Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-12-22

oNoAS " U EANah ~ NNhNS ~
the Am erican Congress to exclude o%ne-half
the States of this Union, TO which this very
territory belongs as States. 1t does not be-
long to us as a Congress. Ii does not be-
long to the North as the North, nor TO the
South as the South. Itbelongs 10 the thirty
States of this Union. And can there be a
higher piece Of insolence than to come here
and present such a petitionq Sir, had Itak-
en- the ground which the impulse Of the mo-
ment dictated, | would have moved to lay
this petition upon the table, as has been the
fate Of all petitions Of this kind.
Mr.. FOOTE. Before offering any re-
marks upon this question, l will beg leave
10 PROFOUND the inquiry TO the honorable
Senator from Delaware-one that | presume
will be answered-whether or not there is
any other testimony in his possession, now
adducible, that this document did emanate
from any large number of the people Of New
Mexico?
MI. CLAYTON. l will say, in answer
10 the question of the honorable Senator from
Mississippi that | have received two or three
letters from individ uals in the Territory OF
New Mexico, with whom | have no acquain-
lance personally, and do not know that |
have ever seen them, requesting me TO assist
in establishing a civil government for that
Territory. The arguments presented in those
| lell6TS, III eADIdDdtlOH dilu ouppOIb VI NHC "
iect of the memorial, and the illusions made
10 the proceedings of The convention, satisfy
me that there can be no question or doubt as
10 the fact that they are citizens Of that terri
tory. They have presented their views at
length in those letters with respect 10 the de-
sign of the memorial.
Mr.. FOOTE, Then I understand The ho-
norable Senators from Delaware and Missou-
ri as explicitly declaring it as their decided
opinion that this is a genuine document, and
that il did emanate from a convention of the
so-called people of New Mexico. OF course
| will not, | do not, question in the slightest
degree that the Senators truly entertain such
an opinion but what ! wish TO know is, if
there are in the honorable Senator'S possess
sion any facts Of an official or semi-oficial
character, or if any have been communicated
10 any individual, which will tend to illus
trate Inc point upon which so much stress has
been laid by the Senator from Florida! ]
wish to know whether the Senator from Del
aware, or any other Senator on this floor, is
prepared to assert that this document is one
: regularly emanating from a convention COM
posed of representatives elected by the peo-
pie inhabiling the various portions Of The Ter
rilory Of New Mexico?
Mr.. CLAYTON. The memorial came to
e me in the same manner as all other memoir
I ais come; and | have no reason 10 doubt that
o the paper is genuine, or that the convention
e alluded 10 assembled at Santa Fe on the 18th
Of October.
Mr.. FOOTE. / consider, from the expla.
: nation given, that there is simply a difference
= of opinion between the Senator from Della
ware and myself upon the question whether
{ this document is in fact a genuine document,
originating in the right way, and entitled TO
consideration accordingly. ] do not think
: the evidence such as TO sustain the judgment
Y announced by the Senator from Delaware
: The word convention is Of very high and
comprehensive import in this country. We
are not limited TO the mere grammatical sense
e of the word. A convention is not the mere
e coming together of A b G for any purpose
whatsoever, or for no purpose. In its politi
| cal sense il means a grave deliberative assem-
bly,, composed of delegates chosen by tht
people in their primary capacity, according
y 10 some approved mode, and met to hold con
ference and adopt appropriate action upor
:, questions of high civic import. But to cal
e that a convention which merely declares it
self to be a convention, without proof of pub
= lie notice of any kind to the people represent
ed, without proof of public meetings Of any
e kind being held for the election Of delegates
is going further than ], for one, am willing
10 go.
Can any person, l will ask, who has sim
ply witnessed the presentation of this docu
ment, and heard the remarks with which it
er presentation was accompanied, and withou
is looking narrowly into the facts, come TO any
ST other conclusion than that this convention
al spoken of was an actual one, such as | have
ii just described, and a body composed of in
OF dividuals duly authorized to perform higf
OF political functions ? But what are the true
" facts in the case Upon a close examina
a. ton of the affair, it turned out that there wa
re nothing of substance in The proceeding, STA
hit nominiS umbra indeed, there is hardly tn,
On shadow of a shade to justify the suspicion
at that any convention was even held at all il
n New Mexico. If such a body ever did sit
up the preparations for its session, and its actua
to course of proceeding, were the most ~noiseles
no by far that | ever heard of; no notification il
al public newspapers, or otherwise no divul
ID gence of its acts, no PRONUNCIATION of its de
in Lucrative resolves. All was complete mys
terry and silence. Had this convention beef
So held in Erebus, its actings could not. hav,
m been more mystically and portentously con
Quoted. | will not charge that the documen
is in question bas been COTTON up falsely, or 70
or delusive purposes; nor will | say that tn,
Senators from Delaware and Missouri hav,
been imposed upon, although | rather sus
= pect such 10 have been the case; and it ha
n sometimes happened that the wisest men ar
: mere dupes of the contriving.
b, This memorial purports to have emanate,
~ from the people Of NeW MeDico. Pray, VIII
70 are understood in New Mexico to be The pee
Pile! Are they white men, black men, In
= dams, Spaniards, Englishmen, or Amer
II cans? Does any one yet know of the exis
tence of such a collective political body a
m the people of New Mexico? Surely there
n some want of c~learness on this point. Thi
$. appears TO me to be a suspicious documen
I on its face, and ! am inclined 10 conjectur
,lot - hoe ha.o uoifon nm avian nara m nucl ii