SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW MEXICO. [A.] EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, To the House of Representative: In answer to your resolution requesting me to lay before you, “all the information in my possession, the publication of which may not be incompatible with the public interest, in regard to a rumored insurrection of the citizens of Taos, and the hostility of the Utah and Apache Indians." I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a letter addressed to me by the Hon. Charles Beaubien, it being the only intelligence of record which has come to my knowledge npon this subject. Various rumors have reached me during the past and present week, of personal conflicts and the destruction of property at and near Taos; concerning which I have caused diligent enquiries to be instituted, and so far, they have proven to be mischievous misrepresentations, evidently designed to disturb the public tranquility. Immediately on the recept of Judge Beaubien's letter, it was laid before Col. Munroe the military commanding officer of this department, who promptly acceded to a suggestion contained in said letter, and on the 15th of this month Maj. H. L. Kendrick moved from this city to Taos with a company of U. S. Artillery. The Judge of Probate of the county of Taos bas been directed to call to his assistance such civil officers of the county as he may deem advisable, for the purpose of ascertaining the foundations of the rumors. and ferreting out the persons guilty of an attempt to cause the public quiet to be disturbed. I regret to say the mischievously purposed are not confined to Taos. In Santa Fé, and other places, it is known that individuals have exerted their influence to excite the Pueblo Indians to insurrection, by circulating among them falsehoods of the most scandalous character. During the past three days a large number of Pueblo Indians have been to this superintendency for consultation, and confirm the foregoing statements. I discovered no reason to believe that they had been disaffected for a moment. They remained in council during the entire day of yesterday, and after night delivered their final determination, in the hand writing of the president of the council, a copy of which I transmit to you, with the original, for your inspection, which I pray may be returned to this office. They parted with me this morning apparently perfectly satisfied, and I have no reason to apprehend an outbreak from the Pueblo Indians, notwithstanding the reckless efforts of individuals in various parts of the Territory. The proper vigilance due by the chief magistrate to the people shall be observed by me. The Apaches and Comanches, at different periods, visited me and encouraged the belief that their intentions were pacific, and I did not then, nor have I now a doubt as to the faithfulnes of their intentions in observing their declarations as expressed at the time. By an arrangement with Col. Munroe, the apaches who claimed to be very poor, were to have received some corn at Anton Chico. On the morning of the 16th of May last, Col. Munroe, with other officers of the U. S. Army, and the undersigned, accompanied by the Rev. Mr Nicholson, the Acting Secretary of the Territory, and others, had arranged to be present at the delivery of the corn. Three days before we reached Anton Chico, the Apaches had passed that point, and had hurried to the plains. A large number oi Comanches hearing of our intended visit to Anton Chico, came in and remained two days, but suddenly departed, because of an infamous rumor, which obtained circulation, that our party were approaching to have them and the Apaches massacred on the same day and at the same hour. Runners were immediately sent to overtake the Apaches and Comanches, and the latter returned and visited me in Santa Fé, and seemed perfectly satisfied, but about twelve o'clock of ihe second night they left the rooms in which they were quartered, leaving behind their animals, food, arms and other property; one of these Indians was brought back to me two days thereafter, and said, it had been told to them they were all to be murdered the next morning, by the Americans. The Comanches in their flight, carried off a number of animals, taken from persons between this place and San Miguel, and many of them, if not all, have returned; the property of the comanches has also been returned, and my agents sent out to visit the Comanches returned yesterday, report the Indians are now satisfied that they were deceived by wicked men. No reliable information has reached me of any recent bad conduct on the part of the Apaches or Utahs near Taos, or elsewhere, and I feel assured the U. S military authority, aided by the civil officers of the coun ty, will keep rebellion, if indeed it exists, which may be doubted, in proper check in Taos. Similar rumors, and evidently for like purposes, were circulated in June of the preceding year, which was not confined to Rio Abajo. It is understood there was some concentration and change of stations of U. S. troop at that time which may have had its influence in preventing disorders. The Pueblo Indians were greatly excited by the circulation of falsehoods among them; but, finally they became satisfied of the wickedness of the designs of those who were attempting to bring me into disrepute with them, and have not departed from their accustomed good conduct. This is a subject which I trust will receive the marked attention of the Legislative Assembly of New Mexico. I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, J. S. CALHOUN. Without stopping to interpose the suggestion, that I am alone responsible to the Government of the United States for the manner in which I have conducted our Indian relations in this Territory; that this message, nor the one addressed to the House of Representatives on the 15th of this month, are to be regarded by me as precedents; I proceed to submit a few remarks, and such extracts from my instructions, as are called for by your resolution of the 20th inst., and a few of the reasons which induced me to proclaim that the said "Pueblo Indians are not a part and parcel of the political community of the people of New Mexico, recognized by the organic law of this Territory." But the question submitted to me is: "Therefore, His Excellency, the Governor, be requested to communicate to this house, if he deem it not injurious to the public interest, all instructions which he may have re ceived from the President of the United States, or heads of Departments at Washington, relative to the subject of Pueblo Indians, and which may have induced him to proclaim that the said Pueblo Indians are not a part and parcel of the political community of the people of New Mexico." The quotation of my proclamation, to which I am requested to reply, is incomplete, being shorn of its entirety by omitting the words which qualified or limited the declaration, to-wit: "Recognized by the organic law of the Territory." The proclamation alluded to, does not contain the declaration complete, that the Pueblo Indians "are not a part and parcel of the political community of New Mexico;" but it is there published "they are not a part and parcel of the political community of the people of New Mexico, recognized by the organic law." The broad ground attributed to me in the conclusion of the resolution of inquiry, under consideration, is perfectly defensible, in my opinion. That a sovereign State may give to Indians residing within her jurisdiction, political rights, I suppose is not a questionable fact. Perhaps I might venture a step further, and assert that a Territorial law, contemplating the same result, if not disapproved by the Congress of the United States, would be equally effective. The conclusion of the 7th section of the organic law shows that Congress retained the right to render "null and of no effect" laws passed by the Legislative Assembly and Governor of this Territory. On the 24th of April, 1850, I was authorized to negotiate treaties with the Pueblo Indians, by the Department of the Interior, in the following words, to-wit: "The Pueblo Indians present a curious and interesting problem, but I am disposed, for the reasons given by you, to think that the course of policy recommended by you, shall be pursued towards them, the best, at least for the present; and if you can negotiate a treaty with them, upon the general principles you suggest, you are authorized to do so, unless you think it advisable to await the appointment of the contemplated commissioners. This would probably be the best course, consequence unless you are of the opinion that earlier action is required in of the embarrassing questions that are continually arising between the Pueblos and the whites, and a constant liability to difficulties of a serious character being caused by them." and nego I entertained the opinion that earlier action was necessary, tiated the treaties as stated in my message of the 13th inst. In the letter from which the foregoing extract is copied, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs states: "Being anxious to obtain all the information in my power on this and other subjects connected with our Indian relations in New Mexico, to enable me to make a special report to Congress, with specific recommen dations as to the measures and general course of policy to be adopted, I addressed a letter of inquiry to the Hon. H. N.Smith, the Delegate elect, asking his views on various points. Mr Smith replied, "With ref erence to the Pueblos, they do not exceed in number 7,000, and might be divided into three districts, and an agent appointed for each." Your estimate of their number is larger, over 10,000. In your number 5, you state that the Pueblos may for the present be divided into six or seven districts, and an agent conveniently located in each, though in your No. 4 you suggest that there should be one for each Pueblo for the next year or two, which suggestion you repeat in your 37th communication, except that you say sub-agents, instead of agents. In your No. 8, you state that there are 23 pueblos east of Zuñi, and 7 of Moquis west of that |