Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-23

gard TO matter OF reference The question ordinarily pre-
sened when bill is introduced for the admission of State
which involves only Of detail in regard that
OF which the policy is already determined But this bill pre-
sens question of policy, whether this territory, comprised
within the limits of acquisition under the treaty with
Mexico shall be organized into territorial GO
vernment whether shall be organized into State Co.
vernment This bill includes California and New Mexico,
and proposes establish State Government each The
people Of portion Of The Territory have already applied
Congress to be organized into Territorial Government
Another portion have asked for State Government but the
people Of the Territory of New Mexico have already trans
med to Congress petition which has been presentedto the
Senate and mistake not, referred to committee but at
all the question pending before the Senate upon
the application of the people Of New Mexico whether they
shall have Territorial Government not Now this ques
ton Of policy is question: it appears TO me, that is appro
pirate for the Committee the Territories to consider and
report does not involve matters which require pecu
ay the action Of committee constituted for the purposes for
which the Judiciary Committee is constituted Think there
fe that, aside from of the precedents which have
been cited by those who favor the rronce the
Judiciary Committee the Territorial Committee, but
standing the question ITSELF an isolated one, dis
nct from all others, think is peculiarly proper that the
bill should be referred to the committee which is convesant
with matters Of this sort and established for the consideration
OF such subjects rather than Of legal questions arising out of
questions Of policy that have been already settled and de-
termined.
Mr. RUSK shall against the reference of this bill
to the Committee the Territories, and shall vote for its
reference the Committee the Judiciary and shall do
without being influenced by any of those extraneouscir
considerations which have been brought to
upon the question: and which have been urged here's for
the that all the pecedents for referring bills OF this de-
scrpon with the exception OF IN favor oil referring
them the Committee the Judiciary IL the precedents
were equal or were new question, il there
should be difficulty hesitation in determining TO which
committee the bill should be referred But if precedents
have influence we can have no hesitation because the
precedents in all of similar nature, with but single
exception, have been the side of reference to the Judi
cary Committee. s
proposition is here made to introduce State into this
Union the proposed State having previously adopted
constitution for ITSELF We PROPOSE rather it is proposed
by this BILL to admit State and leave II to the people OF
that State hereafter form State constitution conforming IN
all respects to the requirements of the constitution OF the
United States This appears to me- is changing the entire
order Of things. Congress has heretofore required from
State applying for admission into the Union State consu-
on and they have carefully examined 70 if that constu
ton concerned to the requirements Of the constitution of the
United States This is grave question for this bill pro-
poses to make the people Of these territories an integral or
ton OF the people OF this country The Senator who has just
taken his seat draws argument from the fact that New
Mexico has petoned Congress for government and with
il has coupled request that slavery shall b, excluded from
that territory Now the honorable Senator before he takes
this petition the foundation of argument IN favor OF &c
cedng their request, should examine how originated
have made little examination in relation TO this conven-
ton that was held in New Mexico. have not however,
completed the examination, bot far have gone the
facts in connection with the socaled convention seemed to be
these About forty or fifty persons who have followed our
army the Territory Of New Mexico about all the Anne
can citizens that be found this side the Rio Gande
These individuals, / understand have had the principal
management in getting up this petition, the object OF which,
with Them is wofod in the first place, to wres from Texas
what Is Justly and legally and ighuy her due that which
unqucsonay belongs her, and which has not only been
defined be her property by her law, but which has
been recognised by foreign Governments and so recognis
ed by the President Of the United States and by the citizens
Of the United States In order to effect this object they
thought necessary appeal 10 strong and excited party
in Congress and hence this petition setting forth that they
desire be freed from the institution Of domestic slavery
..l -. ~ Narv haze
some information. know from the experience that have
had what Of people these MeIcans and, by the
way what have heard in relation to the person who figures
most conspcuouy in this convention IS not very cred table
him. He has been acting there alcalde. Now, the al
cade in Mexican jurisdiction has almost the entire control
matters of Judicial character. This individual left our
army and endeavored the outset bis civic to
turn the established system which prevailed in that territory
but in this he not altogether successful have some
experience also in respect to popular conventions IN that
country for remember nigh getting into the Gala
boose for attending Of them The manner OF get
ting them up this The chief officer Of the district collects
the principal citizens and they hold wba, they calls una
remember that in 1885, shortly after went to Texas being
at Naccgdoches / called TO attend one of these
"un'as" conventions by the aealde Certain questions
laid before us and invited TO express opin
ions upon them expressed mine very freely and after the
meeting broken the acsde ordered me to be taken to
the caaboose and if there had not been more Americans
present than Mexcan should have been imprisoned for the
expression of opinions And this Is the sort OF men
who are assuming dictate to US Has il come TO this,
that upon question which has been sgitaed since the for
nation Of the Government now be instructed by the
people Of New Mexico how act regret that the
question has been dragged into this debate but without
ference all shall vote for sending this bill to the Com
mitee the Judiciary, because believe that involves
very important legal questions such should be nves
tigated thoroughly before we act upon the bill.
Mr.. BERRIEN. desire merely, before the question is
TAKEN that the Senate should understand what has bee for
merly done. The Committee Territories was formed in
1874 The first question that occurred in regard TO the
admission Of Iowa and Florida, upon the motion Of Mr.
Evans Of Maine The question discussed whether the
bill should be REFERRED not to the COMMITTEES on Territories
but a select committee. Mr.. Evans moved that the bill
should be referred select committee and, after discussion
il determined by the Senate that il should be referred to
the Committee the Judiciary. Though the Committee on
Territories in existence and though proposition was
made abstract the bill from the Judiciary Committee, yet II
thought proper by the Senate to do That was in
iSa5 In December 1876, the bill for the admission OF
Iowa read first and second time aud reeredto the Com
mttee the Judiciary. That years after the Com
mtee on Territories had been in existence. Ia ls47 the bill
for the admission Of Wisconsin read FIRST and second
time and referred the Committee the Judiciary This
was the third reference after the Territorial Committee bad
been in existence AZ the last session the bill for the adms
sion Of Wisconsin the COMMITTEES Territories.
There os instance therefore, of reference 10 the Terri
toal Committee opposition TO three distinct references to
the Judiciary Committee.
Now one word in reply what was said by the chairman
Of the Committee Territories in 10 the remark OF
the Senator from that there bad been violation Of
the ordinance Of 1897, by permitting greater number Of