Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1848-12-21
CON G Il l. $ S y 4 L.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore American.
WashinEt r. December l3-p. Nj.
SNNAIE

Alter CiImnOT,ant business Nj. Benton rose ana
presented petition received by himself and the Senator
from Delaware CIR. Cly'on.) from cnvrntion of the
people &c New Mexico, signed ~ The Prs;d and Sec
reary Of that ConTennn and dated ; into he, Nov. Ia.
1913. addressed 10 the Congress Of the United States.
and PRAYING that n territorial government purely civil in
lis charac e. may he provided r them The petition
til tile lawsi in force in September, 1916, would
be acceptable 20 hem--pruteSt against dsncmhermen',
in Of Texas, in any other nanner-and express
their opposition to the introduction Of slavery. They
conclude with the remark TINT. tile territory now
tans Is 900 10 100000 Inhabitants they trust tiai their
prayer NAV not Be deemed unrets ,rabe. A Phi I'd
copy Of the laws referred t. mpany the mem rial.
Mr. Benton moved that the petition be referred 10 the
territorial committee, and printed.
Mr. Clayton said that he hai abored at the last
session 10 give civil government 10 the new territories
he should do the at the present and he cordially
concured il the reference proposed BY the Senator from
Mississippi.
MI Calhoun rsc-to express opposition 10 the re
feencchut protest against Tie ns1enl character Of
the application. from The people Of conquered irrltury
the property alike Of every portion Of the United States.
MIR Benton said that when the application Of those for
whom tie acted was thus pronounced inSosn. he deem
ed it his duly rise and diScalm for them any thing Of
Tie kind.
Mr. Calhoun replied, not at all strange that the
Senator from Missouri should view the subject as he
dles and HAT lie (NIr CD should as view II different
". lie (Mr. O. considered the territory f New Mex
ico belonging the United Siaes AMI therefore the
common properly of all The States.
MI Rash made 10 objection the reference, and
deemed it proper that civil governments should be esab
Iished in lie new territories; but Tie time he
lis solemn protest against any SUCH govern
nen being established il territory Of The Rio Gran
de- acquired by the blood and treasure Of the State Which
lie represented.
MI Benton said that he had done in this just as little
IS conll he done, AMI clmpy with thh parliamentary
forms in regard POSITION. Tie Senator from South
~ 1 IL, in
ton was neither insoen dlSr,specu hut entitled to
respec nl Considerations Th-se people used The express
words of the riuia Legislature TO George Ill. before
the breaking out If the Revolution; but though George
ILL., did grant their request, he made no excuse that
disrespec,lul.
Mr. Calhoun consider red the petition dsrosDectul he
cause aimed 10 pve thr South Of Heir r4ttS-1hd
was fir this reason that lie had ter ned il ins1en
Mr. Benton again denied the insolence, and asserted
tie constitutional right conquered or not cn'qHeTei by
the people of New Mexico, 10 petition Congress FIR r.
VII Government He pronounced Tile declarations Of the
Senator from Sou'h Carolina graiuitous and untounded
Nj Calhoun said that it was not against the right OF
petition that he had spoken bnt that he had rIgh 70
remark upon every word Of the petition presented lie
contendeI that that pctilmn attempted y exclude one
half of the people Of the United States from 'he henefls
To which The whole We're entitled and III this he deemed
insolent-SNhat the Saaltlr from Miss Mi thought
the subject, to HIN matter OF perfect lndtr-
encp.
NJ WeStcpt said IT. had cxam"ed the petition, and
found signed BY only n pers m; and without intending
To be isrespac u either the Senator from Missouri or
the Senator from Delaware. he coud not ont pronounce
tie petition attempt impose upon the congress OF
the United Stats OF these fifteen names. but Two or
three were English or Amer an, and Of these Two
Or three Mr.. Gdiings who ac@d as Secretary 10
the convention referred To in the petition lie denied
that this , .ton could be considered as the voice OF the
people Of New Mexico.
Mr. Benton declared that Mr.. Wcstcott had read the
heading Of he petition as if iwcra coming direct from
the people of New Mexico and had not included The
words also ''in convention assembled" II came mere
as the proceedings of Organized buiy o The people OF
New Mexico in convention assembled, and il there had
been any attempt at imposition i was not on their
part.
Mr.. Westcott appealed to the Senate, that he had
stated explicitly that purpTtrd to be petition OF The
people OF New Mexico. in convention assemh!ed.-
There evidence thai the members oi this con
venon elected repr, sanaiIv's Of the people OF
New Mexico lie had seen rs yet no evidence mat
such convention had been called, tina; it was more
than local meeting Santa f.. There was nothing
before The Senate even 10 show FIR What object tins
meeting had been called. What he prot stei against
thai without such evidence, petition. signed ny
fifteen persons nearly all Mexican, should be received
the petition Of the people OF New Mexico ,l.
Mr. Clayton did not ne 10 take part ~ ''e "toie'
thouh associated with the Senator from Missouri I'D me
,nty IL nr.sennp iii, memorial. Ilr should have said
uolhnr had he not feared that he rights o NE petitions
ers might pcjudiced by The rcnaTks OF Inc senators
lr,m south Carolina and Florida. The petition had
come 10 them with lis gsnulnemes vouched for by re
,pectabc names; and there mi the slightest
to suppose that any imposition Lad been intended rrac
Used.
lie earnestly suggested to tie Senator from South
Carolina reconsider the charge 81 iE>othcc. There
was nothing either Insanrt dl%especlin IN H. Tor II
there had been he shouj have opposed VS. recarton-
They had eNprea.e he wish that savery should n"i %
introduced there. but tl4 could Hut u considered etE