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

individuals There lies the abuse and the imposition, if
MIR WESTCoTT. I will thank you for the paper,
sir. Mr. BENTON sent Tue petition 10 him
Mr.. BENTON What is the question, sir
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is upon
Me- BENTON There is no objection is there2
The PRESIDING OFFICER No, sir.
Mr.. BENTON There is objection TO the printing.
MIR. WESTCOTT. The remarks | have made will
be reported and published aRd ii is therefore unnecessary
for me TO appeal to the Senate, and to every IN this
chamber who heard them 10 verify my denial OF the cor
recness of the statement OF the Senator from Missouri
Just made Why sir, expressly stated over and over
again that the petition parported to come from con-
of my objection to II was, that satisfied this was
untrue, and therein the right OF petition abused, and
an attempt made 10 impose on the Senate and the coun;
try Sir not man in this Chamber who heard what l
SAID and desired TO hear arght, but SO understood me
did read the words "tie psoPe' and the words Ue me
people,, both Twice, sir, II you please because they
are IN the petition in two separate places stated EN-
phacay and distinctly several tunes that il purport-
ed To be from the people assembled IN conven-
ton, and stated 1t was signed by a Mexican as
president OF convention. This very thing 10 what
characterized as an imposition, | deny emphatcay,
that stated here that this paper purpoed TO be from
mere casual assembage, or town meeting OF few per
at Santa Fe; and, the contrary that dd mol 50
state what believed was the fact, the foundation OF
my objection to it, The senator would produce the I'M.
preston that | misread the petition All the answer
deem il necessary make TO such impuaiion by that
senator that there not another senator on this foor
nor any who heard me- that will sustain hun IN ma
king It, Why, Sir did not ask who elected delegates 10
this self-syled conventions who convoked III How
was II called, and Tor what purpose! How Organized,
&c did say, sir, there was no evidence besides the
statement of the eleven MeNcans and three Americans
whose signed to IT, and who had no respect
able voucher here that there ever was such conven-
ton and did state that. in the absence OF thus was
satisfied Il was hunbug, contrvance, and imposition.
Did not ask whether the residue oil the hundred thou,
sand souls in New Mexico, besides those fourteen had
participated in this convention, OF which Mr. Gdngs
says he oicated secretary did say that, from the
absence OF any evidence of its being convention OF tue
people of New Mexico was satisfied 1t was mere cas-,
ual assembage at Santa Fe and not convention OF al
the people of all New Mexico; and how this gansad!
The Senate has and heard, and the country VIII
know. What has occurred has fortified my convection
that this petition is an imposition and worse man mere
imposition. Without any further observations by me
for only rose TO correct the misrepresentation male WIN
respect 10 myself content that the Senate and the
country should decide whether the paper IS or Is not an
attempted imposition, and who cupab!e IN reference
IT, nothing about the printing or the reference,
one way or the other intended to distbuse the public
in ad vance the credit due 10 this petition and that
have done. content that the remarks oil The senator
from Missouri go 10 the pubic with no other reply from
Mr. CLAYTON. lido not rise sir to enter INTO this
debate and regret very much that it has occurred.
am sure that if anything has been sud against IT. II has
not been provoked either by myself, or BY the gentleman
who by the people of this territory has been associated
with me for the presentation OF tins petition put, SIR,
it sent To We consulted together upon the sub
ject We resolved to present and have II read and as
the petition upon It's face contained nothing not per-
lecty respectful ask its reference to the appropriate
committee, and that it should be printed What was
done Not word fell from the lips OF the senator who
presented it, To excite snge unpleasant sensation IN
the bosom OF any senator here, or anybody anywhere
should not make single remark upon IT, II did not
think that some observations which have fell from the
senator from Florida and the senator from South Carolina
might prejudice the object OF the petitioners, who ask that
government may be established them, The hon
orable senator from Florida insists upon II that the whole
paper is imposition. Why, sir, II comes accredited by
the senator from Missouri and myself, and By lines from
gentlemen residing in the territory And we believe IRON
every evidence, that it is genuine petition iron great
number OF persons who had assembled at Santa Fe for
! the purpose OF obtaining OF the American Congress
protection to them as a people e,, lhey are are
gress 10 give them the protection of civil govern.
ment That is their great object As to the mposi-
ton which the honorable gentleman from Florida
poets, there is not shadow OF evidence shadow of
reason to suspect such thing The petition is signed by
gentleman declaring himself TO be the president of the
convention II is counlersigned by another gentleman
representing himself TO be the secretary OF the
ton and il is additionally accredited us by the names
OF some twelve or fifteen other persons, who suppose
thought that the addition of their names would at least
give no dlscredt 10 the statement OF the president and
secretary OF the convention that they the officers OF
a convention duly assembled for the purpose stated.
Now, Mr. President, demccate any discussion upon
the two questions which most calculated excite
any discussion while the petition is in this preliminary
stage-the question whether slavery shall be restricted
IN that Territory and the question whether the limits OF
the Territory shall be on this side OF the Rio Gmndc or
whether they shall stop with the river These matters may
be appropriately discussed when the committee TO which
Will DC referred can make tclT report ana
state propositions distinctly for the consideration of the
Amer lean Senate. But now sir, there is question be-
fore the Senate debate upon the matter can only
have the effect 10 PREJUDICE the claims OF the petitioners
TO have civil government Ny views upon great
question stated in the memorial perfectly well known
10 the senator from South Carolina and to the senator
from FLORIDA. do submit 10 the gentleman from South
Carolina that upon full consideration, he will reconsider
the charge OF insoence II he that the petition is
dlsfespectlul he Is greatly mistaken as think II it is
lnsoen II OF course must be disrespectul aud if it is
dlsrespecttnl 10 half of the upon this floor
II IS dsrcspeciu to any portion OF the senator's upon this
oor ought not TO be received much less TO he referred
and printed But IT IS not; there word of it calcu
lated 10 excite any such feeling These gentlemen say
they are opposed TO the Introduction of slavery Now,
whether they aboIitonists whatever they are they
have right TO say that-have they not Why, sir ii
petition was sent here, claiming 70 be signed by IF
teen gentlemen who desired that slaves should be intro
duced there, would any gentleman rise and say that
was dlsrespecul to onehalf the Senate to half
the counIIy-to the great North, which has claimed
through the whole campaign that there shall be no
slavery either IN California or in New MeXco'
Mt President, sought TO discharge my duty merely
by stating my disposition 10 give that people form OF
civil government regret that any observation should
have fallen from any quarter calculated to niure the
great cause OF the petitioners who claim that civil gov
eminent shall be extended them. hope, sir, that
without further opposition (f there has been any opps-
siuon) the memorial will be printed.
Mr.. CALHOUN. A single word, Mr. President, in |
reply to the charge of dsrespect The position of the
senator was this that If the petition is dIsrespeCu to
the Senate 1t ought not TO be received If dsIespectfu
iul TO the senator's Well, sir many years AFRO | took |
the ground that the senator from Delaware does-hat
what ~ dsrespecttu to constituents is dscspectfu
to the Senate, and ought not TO be received When abo