Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-16
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER Is, ls4s.
IN SENATE.


The Journal having been read
message received from the House of Representatives.
by Mr. CAMPBELL, their Clerk, announcing that the House
had passed act for the punishment Of false swearing in
certain cases. in which they ask the Of the Senate
NEW MEXICO.
Mr.. BENTON. Mr.. President the honorable Senator
from Delaware who is seated opposite the other side
Of the Senate (Mr CLAYTON and myself have received
communication from New Mexico, framed by Convention
that lately there, for taking into consideration the cond
ton of that country That communication they have for
warded care be presented the Senate of the Uni
ted States, with petition, in which they pray for the esta-
bshment of civil government hem and put forth other
prayers relation to that general The petition is
titled The People of New Mexico, Convention assembled
the Congress of the United States and is signed by the
President and Secretary of the Convention and dated Santa
Fe, October IA, ls4s.
As compliance, Mr. President with that rule of the Sc
which requires the substance of petitions be briefly
stated when they presented ask the Senate to have this
petition read because is brief that could not be made
So and has precision in its language and mode of
preston which cannot be obtained by any paaphrase.
therefore send the petition to the table that may be read
and afterwards will to have printed and referred TO
the appropriate committee.
The Secretary read il as follows
Petition ofe Peopleof ev .rico assembledi Convention
to The Congress Of the Uqated States Of .america:
We the People of New Mexico respectfully petition Con-
gress for the speedy organization by law Of Territorial Gov
We respectfully petition Congress grant government
purely civil in its character.
We respectfully represent that the organic statute laws
promulgated by authority the United States September g.
1846 for the temporary civil government of New Mexico, Ia
copy of which dispatched with few alterations would
We desire the following Offices to be filled by appointment
Of the President Of the United Sate by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate the Governor Secretary of State
United States Marshal United States District Attorney and
Judges
We desire to have all the usual rights of appeal from the
courts OF this Territory to the Supreme Court OF the United
States.
We respectfully but firmly protest against the dismember-
ment of our territory in favor oTexas for any
We do desire have domestic slavery within bor
des and until the time shall arrive for admission into the
Union State desire to be protected by Congress against
their introduction among
We desire local Legislature, such prescribed in the
laws Of New Mexico, September go 1885, subject to the usual
Of Congress
We desire that our interests may be by
gate who is be entitled to have upon the floor Of the
Congress OF the United States.
In consideration of the fact that New Mexico contains from
$1,000 100 SOULS believe that have made
reasonable request and confidently rely upon Congress
provide for US laws liberal any enjoyed BY Of the
Territories.
SANTA FE, OCTOBER Il, Is4s
[Signed by Jose Martinez President del Condada" &c
]. NJ. Giddings, Secretary, and twelve others
M BENTON. Mr.. President, move that that commu-
nicaon be printed for the Of the Senate and also that
the accompanying memorial in the Spanish language be
printed with IT, and that il be referred Committee on the
Territories.
Mr. CLAYTON. As one Of those to whom this petition
entrusted desire TO second the motion Of the Senator
from Missouri Iwoud briefly say sir that labored faith
folly during the last session Of Congress organize civil
government this territory Of New Mexico, shall labor
with equal fidelity for the object the present session
entirely with the reference moved by the Senator
from Missouri being the best and most appropriate that
can be made.
Mr. BENTON Mr. President, there was received at the
time with the communication copy Of the laws which
have been promulgated in New Mexico which desire TO
submit to the Senate bu, do not desire them to be printed
desire, sir, to refer them to the same committee.
Mr. CALHOUN. Mr. President I rise to make no OBJ
lection TO the motion Of the honorable Senator from Missouri
but rise express my opinion that the people Of this Ter
rory, New Mexico) under all the circumstances Of the
have not made respectful petition TO this Senate but
the contrary, that they have made insoent
surprised. however, at the language Of this petition
That people conquered by the very they wish to
exclude from that territory and they know that my
protest. sir, at once against being governed by consideration
presented under such circumstances that petition has been
upon this subject.
Mr. BENTON. Mr. President, should suppose sir that
myself and perhaps the Senator from Delaware (Mr. CLlr
row. equally charged with the presentation Of this petit
ton. And should suppose sir, that should feel
selves called upon, when Senator in his place and cha
ractczes nsoen such petition has been presented
get up and dscam for those who have signed that petition
and sent il to the least disposition to be nsoent mpe
nent We think, sir there Is nothing Of that kind upon the
face Of the paper and that IL Is gautous and unfounded 10
apply such eprhet to it.
Mr. CALHOUN. II is not a, all strange that the Senator
from Missouri (Mr DKSros) should consider the charge of
nsoence against the petition grstutous looking upon the
matter he does that should make the CHARGE looking
upon il as do. look upon the rights Of the Southern
States proposed TO be excluded rom this territory, high
constitutional principle Our right go there with pro-
perry unquestonabe and guaranteed and supported by the
constitution. The territory belongs TO usto the United
sass Il belongs 10 the States Of Carolina and Virginia
much II does TO New York and Massachusetts, The Sc
naor from Missouri differs from upon this point and there
fore he does consider it nsoen the part Of the people Of
that territory to ask tina, should be excluded from it. Bot
these are my convictions and repeat that consider the pc
tition TO be insoent
Mr.. RUSK. Mr. President do no, think that the pro-
ed in the petition presented by the Senator from Missouri
(Mr BESToS D but inasmuch has been made matter
Of remark upon the motion print the memorial il proper
that should assert the ndspuabe title Of Texas to oil the
territory lying this side Of the Rio Grandea title, sir
which will be found be borne out by the INV Of nations the
facts a they exist and by the sovereign action Of this Gov
eminent. But shall now enter into an argument in
support Of our right to this territory.
These individuals the inhabitants Of New Mexico are,
matter Of course anxious TO have and proper and right
that they should have civil them
IL is due to them As act Of justice should be DONE
civil government should be established such portions Of
the territory do belong Texas but the time
win here and elsewhere enter my solemn protest against the
establishment Of distinct and separate government any
of the territory belonging TO- and which has cost the blood and
Of the State OF Texas. can well imagine that
few individuals anxious 10 be members Of Congress- few
anxious to appropriate TO themselves large and
valuable territory which has them months service
drop Of blood should wish 10 take this territory and in
stitue separate and distinct government H. proposed
in this petition However, shall cast reflections upon