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

ton, will give way pause to give the gentleman an

Mr.. CALHOUN | make no motion.
MIR. BENTON. Then, sir, | move that the petition be
printed and upon that question ask the yeas and nays
that we may who is willing to charge these petitioners
with nsolenee to the American Senate, in presenting
their petition here
Mr. FOOTE Before proceed TO offer few remarks,
desire TO make inquiry of the honorable senator
from Delaware Mr. CLAYToNl-thai ls' whether mere
is any testimony in his possession, adducabe, that
this document did emanate from any large number o the
people of New Mexico, or not2
Mr. CLAYTON. have received two or three letters
from Santa Fe with reference TO the document IN ques
ton have acquaintance with the authors of these
letters personally They have addressed me, requesting
me to aid them their efforts TO procure the establish
ment OF n civil government their territory. The
anxiety which they manifest in relation TO the subject
convnces me- beyond all possible doubt mat hey are
citizens OF New Mexico. have not shadow OF doubt
upon that point. | have not shadow OF doubt mat
their objects honestly avowed in that petition They
have discussed the matter at some length suppose
that the gentleman from Missouri has received no olher
information relative 10 the genulneneSS oil these sigma
lures and yet presume that he has no doubt as to HER
genuineness.
MIR. FOOrE I understand the senator from Della
ware, and at first | understood the senator from Mis-
souri,, ALSO expressing their undoubted conviction that
this was genuine document and had emanaed IRON the
convention OF the socalled people OF Mexico: What
wish 10 know sir, s, whether there any facts OF an
official semoiicia character possessed by HIM which
will tend TO illustrate point TO which attach the same
importance as the senator from Florida wish to know
whether the senator from Delaware, or any other gentle
man upon ths floor, is prepared 10 assert that ls docu
ment is regular formal emanaion OF convention thus
organized and assembled, and entitled to represent me
people OF New Mexico, whether be the TACT SIMPLY
that IT has been sent in It's present shape by lew lnd
viduals accompanied with several private letters support
ing the document in its official form.
Mr. CLAYTON The gentleman will understand that
il has come TO us the same all other memorials have
no reason to doubt that the paper is genune and have
To doubt that there such convention as
sembed on the 18th OF October
Mr.. FOOTE Then there is merely difference Of
opinion between the honorable senator from Delaware
and myself understand him that there of the
orr |
the opinion that the documents did enanate in regular
manner from convention entitled to represent the peo
pie OF New Mexico Now, sir, this word convention
is one OF very extensive and very high import IN this
country. We know that do not always apply
this term. in the United States, in its simple granat.
cal sense II is not a mere "coming together" of
A, B, and c, which entities them TO call themselves
by the dignlted name OF convention" Sir, 'con-
venton,' in one sense of the word means body OF
individuals selected by the people for high political phr
poses IN It's political sense or selected by members OF
churches for high religious purposes in Its eccesia teal
sense, &c But 10 call that convention which merely
asserts itself TO be SUCH without the least show OF any
authority whatever given the Individuals calling this a
convention, is going further. especially so important!
subject, than am myself prepared to g. Is there
any senator present, sir who would not be inclined 10
suppose from SIMPLE reading OF this document, and
from the grave and earnest manner in which It's contents
have been thrust upon the Senate that II was actually
fact that there had been public meetings held IN various
parts of New Mexico, of which due notification had
been gwen through the newspapers of the country so as
10 enable all Interested TO participate IN tue election or
/
! is represented as sending tins memorials say
would any person, without looking narrowly at the
facts in the case who simply witnessed the presen-
taon al this document, and heard the remarks with
which lis presentation accompanied, come to any
other conclusion than that this body actually con-
venton, in the political in which we understand
the term in this counrya body got up IN accordance
with previous notification, composed OF individuals duly
elected and organized and conforming TO the high political
functions of that body? And what is the fact sir Upon
close examination OF the matter 1t turns out that we have
simply this document Stdt nonints nmbfd. There Is no
substance in II; 1t has scarcely shadow of shape.
What is it eve, the people OF New Mexico" petition
Congress for the speedy organization of civil govern
ment, headed by this caption 81 ibe pca2nlee q
MHeNnea iesu' asfa aed Santa Fe, ociobef
lith, lSiS. SIN convention assembled" When where
| In accordance with what notice? Who sent forth any
notification OF an election Did any take place What
newspaper contained the notice that any public meeting
OF the Kind was obe held here at all Whatnewspaper
IN s country Sir, has taken notice OF the fact that any
such body as this calling itself by the high sounding
name OF a convention, did assemble, whether in
Santa Fe or elsewhere Sir this matter if has taken
place at all, has gone most mystcrously and secretly
1t tbs convention OF the whole people, why has this
secrcsy characterized its proceedings?
do not say, sir, II was gotten up falsely. | do not
say, SIR that honorable senators have been imposed upon
although have known very wise men to be very sad
y imposed upon; but do say that it does appear to
us at the present time that they have not been imposed
upon Why do not these documents go and eay ssWe
the people OF New Mexico, convention assembled in
accordance with previous notice. composed of regularly
elected delegates p Nc Is there anything OF that sort
the people OF New Mexico, petition so and so" Well
SIR II goes TO show how infinitely insignificant the docu
neni Is Is any senator here authorized to its a-
ihennc!ty? Who are the people OF New Mexico We
know certain portions Of the residents of that country
have certain rights accorded TO them, yet melted TO
them in the required forms. Now who are these per-
sons that call themselves the people Of New Mexico
Are they Indians? are they Spaniarls? they Amer
ican citizens, lately gone there or are they British
subjects lately settled there for there many of the
latter IN that country. These petitioners call themselves
the people of Mexico. Shall we demand no evidence of
the fact and just take it for granted, from the heading
OF the memorial, that large number did assemble in
convention for the purpose menlioned
Mr.. President, tins Is suspicious document upon its
lace but Will not go into the merits of that
any further. We all know that the American people
nave been deeply excited upon the question here referred
to IN TINS memoral-that brethren at the North and
brethren at the South have Just emerged from pTeSi
Dental contest, marked by strong excitement grow
ing chiefly out OF the question here alluded 10. We
know, too, that there is perhaps IN progress a
struggle Tor power between the North and the South
when involves the very question here mentioned; and
might 1t not be, sir that certain persons-poicans,
ohcrs-feel little interested in getting up some clap
trap petition like this for political effect at the present
critical moment! Shall we receive the memorial as
genuine however introduced, until its authenticity may
be fully established?
did not rise 10 make any motion Senators NAV take
what course they please with regard to it, Nor would
oppose the petition OF any portion OF the citizens OF New
Mexico Tor any purpose whatever. Let them ask for
what they please and shall be in favor of receiving and
respectfully considering their petition, although may
differ IN opinion from the individuals subscribing their
names. But shall always desire to know whether that
which purports TO be petition from authoritative bodies
is actually entitled to that character whether it
merely peteXt, gotten up for sinister purposes impose
upon the honorable body of the Senate OF the United
States