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

Mr.. WESTCOTT. trust the Senator from Missouri
will not msrepresent me. did not
Mr. BENTON. have the floor, sir. He did read it
twice, SIR leaving out the next few words assembled in
convention, to the Congress of the United States and then
went on sir TO say that the petition signed by only fifteen
persons and that il is the production Of but few people
sembed at the village Of Santa Re, and acting without
thority.
Sir, they say in that petition that they are convention
assembled in convention II is signed by the president as
president Of the convention and by the secretary secretary
of the convention, and by ten fifteen members
of that convention. II us sir the petition of
convention representing the people Of the Territory Of New
Mexico II 70 sir in that form. Upon its face it
is that thing sthe petition Of organized convention rep
presenting the whole body of the people. In that form it
stands before And sir if there is abuse impo-
son is in the attempt present this petition as the I'M
authorized action Of few individuals. Aye the abuse the
imposition, there is one is in the attempt to discredt
upon the genuineness of this petition.
Mr. WESTCOTT. The remarks / have made will be re-
ported and published and il is therefore unnecessary for
appeal to the Senate and TO every in this chamber who
heard hem to verify my denial Of the correctness of the
ment Of the Senator from Missouri Just made. Why, sir
expressly stated over and again that the petition puport
ed to from convention Of the people Of Mexico, and
the very ground Of my objection it was, that satisfied
this untrue, and therein he right Of petition abused
and attempt made to impose the Senate and the
try. Sir, not in this chamber, who heard what said,
and desired to hear agh but understood did read
the words epeopk and the words ne the people" BOTH
Twice. sir you please, because they in the petition in
separate places stated emphnicay and distinctly
raj times that puported to be from the people assembled in
convention and stated it signed by Mexican as pre-.
silent Of convention This very thing is what character
lied an imposition deny emphaicaly that stated here
that this paper purpoed to be from casual assembage
town meeting Of few persons Santa Fe and on the
contrary, that 1t did not state what believed was the
fact was the foundation Of my objection to it.
The Senator would produce the impression that msread
the petition. All the deem it necessary make
such mputaton by that Senator is that there is not another
Senator on this floor nor any one who heard me- that will
sustain him making it, Why, sir did not ask who elect
ed delegates this sestyled convention who convoked it
and for what purpose How it called How orga-
nized &C. did say, sir, there evidence besides the
statement of the eevan Mexcans and three Americans whose
signed it. and who had respectable voucher
here, that there ever such convention and did state
that in the absence Of this satisfied humbug,
continuance, and imposition. Did not ask whether the
due of the hundred thousand souls in New Mexico besides
those fourteen had participated in this convention of which
M Giddngs says he ocated secretary did say that
from the absence of any evidence Of its being convention Of
the people of New Mexico satisfied it was
sua assembage Santa Fe and not convention Of all the
people Of all New Mexico; and how is this gainsaid
The Senate has and heard, and the country will
know What has occurred has fortified my conviction that
this petition is imposition, and than impo-
stion. Without any further observations by me-for only
to correct the Misrepresentation made with respect to my
self content that the Senate and the country should
decide whether the paper not attempted imposition
and who are culpabe reference to it. nothing about
the printing the reference one way the other in
tended dsabuse the public in advance the credit due
this petition, and that have DONE that the
remarks Of the Senator from Missouri go to the public with
no other reply from me.
Mr. CLAYTON. do not rise to extend this debate, but
regret exceedingly that il has occurred that has
not been provoked either by myself the gentleman who has
been associated with in presenting this memorial Before
it presented consulted together upon it. and concud
to the appropriate committee, and that it be printed This
done. Not word fell from the Senator from Missouri
myself to excite unpleasant feelings in the bosom of sin
gle Senator here, of any body any where. And would
not make any further remark after all that has occurred
did not think Of the observations Of the Senator from
Florida (Mr. WEsTcoTT and of the Senator from South
Carolina (Mr CALHouS might unusty prejudice the object
of these petitioners The Senator from Florida insists upon
it that the whole paper imposition. Why sir
accredited to the Senator from Missouri and myself by letters
from persons residing in New Mexico and believe, from
every evidence laid before that is genuine petition Of
great number Of persons assembled Santa Fe the Con-
gress of the United States for the purpose Of obtaining pro-
lection people They without law and proec-
ton, and they ask they humby ask this Congress to give
them the protection of civil government As the mpos-
ton which the gentleman suspects there shadow of
to suspect any such thing. The petition signed by
gentleman declaring himself to be the president and
signed by gentleman representing himself to be the seceta
ry Of the convention and is additionally accredited by
twelve fifteen persons, who suppose, thought by the
addition Of their Names they would least any dis
credit which might attach the identity Of the Of the
president and secretary Of the convention which assembled
for the purpose presented in the memorial Now deprscate
any discussion which may be calculated prejudice the OBJ
ect of these memoras at this moment. deprecate any
discussion extending to the question whether slavery shall be
admitted into this territory whether its boundary shall STOP
at the Rio Gande These matters may be appropriately dis
cussed when the committees having them in charge shall
make their reports At present. sir there is question be-
fore the Senate and debate only have the effect Of pre-
judging the claims Of the people Of New Mexico have
abl'shed for them the protection Of civil government
lido think, sir that the gentleman from South Carolina,
reflection will reconsider the charge Of nsoence with
spect to this petition for if the paper be nsoen must be
dsresPcctul and if il be disrespecu toward any portion
The Senate, admit that ought be received But
not disrepectu There not single word Of this char
acte in IT, These gentlemen they opposed TO the
PRODUCTION Of slavery there. care whether they abo
ionists not-have they not the right that Why,
sir suppose petition be presented here by other citizens
that Territory praying that slavery should be introduced there
would any gentleman rise up and say such petition
disrepecifu TO half the eountto the great North, who
maintained throughout the great political campaign which the
country has passed through that there should be slavery
in New Mexico California
Mr. President rose discharge my duty, by simply stat
ing my disposition to give to the people Of this country the
protection Of form Of civil government desire 10 express
no opinion that can excite the peudes Of any person.
greet that observations should have fallen from any quarter cal
cua,ed to nure the great of people who claim thai
the protection Of civil government should be extended
them. hope, sr that, without further opposition the
moral viii be printed
Mr. CALHOUN. Mr. President | rise to say one WORD
in reply to the Senator from Delaware, mr. CL,rrov)
Is impossible to change my opinion that this petition dsre
spectfu TO the Senate The Senator Mr. CLArroS) says
that the rule Of the Senate is that when the petition is dis