New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-03-02
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE.
..m.u..,eo-Te1n.-The Beginning of the

CorrespOndence o. The Tribune
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Feb. n.
Alter passing the California bill, the House re-
,.,.sa again into Committee and took up the bill
o,y,nizing the Territory Of New Mexico. The
49,, section that which sets forth the boundaries
4 New Mexico having been read
n, VlSrov moved a Proviso reseryDg al the
,,b,. Of Texas to the territory this side Of the
p;o C;rapde from lat 81 to lat. ~, North lem
facing two thirds Of New Mexico and nearly all
=. peope,l and providing for bringing the ques-
ZION Of the right OF Texas 70 this territory before
the supreme Court Tor final adjudication. Mr.. V.
.apported this proposition 10 a brief but spirited
sad able speech
Mr. GRrFLEY.-Mr. Chairman, never before
In my lite listened 10 a proposition with 50 much
surprise and regret as % that Of the gentleman
rom Ohio What does 1t imply Clearly that
Texas has plausible claim 10 all New Mexico
this side Of the Rio Grande-yIrtualiy 20 all New
Mexico And though the gentleman has warned
US IN his speech that TINS IS purely question OF
law-and that none bat Congress are qualified 10
discuss it-yet shall venture u disregard that
Admoniiion aud engage in the discussion
For b. my mind this is not more question Of Law
than OF Fact-oi History aud OF Freedom. Tex
as claims New Mexico as part Of her Territory.
On what ground Not OF possession for she
never held a court nor an election, exercised au-
lhOrty nor served a writ within us limits. Not
Of conquest for the only expedition she ever sent
ihither utterly defeated and captured by the
New Mexicans-the surviving invaders finding
their way home by route more crcuitOus than
any on which Congressional Mileage is computed
Not certainly. OF ancient aud Evolutionary Deepen
dence; for New Mexico never " as q part Of Texas
nor in any way dependent upon 1t. Not on the
ground OF transfer by stipulation, for Texas has
made no treaty on the subject, and our Annexng
Jont Resolutions expressly leave every question
Of her boundaries subject 10 adjustment by this
Government alone. There is no shadow OF found
alton for this claim OF Texas but the claim itself
mere paper declaration, never enforced down TO
this day.
Still, Texas insists on subiugating aud ruling
New Mexico. and this amendment proposes TO
declare the question an open one aud submit 1t 10
the arbitration ol the Supreme Court. Submit
what Where arc the data on which the Su-
preme Court is to act Who are the parties
What is the law OF the case What cOnsidera-
tons shall govern the decision!
Mr. Chairman there is one consideration which
the Supreme Court could not give weight to, but
which we are bound 10 weigh well IL is that of
the will of the People OF New-Mexico FIVE are
TO arbiuate this question at ALL | insist that they
be the umpres. Let them determine whether 10
be an independent Free Territory or become part
Of the Ssvehodng State Of Texas Submit the
question fairly to them, and agree to abide their
decision Butte authorize five Shareholders form
ing a majority of our Supreme Cour) 10 decide
this momentous question on grounds and under
rules which silence entirely the voice Of the PEG
pie Of New Mexico is what can never agree to-
1t is not an hour since gentlemen ON the other
side were vOciierOus for letting the People of
California govern Misunderstanding them decide
whether they should egaliZe Slavery or otherwise
] call upon them to stand by that principle now
plead for the right of the People Of New Mexico
10 be governed in accordance with their own " ell
understood demands and entrcates. You know
well how they have resisted and still abhOT the
dominion of Texas Their unanimous entreaty for
protection against 1t is now before COngr' S.
Their danger is immiuent--Our aid must be prompt
or il will be too late to avail. lmploie this House
to perform its whole duty promptly in the prem
ises aud not seek TO shuttle of the responsibility
upon the Executive or the Supreme COutt. Pass
the bill before us as it stands II Texas has Con
sttutional rights here IL will not invaidatc them.
Let her bring her action in the Supreme Court II
she chooses-no action of ours can be essential to
that-but let us do all in our power TO shield the
New Mexican people from her detested dominion.
The debate was continued by Gen. BAYIY OF
Va. against Mr.. Vintons proposition, as well as
the bill gencrslly-on the ground that the sove-
reign State of Texas could not condescend to sub
NIT her rights of sovereignty to the arbitrament
Of the Supreme Court by Mr.. TooMBs OF Ga.
nearly in the same vein and in railing denuncia-
ton Of various persons and parties and by Mr..
ScHEScK of Ohio in opposition to the pretenslons
OF Texas the acquisition of Territory by conquest
SC. SC in his very best vein. Mr.. McLASE of
Nd next obtained the floor, but soon gave way to
motion of adjournment, which prevailed, and the
question went over