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

Debate in Congress.
The presentation of the petition &C., from
New Mexico-the substance of which will
be found in an article on our first page
created quite an excitement in the Senate, to
whose notice it was introduced by Benton Of
Missouri, and Clayton Of Delaware. The
following debate, which we have slightly
abridged from the official reports, occurred
on the 18Th inst. After the conclusion of
the discussion, the petition was ordered to
be printed, and referred to the Committee on
Territories.
Mr.. BENTON. Mr.. President, I move
that that communication be printed for the
use of the Senate and also that the accom-
panying memorial in the Spanish language
be printed with it, and that it be referred 10
the Committee on the Territories.
MIR. CLAYTON. As one of those 10
whom this petition was intrusted, | desire to
second the motion Of the Senator from Mis-
souri,. | would briefly say, sir, that as | la
bored faithfully during the last session Of
Congress to o. ganjze q civil government over
this territory of New Mexico, ! shall labor
with equal fidelity for the sama object at the
present session.
MI; oAL1VoN' MI. PRESIDENT, ! rise
70 maxi no opIec,!oh 10 the inouon Of the
nonolaoie senator from missouri; but rise
~ eNp'ee' ny op,u'on '"a' me people OF thiS
ieI'i.oIy' VIZ" NeA'co,) uhuer all me cir
ouea'oes % u oase' nave ho' made a re-
sPee''ul Pe,'ton 70 thls senate but, on the
oonialy, ney naTei made a most insolent
one. | am not surprised, however, at the
language o, ms peuuon' lhat people were
conquered ny the very men they wish to ex-
clude from mat territory, and they Know
that. enter my protest, sir, at once against
being governed by a consideration presented
under such circumstances as that petition has
been upon this subject.
MIR. BENTON. MIR. President, | should
suppose, sir that myself, and perhaps the
Senator from Delaware, MIR. Clayton are
equally charged with the presentation Of this
petition. And l should suppose, sir, thai
we should feel ourselves called upon, wher
a Senator rises In his place and charges a;
lnsolent such a petition as has been present
ed, 10 get up ana dlsclalm Tor lhose VINO nav
signed mai Pe''lIon, and sent 1t to US, th'
least disposition 10 be lnsolent or lmpertl
nent; we lhinE' sir' mere is nothing o
!hal KIM upon me race OF me paper ana Una
IT is gratullons and unioanded TO apply sucl
an epilhet 70 II,
MT. CALHouN. IL is not al an strang'
mat the senator from Missouri, MT. Ben
ton,I should consider the charge OF lnsolenc'
against the petition gratultous, looking upoI
Inc matter as he does, nor that should max,
me charge, looking upon 1t as do. lool
upon Inc rights OF the Southern States, pro
posed to be excluded from this territory, as
nigh constitutional principle. Our right t
go there with our property is unquestionable
and guaranteed and supported by the Constl
tuition. The Territory belongs to us-to III
United States. Ii belongs TO The States @
Carolina and Virginia, as much as it doe
10 New York aud Massachusetts. Tn,
Senator from Missouri differs from me upo
this point, and therefore he does not cons
der it i~nsolent on The part of the people O
that Territory 10 ask that we should be ex
cluded from it. But these are my convic
iisns, and | repeat that | consider the petit
ton to be i%nsolent.