The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-30
ADDRESS OF IUGH N. SMITH, OF NEW MEXICO,
TO THE
PEOPLE OF THAT TERRITORY.

To The People of Mar MerieO:
As your delegate to the Congress of the United
States | regret to inform you that my mission has
failed your rights as citizens, under the Govern
ment Of the Union, assured to you by the treaty
Of cession, have thus far been denied. AS people,
constituting a large community, once department
in the federative Republic of Mexico, you certain
ly entitled to the right of modified representa-
ton, which has heretofore been accorded to the
people in all other Territories of the United
States in which such an organization existed rs
could be recognised as a government. This right
hasalways been conceded upon the principle that
the inchoate Governments, charged with the in
terests of people who are at some time, to come
as State into the Union, should have represent
alive on the floor of one branch Of Congress, to
make known the condition, to advocate the inter-
ests, and defend the rights of o community which,
IN its infancy, is to receive from the National
Legislature those fundamental and radical i'm
pressions which shape its future destiny IL the
great American principle of the right of represent
alton has been extended to all the Territorial
Governments of the United States, (even to those
having the care of few scattered people, as in
the case OF Florida, or where, as in the case of
Minnesota, there was no legalized Government at
any, it ought surely now to be extended to you,
my constituents, people who come with novel
Government into the Union, which is to undergo
great changes; who have a multitude of vast in
terests to be arbitrsted in Congress, which once
decided are decided forever ; and who, above all
have right to be heard, at this moment, in the
nails OF the supreme civil authority because Won
ana your civil Government are now at the mercy
of military dictatorship, when your State is
threatened with Acknowledgement, and, what is yet
more fatal, the introduction Of slavery into it's
nosom But the very ground upon which you are
entitled IN f.y: L. h
lis denial IL is this double design against what
ever is most dear to you as people, against your
rignt 10 the limits ola domain which you inherited
whist Texas that would sever it. was an unex
plored wilderness, and against your right to ex.
clnde slavery from it, which was sealed nv n con.
st'taiiohai sanction coming with you into this
onion,) which has excluded your delegate from
seat whence he might repel the invasion.
The most formidable part Of this combination
against you is that which originates in the slave
Interest, lt not only rallies against Won the whole
savehoding South but all the influence of sel6sh
venai and ambitious men in the North. looking To
specuiafions in dscrcdited bonds and land iobb;no
or 10 the political honors which the oomh;rsd vot
OF the south may promise The cement Of iris
strength IN the South il not so much the ,r..r..,
IN slave property, but the political power deoend.
ent on IT, The great struggle IL to secure for the
decaying popular force Of that section AN anal
Nj
the rapidly progressive population and multiply.
ing free States Of the Union. TO this aim. the
rights and interests and al the hopes Of rapidly
growing and rich prosperity, which beckoned
mew Mexico into the Union, are TO be sacrificed
ne doctrine Of the slaveholding States, In regard
70 Their domestic institutions Is non-ntervention
out with regard to yours, IL Is Instant Intervention,
70 SET at nought the prohibition Of slavery which
you brought with you into the Union, a. one Of
your fundamental laws, and q fixed municipal
poneyIa policy which, now that you are under
the shield Of the great North american Republic
would invite into your country the intellect. In
as.y sklii, enterprise, aud capital not only OF
lres states Of the North, hut portion Of that
,n'sranon from Europe which Is now filling up
,h ho agricultural regions Of the Mississippi, and
nns, golden mountains, valleys and commercial
P1rs OF CALIFORNIA; with tseming population
waking the link between these two great coup-