Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-16

myself and the Senator from Delaware Mr. CLArros the in
struments Of communicating to the American Senate
chageabe with that impuaon call for the yeas and nays.
Mr. FOoTE. Before offering any remarks upon this ques-
ton, VIII beg leave to PROFOUND the inquiry to the honorable
Senator from Delawareone that presume will be
or not there any other testimony in his
sion, now adducbe that this document did emanate from any
large number Of the people Of New Mexico
Mr.. CLAYTON. will say in answer TO the question of
the honorable Senator from Mississippi that have received
two or three letters from individuals the Territory Of New
Mexico, with whom have acquaintance personally, and
do not know that have them requesting to
assist IN establishing civil government that territory The
arguments presented in those letters in explanation and sup
port OF the object ofthe memorial and the illusions made to
the proceedings OF me convention satisfy that there
be no question or doubt as to the fact that they citizens Of
that territory They have presented their length in
those letters with respect to the design Of the memorial
Mr.. FOOTE. Then understand the honorable Senators
from Delaware and Missouri as explicitly declaring il their
decided opinion that this genuine document and that it
did emanate from convention the so.caed people of
New Mexico. OF course will not, do not question in the
slightest degree that the Senators truly entertain such an OPT
Mon but what wish to know is if there in the honor
able Senator'S possession any facts of official seio
ca character If have been communicated to any ndi-
vdua which will tend to illustrate the point upon which SO
much stress has been laid by the Senator from Florida
wish know whether the Senator from Delaware any
other Senator on this floor prepared that this do
cument is one regularly emanatng from convention COM
posed Of representatives elected by the people nhabng the
various portions of the Territory Of New Mexico
Mr.. CLAYTON. The memorial came to me in the same
all other memorials come and have no reason to
doubt that the paper genuine that the convention al
uded to assembled at Santa Fe the I4h Of October
Mr. FOOTE. consider, from the explanation given,
that there simply difference Of opinion between the Sena
tor from Delaware and myself upon the question whether
this document Is IN fact genuine document originating in
the right way, and entitled to consideration accordingly.
do not think the evidence such sustain the Judgment
announced by the Senator from Delaware. The word con-
venton is of very high and comprehensive import in this
mi 10 he me caI
Of the word convention not the coming together
OF z for any purpose whatsoever for purpose In
Its political sense means grave delberatve assembly,
posed OF delegates chosen by the people their primary
pacy, according to approved mode, and met hold
conference and adopt appropriate action upon questions Of
high civic import But to call that conyenton which
y declares itself to be convention, without proof of public
notice OF any kind to the people represented without proof of
public meetings Of any kind being held for the election dele
gates is going further than for one am willing go.
Can any person. will ask who has simply witnessed the
presentation Of this document and heard the remarks with
which It's presentation accompanied and without looking
narrowly into the facts, any other conclusion than
that this convention spoken of actual one such as
have just described and body composed of individuals duly
authorized to perform high political functions But what are
the true facts in the case Upon close examination the
affair." turned out that there nothing of substance the
proceeding stat noniis ubra indeed there hardly the
shadow of shade to justify the suspicion that any convention
held at all in New Mexico. If such body ever did
sit the preparations for its session, and its actual course of
proceeding the most noseless by far that heard of
no notification In public newspapers, otherwise dvul-
gence OF It's acts promugaon OF its deberave resolves
All was complete mystery and silence Had this convention
been held in Erebu its actngs could not have been more
mysicay and portentousy conducted. will charge
that the document in question has been gotten up falsely
for delusive purposes will that the Senators from
Delaware and Missouri have been imposed upon although
rather suspect such to have been case and has
times happened that the wisest dupes of the
contrivng
This memorial purports to have emanated from the peops
Isray Win auufpr in
10 be the people Are they white men, black men, Indians
Spanards Engishmen, Americans vet know
Of the existence of such collective political body the people
of New Mexico Surely there is Of clearness on
this point This appears to to be suspicious document
its face and inclined to conjecture that has been
gotten up exiempoaneousy, for the purpose of forwarding
the designs OF faction. impaing artificial consequence
scheming individual did not to present unkind
opposition to the wishes Of the real people Of New Mexico
and when become informed in satisfactory mode what
their actual wishes in regard the government which it
is our duty to organize for them, shall be found willing
others crafty all their reasonable and constitutional desires.
Mr. WESTCOTr The courteous manner in which the
Senator from Delaware has expressed himself in this debate
becoming alike his high character gentleman his elevated
position Senator and the still elevated position
which public rumor, rather certain newspapers say he
long to take in the Of this country induces
me to make explanation 10 him point which he
msundcrstandn relation what said about this
petition. can readily suppose that Senator did hear
correctly, he far from Though spoke audbly
what others said.
have charged minated that this paper was simulated
foged that the signatures genuine, that there
may not be such verabe Mexico having those
What said and still say this: these eleven Mexicans
and three Americans ncudng Mr. Giddings) the
people Of Mexico. Now, f that honorable Senator will
form that he has any information that he relies that
convention Of the people Of New Mexico-I Of all
parts OF H. of all sections Of assembed upon public notice.
and that delegates duly elected such convention
shall be satisfied should place implicit cedi, in that hon.
orabe Senator'S statement the result Of the authentic
information he has do desire particulars except
point, and Of that would require Of the Senator
e the people Of the remote eounties districts, pO-
hcai Subdivisions Of New Merico represented ia this
Uention, and hour?
Mr.. CLAYTON. The honorable Senator and all present
have been put in possession Of oil the facts that have
my knowledge. They have the private letters received
BY me from several citizens OF that country but they have
been informed substantially Of their The letters
which have been addressed to letters, sir that went
into the discussion Of the subjects contained in the
mortal. do not know the individuals one of
them in my life, not that recoect The petition comes to
me, however, well authenticated all other petitions are
have much evidence to the genuneness Of this pe
ten and the facts stated that convention was assembled
and that the petition represents The wishes Of that convention
ordinarily have in presenting petition here OF couEse
am liable to be imposed upon at any time. gentleman
may send me petition here from Maine, Missouri Oregon
Florida, and Ihod myself having reason to doubt the
genuneness OF the signatures attached the petition bound
to present here never sir, should HESITATE unless had
some reason to doubt the facts stated present the memorial
Now know nothing at ell about the fact whether the peo-
Dle New Mexico yyere there I f,r