. John
Munroe. an officer Of the U. S. Army.
stationed in New Mexico, attempted to
play on that soil, the very game which
was successfully carried out by Brigadier
General Riley.in California. issuing un-
dur his assumed title Of military and civ.
il governor Of New Mexico, a proclama-
ton for the formation of State Constitu-
ton! This new plan Of usurpation. is too
important not to give in detail. The ma
teral part Of Col. Munroe's proclamation
is rs follows:
81, John Munroe. civil and military
governor Of the said territory Of New Mex
leo. do hereby direct that the qualified
electors of said territories shall assemble
at the precincts Of their respective coun-
ties on Monday. the 7th day of May next.
between the rising and setting of the sun.
to vote by ballot for delegates to con-
vention to be held at Santa Fe. on Nom
day, the l 9Th Of May next, as follows:
' For the county of Taos, 3 delegates
Rio Verda. delegates; Santa Fe, 8 dell
egates Santa Anna. delegates San
Miguel, 3 delegates; Berdilillos, 9 dele
gates Valencia, S delegates.
:" The perfects shall designate convent
ent precincts in their respective coun.
ties, and shall appoint three discret per-
sons as judges Of election in the several
precincts. -sH
." Given under my hand, &C., Esd
April, 1880"
This act Of Col. Munroe was in entire
concurrence with the wishes and designs
Of the Executive. 1t was another palp
bIe dodge OF the proviso. Allowing only
nine days from the election to the assem-
bling of the Convention for State Con-
stitution, with scarcely enough inhabitants
to form respectable county in one OF the
old States In the face of this, the farce
was concluded, and the State of New
Mexico came before Congress with Con-
s'itution prohibiting slavery. and claiming
u large portion Of the territory of the ad~
jacent State Of Texas as her own! This ra-
pacity went little too far. Texas herself
was prepared for war. The territory
claimed by New Mexico included the
counties Of Ell Paso, Worth, Preside, and
Santa Fe-beyond all controversy within
the limits Of Texas. On the 18th Of June,
1880 Governor Bell of Texas, addressed
TO General Taylor letter, in which he
stated that the commissioner of that State
had been obstructed in those counties by
military officers in the service of the Uni
ted States, stationed at Santa Fe. that
they were exerting their influence in ia :
vOr Of separate State government, dc.
spelling Texas Of her rightful boundaries.
tie transmitted the proclamation OF Col
MunrOe. which we have given. and re-
quested TO know whether this officer act
ed in this manner under the orders Of his
government, and whether his proclamation
met with the approval of the President Of
the United States?
General Tay lor died in July following.
and the answer TO this letter develoved
upon MIR. Fillmore. who succeeded him as
President. Accordingly, on the h
day Of August, Daniel Webster, as Sec,
retary Of State. transmitted by order of
Mr.. Fillmore. careful reply, in which
diseloses the fact, that Col. Munroe's pro-
clanaten was issued in consequence Of a
letter Of Instructions given by the Secre-
tary of War under the authority of Gene.
raj Taylor 10 Lieut.. Col. Mccall. 1t
bore date The l9sh day of November,
l849. and q copy is attached to tho reply.
The Secretary of State. Mr.. Webster,
goes further. however. and makes the
pregnant admission. that tie President,
{ Mr.. Fillmore feds bound to approve tie
conduct Of COl- -Kuaroe. in issuing the pro-
cl0n.ation."
On the 10Th Of August. 1850. Mr.. Fill
more sent special message 10 Congress.
in which he maintained the very policy
General Taylor had adhered to on this
subject. and in which he menaces Texas
with the infantry, mounted rifles and mi>
litia Of the United States. This was all
done under the guise of conciliation. but
it had the effect Of arousing the attention
Of the whole country to the danger of a
collision between the arms of Texas and
those OF the Federal Government. Mr..