The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-16
THIRTIETH CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
Senate.


Capitol Prayer by the Rev. MIR. Sliesr. Journal Of
The VIcE President laid before the Senate a report
from the Secretary of the Treasury.
VIEW MExIco-rHE SLAVERY QUESTION.
MIR. BrNroN and it evident that he had
Eomethipg ofimpertance to say from the soemnty Of
manner and his voice He that the Senator
from Delaware (Mr Clayton) and himself, had re-
Santa Fee, and signed by the members Of q convention
rsprere ntDg the people eff New Mexico praying Con-
rial government and asking the necessary guarantees
fer me exclusion OF slavery. Mr. Benton asked the
THE memorial referred to, was Published in yester-
Mr. Benton asked that the petition be printed
Mr. CLAYTON said that at the last session he had in
the exercise of his best efforts for the settlement Of the
agating question involved in this petition, intro
duced bill for its settlement in spirit Of compro
mise That bill had been rejected; but he expressed
his determination to persevere in his efforts for the
Eanization Of governments for the newly acquired
territories. he had done at the last session, and
should thus to deserve tia confidence repoeed
In him by the people Ct New Mexico the selection Of
himself az one Of their representatives here would
imply.
characterized the petition as nsolent and arrogant.
Mr.. RusK remarked, that, doubt, the petitioners
were TO secure Tor themselves the offices which
would be created In of the erection of State
government in that territory But he wished it to be
distinctly understood that Texas her right
to all the territory this siae of the Rio Grande He
should there and elsewhere, enter hi, solemn protest
against the construction OF separate over
conquered by the blood and treasure Of the people Of
Texas.
MIR BENTON raid that the petition involved questions
which would occupy enough Of the time of the
Senate when they were arrived at regularly and
there was no necessity for taking them up in
anticipation. He had not stated ths contents Of
the petition He had only asked that it might be read
aessi.d and the petition had beeo characterised as
insolent" The only portion Of II that could be
garded a, insolent ey the senasf from South Carolina
without knowing it, the petitioners had used the words
Of the General Assembly of Virginia to George the
I'd vona To hraok iprp If fho
Revolution; and although George the Third did not
grant their petition hs said that 1t insoent
Mr.. CALHous-[the warmth Of the occs.io. -syi-
IDENTIFY Increasingly made no charge against tho
manner in which the Senator from Missouri presented
this petition. My objection to the petition itself
The Senator sees in that petition dsrespect to
in 1t the greatest dsrespect He endeavors to ASST
mate this petition to thr of the petition presented to
George II, oy sns General Assembly of Virginia 1t
comparison between the two cases, and shall not
dsrtake to point out the difference when it is wide
"a the poles The people of New Mexico a conquer
I'd people, They have been conquered by the arms of
the United States and especially by troops drawn from
the tave holding States and for them to turn round
and pray that should be excluded is the height of
insolence and it fault Of mine the Senator
Mr. BrNroN-I do not understand the last remark
Of the Senator. WHAT was it?
Mr. CALHouE-lt Is no fault of mine II the Senator
does not see the insoence of this petition.
Mr. BENTON, (shsrply) Il do not understand that
mark. wish to know what the Senator means by his
Mr. CALHOUN, Quietly My meaning is this 1 have
stated the grounds upon which regard this petition as
from that territory who have constitutional right to
there's and the Senator does not the nsOlsnoe
Of that, 1t 10 no fault of mine.
Mr. BENTON, Cpquiringy)--Ths insoence is sup
pore, to present this petition
Mr. BENTON, (smilngly)-Ah Oh (Laughter.)-
So, then. the grave American Senate, at the very
about nothing nothing at all That, then, is
occupation to-day. 1t seems to be very " lame and
sravely just now But the term " in,olen.n wa, ap-
Piled and OF the inference that it ap
snsoisnes . assert the eonsttusons right Of thu Is
people, conquered or unconquered- coming into our
Dy conquest under ,as M OF the
take them as you please assert their consttutona
right to present their petitions I say more, that
every subject which they have mentioned in that petit
ton is the subjsct of legislation. and that they have
presented it in respectful term. They have done
what they had a right to do; and will not have the
word insoent applied to them when have present.
ed their memorial, without saying and repeating, in
tuch way that it shall be heard and understooi
that the expression is gratuitous and unfounded
MI. Calhoun with come sharpness -The Senator
petition itself which had right to do. did no.
say word against its reception and referen not at
nst;to - ,hsnsbs nronsr rSar. ph Oh .ne
Pariare ntsry CT unusual In my course But the Sc
nsor seems to think that he and the Senator rom
Delaware are responsible for every word In the petit
ton That Is not my view of It, do not say that the
petition is unconstitu uonal Petitions urging the
tutioually presented here's that is not the pout But
] contend that this petition undertakes to exclude
tory that belongs the States in their fedora, capa
city; and ray that such petition, coming from peo
pie who have been made subj to Is inso-
lent; and that whether the Senator from Missouri
thinks so or not is to me matter Of perfect indif
ference
MIR. wrsrcorr with the petition in his HANDY
purpors to be petition from the people Of New Next
co CONF rsiEg seventy, five thousand souls and no
country that such Ia the fact. But nd nothing in
this paper to justify such an assertion 1t says awe,
persons only and without int ndng drespect to any
one, think that this paper attempts imposition
upon Congress. assert that this petition emanat-
ed IMPLY from an assembage of persons in the vii
20 Santa Fe and that there evidence of their
Mr.. BrSTor Observation-Disclosures me see that paper,
cir want to read tbs words which the Senator from
.rss BE-: left 0ns He read the people Of Ne"
MIR. WEsrcorr, (apolsgeticaly) are twice IN
the ssper.
IA laugh But reading them twice tho Senator felt
himself at liberty to omit the rest
from Missouri will not misre represent me
Mr. BENTON trebukingly)-Iha have the floor, sir You
did leave 1t out, sir You read the people Of New
words" assembled in convention They assembled
ipconventon, sir and the paper comes to us duly au
convention, sir The abuse and the imposition, sir,
ifers DO any are not In this petition, but eiewhsrs
Mr. WEsrcorr-I would thank the Senator for the
paper. pad
MIR BENIov-What IL the question: -
The PREsIDEST-The Senator from Florida has the
floor.
MI BnSroS-whst is the question
The PREsIpErr-On printing the petition.
Mr. BENroN-Very well sir.
MIR. wrsrcorr-f appeal to all who heard me- whe.
Their did not expressly state that there persons had
represented themselves constituting convention,
but that there evidence that they had authority
10 do SO There Is, repeat, no evidence Of such
fact. do not deny the right of those people to petit
tic but am unwilling that an erroneous impression
with regard to the and origin Of the petition,
should be made on the public mind As to the other
remarks Of the Senator from Missouri very we'll
allow them to pass without word Of comment.
Mr. CLAyros expressed his regret at the occurrence
Of this debat e, which, he did not rise to protrac He
fhouaht that anna Of the raunarka Of the Snnatnra