The Santa Fe Correspondence,
The Washington Correspondent of the Commer-cial Advertiser, gives the following account of the Correspondence which accompanies the President's Message of Monday to the Senate about the affair of New-Mexico:
Some important correspondence accompanies this message, of which I make the following hasty and imperfect abstract: Col. Monroe communicates to the War Department a letter from Major Van Horne, addressed to him from the post at which the Major was stationed near El Paso. The major says he is at a loss to determine, according to the orders received, the division between the eighth and ninth military departments. General order No. 49, makes the 32d parallel of North latitude the line of division, but speaks of it as being South of El Paso; whereas, he says, it is fifteen miles North of that town, and there are ranches and pueblos be-tween the assumed and the real line that look to him for government and protection.
He wishes to know whether be shall or shall not enforce the law of New-Mexico over this strip of country. He says that R. Howard, calling himself an agent of Texas, and other Texans, were selling head-rights at the Great Salt Lake, claiming the exclusive right to vend the salt, and were assuming to exact tribute for the use of the salt by others.
In a note to this dispatch of Major V. H., Col. Monroe says that a law of the Republic of Mexi-co makes the Southern boundary of the Province of New-Mexico a line drawn East and West on both sides the Rio Grande, about one league North of El Paso.
In a letter dated February 15, 1850, the Adju-tant General tells Col. Monroe, in answer to his in-quiries, that he must follow instructions, as to ju-risdiction, contained in order 58, and not attempt to decide or act upon any claim to jurisdiction what-ever.
On the 28th December, '49, Col. Monroe writes to Major Van Home, apparently in answer to his letter of the previous September, telling him that there are south of the line named in order No. 49, assumed at the 32d parallel, and the territory over which Texas exercised jurisdiction and gov-erment, a number of ranchers and places, including Isleta, Socorro, Seneca, San Elisiana, &c., over which it was proper for Mayor Van Horne to exer-cise authority, and directs him to enforce therein the existing law of New Mexico, commonly called the “Kearney code,” as to persons and property.
March 8th, 1850, is the date of a dispatch com-prising instructions to Col. Monrow from the Secre-tary of War. He disapproves of Col. Monroe’s or-der to Major Van horne, and directs him not to en-force the “Kearney code or any other code” South of the line named in order No. 58, dividing the mil-tary dpartments, stating that that order is suffi-ciently clear for his guidance, and warning hime to abstain from any action on the question of jurisdic-tion, and against the enforcement of martial law within the limits of Texas.
April 15, 1850, Col. Monroe communicates to the War Department an important letter from Major Neighbors. The person writes to Col. Monroe to say that he had noticed posted up about the town bills calling a public meeting of those friendly to a State Government for the purpose of petitioning the Military Governor, Col. Monroe, to call a Con-cention for the formation of such a Government.-Mr. Neighbors protests against the movement, and particularly protests against, Col. Monroe’s taking any action favorable to the object of the peo-ple calling said meeting. He asserts it to be in violation of the right of Texas to that country, as asserted in her compact of annexation, and as ad-mitted by the United States in the resolution for her admission. He concludes with another pro-test. It does not appear that Col. Monroe replied to him.
Appended to this protesting epistle are copies, in Spanish and English, of the calls for the meeting, judiciously worded, and better printed than is usual with such documents in the United States.
The Washington Republic of yesterday gives the following alone of the documents attached to the Presdient’s Message:
[Copy.] Santa Fe, April, 1859.
SIR: Having seen during the day notices posted up, both in Spanish and English, inviting the citi-zens of this place to convene on Saturday next, “to take into consideration the propriety of making a State movement, and to call a Convention, &c.” I deem it my duty, as Commissioner of Texas, sent here to effect an organization under her laws of this portion of her territory, to call your attention to the fact, as well as to the 3d section, 4th article of the Constitution of the United States.
I deem it the more necessary thus solemnly to protest against any countenance or aid being given to this movement by the present head of this Gov-erment in consequence of the published orders which have emanated from the War Department, and the result of an interview had between us a few days since. The Government which I have the honor to represent has declared her determination to maintain inviolate all the Territory within her boundries-such boundries as were guaranteed to her by her compact of Union; and I would take this opportunity to refer you to the second section of the “Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States,” and preamble of the Constitution of the State of Texas, by which the terms of said “Joint Resolution” are accepted. And also to the “Joint Resolution for the admission of the State of Texas into the Union,” approved 29th December, 1845. All of which, in my opinion, would be vio-lated by consummation of the objects of said State movement. And further to state, that I now most solemly protest against any movements in favor of State cause this portion of her Territory, or until the will of the State of Texas can be known in this matter as guaranteed to her by the enactments re-ferred to above.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT S NEIGHBOURS,
Commissioner State of Texas.
To Col. J. Munroe,
Commanding 9th Military Division U.S.A. Santa Fe.
