The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-14

orabe senator's Statements TO the result OF the aulhenuc
information he has do not desire PARTICULARS except a. 10
point; and OF that would require OF the senator
The people Of The remote counties, or dtscty on 20
iitioal Subdivisions Of Nsy 1hrco, represented Z" ~
Mr. CLAYTON. The honorable senators in pos
session OF all the facts which have come 10 my know
edge with reference TO the petition The private leters
addressed to this subject SIMPLY 20 into discus
sion OF The subjects embraced in the memorial do not
know the individuals who addressed these letters 10 me-
never OF them in my life The petition Il au
thenticated the all others are; and have as
much confidence in its genuneness and the TACT stated
that there convention assembled, as usually have
in presenting petition from any other source III course,
may be imposed upon at any time. Men may send me
petitions from Massachusetts Maryland or FLORIDA, ana
hold myself bound, senator OF the United States to
present them without doubling the genulneness OF their
signatures, or the facts stated therein Now, know
nothing at all as 10 the fact whether all the people OF
New Mexico were represented IN that conventions Dui
take 1t there probably very large number OF the
people represented there and that the persons who signed
that petition believed they entitled 10 call them
selves convention of the people of New Mexico,
Mr. FOOTE, Qnerposng) Have the newspapers pub
lished anything with relation to this convention
Mr. CLAYTON Yes sir, The newspapers pub
lished the whole proceedings three weeks ago,
Mr. FOOTE. In what paper were they published;
Mr. CLAYTON. In the lntelligencer, Tor one and
the memorial and all published in dozen papers
throughout the country Nobody ever doubted that ths
genuine memorial, emanating from a convention
held in Mexico.
Now sir what is the proper course of the Senate with
regard 10 the evidence before it Is the Senate to as
usual with similar papers, refer 1t 10 committee ANA
if there any question to the genunenesS OF thls pa
per- or the fact that there was convention ned leaTe
TO the committee TO investigate and report upon me whoe
matter. 1t would undoubtedly be the duty OF the com
mltlee give their doubts, if they have any do not
doubt that if any gentleman will look at the paper and
the accompanying facts he will be satisfied that they
what they purpor TO be. Letters have been addressed TO
me- setting forth that they entitled to all they CLAIM
MIR. WESTCOTT The senator still msunderstands
me- do not deny that TO the trite phrase, "a very
large and respectable meeting was held ut Santa re III
October last and this petition is the result whether
composed OF fourteen one hundred and forty or
fourteen hundred, care not But was IT convention
OF the people OF New Mexico authorized TO speak their
wlshes-auhorIZed to petition for the people OF New
Mexico here? do not understand the senator to state
there such convention held do not say these
signatures forged, but contend the statement therein
made OF there having been convention OF the people OF
New Mexico at Santa Fe, is an attempted imposition
Mr.. CLAYTON. The gentleman is in possession OF
all the inform 1,n on the subject that have
Mr.. WESrCOrr, Gnterposing) presume
Mr.. CLAYTON. hold 1t TO be entirely IN order, II
petition is presented from one hundred and fifty OF our
citizens IN that territory we are bound TO receive IL e-
spectfully, refer it, and 10 decide upon ii.
Mr.. HALE As this subject sir, has created some de
bate al this unusual stage, do not know that may not
be good time meet it, the minds of senator's as
any other 1t is unusual to take up question IN this
way; but masmuch it has been done, as the petition
has been denoninaed nsolelt, do not know but may
subject myself To charge OF the same character by the
amendment which propose to offer II is, that the petit
ton be referred to the Committee Territories NTH M
stmtons to report bill organizing government agree
ably TO the suggestions o the memorial Now, SIR let
say word in regard TO the character OF this memo
rial The great objection seems - have been directed by
the honorable gentlemen from Mississippi and Florida
that it does not to authenticated the proceed
lngs OF regular convention 1t is state If understood
the senator from Mississippi Alright that this term had
assumed pretty definite and settled meaning among
He sand that by convention we understood number
of men regularly elected representatives OF people
| think sir, if the honorable senator will look back TO
the history of this country, which enjoys very much
|
upon this matter of conventions, he will lind that this
term is well understood i'll this country as he
M2gsl a aa hgrf t a 5 o6 rsn e RH 60
thoroughly. The great Empire State of New York
and they have had much discussion upon this matter
o! conventions as most peoplecould not choose dele
gate that was competent 10 throw her vote in regular
convention Tor the nomination OF a President This
shows That the matter Is not any better understood here
than IN New Mexico. In South Carolina they could
choose man in two minutes TO throw nine votes while
in New York they could not choose man TO throw one
and we might well exercise Little forbearnce towards
the ignorant people IN New Mexico Perhaps, sir this is
the first time they have undertaken to hold convention
and that may be the reason. Or perhaps 1t the fl soil
party IN New Mexico who held convention and sent
this petition here 1t is possible sir, that it may be the
democratic party and It is not utterly impossible that 1t
favor OF free so and the restriction of slavery in many
parts OF the country am not but ought 10 have
committee on conventions, so that if the meaning OF
'ne term IS OF so much importance, should be nves
gated and reported upon
This, sir, is petition asking legislation upon a
most serious subeca subject upon which the honor lhe
senator from Mississippi has well said tina, the public
mind has been greatly agitated, and upon which il will
connue 10 be altated until the question deiuitvely
hed-nol compromised. do not believe that compro-
misses Will meet the case but must be settled and set
lied upon principle; and It is ls well to it here
as at any time hope, sir, that those who believe that
the people OF that country are entitled to government
VIII be prepared to give vote upon this question, and to
give 1t now.
Besides SIR this question is put upon the democratic
platioTm-upon the platform OF the Nicholson letter
That, sir, iad down the doctrine that the matter should
De ie to the people OF the country Now, sir, the peo
pie have spoken They have probably read the Mich
olson letter. and have thought that Congress in pro5res
sve march had got up to the step INDICATED by that letter
ihey may also have heard that there is change going
on IN the public mind OF this however, not being cer-
tam, they have come here upon the Nicholson letter and
nave petltohed for such government as they desIe
though the election has proved disastrous TO the man
VINO Out the platform, yet lis principles are not SO en-
uTey abolished but that they might appeal the man
who butt the platform TO stand BY it, now that il has for
the first time practical and efficient meaning They
nave come here IN the very spirit of the Nicholson
letter, and have asked that would give them the first
dose OF the Nicholson medicine; and shall we refuse
III Shall we, who have been fighting this great battle
upon this platform, that the question is put to the
test, KICK over the platform upon winch have stood,
ana upon Which we have fought so man.ully? No. sir
trust not but nope that all those who believe that the
Nicholson letter contained the doctrine who believe
'ha lheTe mas not been change in these things will
come up and vote for government for this peopc which
they asked Tor with so much confidence although thew
would nave asked for with still confidence if the
author OF tins Nicholson letter had been placed at the
head OF the government move sir that the memorial
De referred Win instructions to the committee TO report
6lIi IN accordance with the prayer of the petitioners
MT fOOIE l wish TO be distinctly understood in