Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-12-22

thNN n ShS ~ HGNaRhOis III Nu0 dloNtl
] deem it necessary to make to such imputa-
lion by that Senator is, that there is not an
other Senator on this floor; nor any one who
heard me, that will sustain him in making
it. Why, sir, did | not ask, wis elected de.
legates TO this selfstyled convention : who
convoked it, and for what purpose How
was il calledi How organized 7 &c. | did
say, sir, there was no evidence besides the
statement of the eleven Mexicans and three
Americans whose names were signed to it,
and who had no respectable voucher here,
that there ever was such a convention and
| did state that, in the absence Of this, ! was
satisfied il was a humbug, contrlvance and
imposition. Did | not ask whether the resi-
due of the hundred thousand souls in New
Mexico, besides this fourteen, had partici.
pated in this convention, of which Mr.. Gid
dings says he oficiated as secretary! | did
say, that from the absence of any evidence
Of it's being a convention of the people Of
New Mexico, | was satisfied i, was a mere
casual assemblage at Santa Fe, and not a
convention of all the people of New Mexico;
and how is this g~linsaid ! The Senate has
seen and heard, and the country will know.
What has occurred has fortified my convic-
ton that this petition is an imposition, and
worse than a mere imposition. Without any
luTtneI OO5eIVdtiOn ny me-IOT L only rose
to correct the misrepresentation made with
respect 10 myself am content that the
Senate and the country should decide whe-
ther the paper is or is not an attempted i'm
position, and who are culpable in reverence
TO it..
Mr.. CLAYTON. / do not rise 10 ex-
tend this debate, but regret exceedingly that
it has occurred. l Gm sure that it has not
been provoked either by myself or the gen.
tleman who has been associated with mt in
presenting this memorial. Before it was
presented we consulted together upon it, and
concluded TO present it, and after hearing il
read, to ask its reference 10 the appropriate
committee, and that it be printed. This was
done. Not one word fell from the Senator
from Missouri or myself to excite unplea-
SAINT feelings in the bosom Of a single Sena-
tor here, or Of anybody anywhere and
would not now make any further remark, af-
ter all that has occurred, if did not think
some Of the observations of the Senator from
Florida, (Mr. Wesicott,) and of the Senator
from South Carolina, (Mr. Calhoun might
u~njustly prejudice the object of these petit
TONERS. The Senator from Florida insists
upon it that the whole paper is an imposi'
tion. Why, sir, 1t comes accredited TO the
Senator from Missouri and myself by letters
from persons residing in New Mexico; and
we believe, from every evidence laid before
us, that it is a genuine petition of a grea
number Of persons assembled at Sanra Fe, &c
the Congress of the United States, for the
purpose of obtaining protection as a people
They are now without law and protection
and they ask, they humbly ask, this Con
gress 10 give them the protection of civil go
vernment. AS to The imposition which the
gentleman suspects, there is no shadow Of
reason 10 suspect any such thing. The pc
tition is signed by a gentleman declaring
himself 10 be the president of the conven'
lion and it is additionally accredited BY
some twelve or fifteen persons, who, | sup
pose, thought, by the addition of their names
they would at least remove any discredi
which might attach 10 the identity of thC
names Of the president and secretary of ih'
convention which was assembled for the pur
pose presented in the memorial. Now,
depreoate any discussion which may be cal
culated TO prejudice the object Of these me
morialists at this moment. deprecate an,
discussion extending TO the question whethe
slavery shall be admitted into this Territory
5 or whether its boundary shall stop at tn,
: Rio Grande. These matters may be appro
priately discussed when the committee hav
ing them in charge shall make their reports
At present, sir, there is no question befor
! the Senate, and debate can only have the eff
j. feet Of prejudging the claims of the people G
' New Mexico to have established for Their
u the protection Of civil government.
l do think, sir, that The gentleman fror
: South Caroline, on reflection, will reconside
' the charge of insolence with respect 10 thi
petition for, if The paper be i%nsolent, il mu:
u be disrespectful and if it be disrespectft
toward any portion Of the Senate, | adm
y that it ought not to be received. But it is M
. disrespectful. There is not a single word
v this character in it. These gentlemen sa
they are opposed to the introduction of 81;
very there. | care not whether they al
abolitionists or not-have they not the rigi
y to say that? Why, sir, suppose a petite
to be presented here by other citizens of ihi
Territory, praying that slavery should be il
troduced .here, would any gentleman rise u
and say such a Petition was disrespectful
! half the country-to the great North, VIII
} maintained throughout the great politics
campaign which the country has just passe
through, that there should be no slavery
New Mexico or California
Mr.. CALHOUN. Mr.. President, / ris
n TO say one word in reply TO the Senator froI
e Delaware, (Mr. Clayton.) 1t is impossible
: TO change my opinion that this petition
; disrespectful to the Senate. The Senate
from Delaware says that the rule of the Ser
ate is, that when the petition is disrespectfu
q to a Senator it should not be received
/ Granted. Well, he says if it is disrespeclfu
to our constituents, the same rule applies :
it is disrespeclful to the Senate and ougf
. not TO be received. Well, sir, / took III
: same view as the Senator from Delawar
now takes when abolition petitions were fir:
, presented here. That was my ground
, The Secretary (of the Senate) will very we
|, remember that ! called upon him to pull OF
! three or four of those petitions and read ther
|, to the Senate. They were disrespectful (
/ the South in the extreme, calling us thieves
and every thing else that was distasteful.