The southern press., 1850-06-25

skill of master in this respect. The 2Jth sec
ton provides
"Previous TO the first election, the governor
shall cause census or enumeration or the ihhap-
iants Of the several counties and districts OF the
Territory TO be taken; and the first election shai
lie held at such time and places, and be conducted
in such manner, az the governor shall appoint anu
direct; and he shall, at the same time, declare the
number Of members Of the council and house ol
representatives to which each OF the counties or
districts shall be entitled under this act. The
number of persons authorized 10 he elected having
the highest number of votes III each or SAID couii-
Gil districts, for members OF the council, shah pe
declared by the governor 10 be duly elected 20 te
council; and the person or persons authorlAeu "
be elected having the greatest number OF votes Tor
the house of representatives, equal to the number
10 which each county district shall be entitled,
shall be declared by the governor to be duiy
elected members Of the house Of representatives
Provided, That in case Of a tie between TWO or
more persons voted for, the governor shall order
new election to supply the vacancy made by such
tie And the persons thus elected TO the legisia-
tive assembly shall meet at such place, and on
such day as the governor shall appoint; but there
after, the time, place, and manner of holding ana
conducting all elections by the people, and the
apportioning the representation IN the several
counties or districts To .e.coyshcil and house OF
representatives according t6aile population, shall
be prescribed by law, as well as the day of the
commencement of the regular sessions OF the
legislative assembly" .. .. IL. :.
In the first place. the provision is strong implied
recognition Of all the counties and districts MS now
regulated by the present military, and by the for
mcr deDartmental government of New Mexico,
which establish boundary entirely exclusive of
the claim of Texas. II tauthorIzes the governor to
take Il census, 10 say how many and which of
these counties and districts in the Territory,
and name the seat of government III the first IN
stance il confcrs on this officer ample power TO
,ha rll icpl in he
first instance. After The first session of the legis-
laye council, that body is given the power 10
establish the seat of government, and the counties
and districts, and, matter OF course, the right
to declare the exterior boundary of the Territory
The faculty TO do this, both in the governor and
legislative council, is clearly granted in the
power OF apportionment and regulation of the
counties and districts. The result Of all this
is the establishment of 4 boundary for New Mex
leo, and determination Of the right against
Texas, so far it can DE done by the legislation
of Congress With the Supreme Court OF the
United States, this law would be conclusive of the
whole controversy. That court decided, in the
cases of Foster, and Eam, Garcia and Lea, and
she United States aud Reynes-,he last case at
the present term--that ii was controlled on ques-
,ions Of boundary by the action of the political
departments Of the Government, and would not
look beyond that action into the facts and justice
OF the case Under the compromise, this firmly
established rule would compel the court to decide
the question of title against Texas, if it ever was
brought before that tribunal. With the court,
this bill would be conclusive Of the whole contro-
.versy. ....
will never give any vote here, which will have
the effect TO deny or prejudice the title to Texas
or place il in any worse condition than it is al
present. As a part of the Southern question
there ought to be an unconditional admission OF
the boundary of Texas, she asserted IT wher
she came into the Union. The fact need not bt
disguised that il California is admitted with hel
present boundary, the South will be excluded
from the whole country west Of the Rio Grande
either under the non-action policy Of the Presi
dent, or the non-intervention platform with thu
Mexican law unless that law can be repealed, o.
division Of the territory effected. On this basi
OF non-action, intervention, or the compro
mise OF Mr. Clay, there is nothing practical II
this question, 10 the Southern States, beyond III
boundary Of Texas With all these, NEE sures
the prastical result to the South il the exclu
sion WHY, then, surrender the slave territor,
of Texas, and place it within the power of fre
so,
If the object Of the Compromise Committee G
the Senate had been merely Ia settle the contrc
yersy, so as to accommodate the people of Ne'
Mexico with separate political existence, il Wa
" not necessary TO establish the boundary niue
below 36o 30. Santa Fc is in 80 A. g., accor
ing 10. the observations Of Colonel Emory. A
$50 30 there is n natural boundary presented b
the valuable gold, silver, and copper mines are
be found on this side the river. Below that lin
is the country most valuable for slave labor, wit
exception perhaps, Of the mining district abov,
Up TO about that line, learn from all inteliger
traveller direct from FL Pase and Santa Fe, wh
iournsyed with Major Neighbors, the Texas con
missioner, the people submitted at once to IN
jurisdiction of Texas. He met with little or n
opposition until he arrived at S.hia Fe, wher
there are some four or 6'c hundred Americana
who want Offices under territorial or State Coy
ernment.
Let the title Of Texas be acknowledged by Coz
gress-placed beyond contest--and am wilin
g. ,ubmi, any fair proposition to the people
. Texas | am willing TO trust them to pass upo
il. whether il meets my own views or not but
shall oppose any scheme which, in terms or /
implication, denies heI title TO the country in que
ton. Congress shall not, even by inttrno
assert n claim 10 it by aid of any vote OF min
because that would chnnge the Preseh' adies
the legal question.
The Co.mpromise bill is, in legal effect, pre-
ant appropriation Of the territory, II Texas wit
holds assent, and a present sale as soon as 81
assents Now, sir, although j might be willli
IN submit a proposition, the title OF Texas beii
6rs, odmit,ed. am not willing to 90 beyond thi
'Tbe LEGISLATURE Of Texas has placed all this di
nuted country in my district, and do not unde
stand that my mission here IS To be fulfilled,
my part. by sale Of half my district The Leg
laiure Of the State has been IN session since u
nroposition Of Colonel Benton was first made N
look no action upon it. have seen no develo
ment OF public sentiment in Texas which lool
like an appreciation Of any Of these measures
their present shape. To this proposition for
purchase there are two objections which W
here notice In denying practically the tile
Texas, the compensation is offered TO her only
the shape Of husL moncg, and for the sake Of peac
i, pocs on the hypothesis Of buying off u
founded prctcnsion of title, and places Texas
his odio,,s and humiIintng attitude before Il
world. II the proposition was, in other respect
free from objections, the State, in my oPinio
would Indignantly reject the offer, clothed III III
insolent form. As n Southern measure, II prcsen
the further serious difficulty that it so establish
the boundary as to preclude the idea Of cessio
Mexican for the certainty Of the Texas law {
subject of slavery 1t secures the ultimate divisi
of New Mexico into two States, which will
free and for which there would not he sufficie
territory, but for this acquisition from Texas.
,L,o ,,;il further d,stroys the equilibrium betwe