The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-10

Il III
profitable. slavery would find its way there and tn
North would no longer have the power to forbid it;
Mr.. DOWNS. should like to know how slavery
could be carried into New Mexico with every person
voting to prohibit carrying slaves there'
\ Mr. BELL Ihaye given my views briefly upon this
point in my preceding remarks. The true interest q
NIT these Territories into the Union as States The same
reasons for this policy apply TO both New Mexico and
California u the last Congress had either admitted Cal
ornia State authorized her inhabitants 10 form
State constitution at subsequent day. and to be admitted
upon proclamation OF the President, the question ol
slavery would have been decided BY. the people
and si ssntueu. 81 the the North The question would
have been beyond the control Of Congress. There
Is no settled Espagnanss g slavery among NE Gao,
there with fixed sentiment upon this subject II is in
ieres-pecniary nteresthat impels the tide Of emf.
oanG tha, slavery could bs proaabIy employed ia the
rich and inexhaushble gold mines. the constitution would
take the form these interests demanded i is interest
to day admitted as State the prospect OF introducing
slaves would be far favorable than could be under
territorial government in the form proposed by this
bill Nor is there any such settled sentiment opposed
TO slavery among the Inhabitants of New Mexico that
might not and would not be overcome, it, BY the discov
cry Of rich mines OF gold in her territories, slave labor
should be wanted there.
Mr. President, in pursuing the contrast between the
plan of the Committee OF Thirteen and that OF the Pres
dent the next point Of difference between them which
has been pointed out and proclaimed to the country by
the distinguished from Kentucky and Michigan,
and by them dwelt upon with great emphasis and conf
dence evidence OF the vast superiority OF the plan OF
the committees s that the plan OF the President proposes
to leave the people of New Mexico at the mercy of
military government, euenant colonel" and without
the protection oil regularly organized civil government
Now without undertaking to repeat all the terms and
forms OF reproach and denuncation, of rdicule and
scorn, with which the plan OF the President has been
met and objected to BY these gentlemen undertake to
say that the grossest injustice has been done TO the
President upon this point and that there has been the
grosses perversion Of fact however uninentona in re-
ation both the character OF the government in ope
ration in New Mexico and to the policy Of the Pres
dent have before adveried to the manner in which
the irom Kentucky treated this part of the sub
ect The senator from Michigan has signazed his
preference for the plan OF the committee and bis oppo
siton to the views OF the President IN manner not
less unjust and extraordinary They both concur in
policy The senator from Michigan says: sWhat
glorious and brilliant triumph il would be for admin
straton to triumph in doing no,hingl What genius.
what capacity, what craftsmanship would be thus illus
traled in the policy Of "doing nothingw
Mr.. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, "Masterly inactivity"
Mr. BELL. Yes, the policy o." masterly inactivty"-
the policy OF continuing for indefinite period arb
trary and odious military domination over these people
II these honorable gentlemen could dvest themselves OF
the bias which their preference for favoe policy OF
OF the President to the test OF reason, OF true and fair
consideration, they could not proclaim these sentiments
to the country consistently with their own high charac
teIs
Now what is the truth in regard to the Presidents
plan The only fair objection which can be taken to
The policy of the President is that proposes excessipe
action. Instead OF being plan OF "non-acton," il is
rather plan of action. That s objection that
might be urged with justice and plausibity Hon
oabe say that the President proposes TO leave
these people without the protection Of civil government,
and TO the tender merces of military authority. II their
impetuous feelings would allow them to reflect, they
would see that the President proposes the protection OF
more rigorous civil government than the one recon.
mepded BY the committee And this afierthought Of
mine: the President in his message this subject,
pessy states that New Mexico may be expected soon
In for nj n
is fairly within the scope and intention Of his policy that
Congress should forthwith authorize the inhabitants 10
form State constitution, and be admitted into the Union
as State whenever Texas shall have agreed To settle
OF her boundary II is not true, therefore, that the
Presidents policy is one OF non-dcionS = nor is il ene
that proposes leave the inhabitants oil New Mexico
at the mercy Of an arbitrary military government The
policy OF the President is 10 dispense with military gov
ernment by the admission o New Mexico a State
which be readily accomplished by territorial
government The merits OF the Presidents policy.
the true genius sagacy, and craftsmanship displayed in
IL, consist in "noa-actton, bat IN closing up efec
tualy and forever this oil the bleeding wounds OF the
counuy-in violating principle Of the constitution.
giving these people the privilege of determining the ques
on Of slavery for themselves. and in giving permanent
peace and harmony TO the country
This military government IN New Mexico has received
a very bad name We have had many pervsrsions OF
its true nature and character that doubt very much
whether the people Of New Mexico would recognise the
government spoken of here the that actually
ists there. What is the government which actually
lists there q! this moment, iiis eiya govenment-ihs
continued under the sanction OF the present admnisa.
ton. The civil and municipal Offices are the same
hled as understand, by the same Incumbents and
forming far az possible 10 the municipal laws OF the
Territory before the treaty OF cesson They have their
projects OF counties, their acaldes justices OF the
peace in the several districts and their courts and Judges
In the last resort Since listened to the unmeasufed de-
nuncaton by honorable senators OF the military sway in
New Mexico have made particular inquiry into the ma
ture and extent OF the authority exercised by the military
in that Tetory and can hear Of instance in which
the military has interered with the regular admnisra.
ton OF the laws by the proper civil officers. A0ugh
the intelligent delegate from that Territory IN this city
has demonstrated against the continuation OF the military
authority yet after full inquiry could hear OF no in
stance Of the arbitrary interference Of the military in The
civil and judicial administration, except that when Of
fences committed by the inhabitants against soldiers
there have been instances in which the offenders have
been apprehended by the military and taken before the
proper judicial tribunals for trial and punishment This
sir Is the extent of that arbitrary sway OF "leutenani
colonel" OF which we have heard so much.
/ Mr. HOUSTON. Ii the senator will permit me- will
point out instance. This military government has
exercised oppression in interfering with the officers OF
| Texas.
| Mr. BELL. The honorable senator from Texas viii
at present for not noticing the suggestion which
he has made Icanno after his speech the other morning
have time and strength fail 10 pay my respects to him II
before SIT down. think, sir, have sufficiently de.
monstrated the gross injustice which has been done TO
the President upon this subject.
But conscience and the best feelings Of the American
heart and American character have been appealed to- TO
carry out the provisions OF our treaty with Mexico,
which require that these people should have the full pro-
lection OF the laws and constitution OF the Uuted States
and OF regular civil government II 10 "hgh time,
says the distinguished senator from Kentucky, that the
national faith should be maintained in extending TO these