The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-25

strctive legislation by Congress-he has extend
ed his operations to New Mexico itself, endeavor-
ing to induce the People there to abstain from all
action against slavery.
This course of conduct is legitimate, and we
trust that his example may not be lost. If there
be influential members of Congress who are sim
cerey DESTROYS Of seeing free institutions estab-
lished in New Mexico, let them neglect no hon.
orable means Of impressing the people Of that
Territory with their own convictions. II is not
improbable that the struggle between Slavery and
Freedom may be transferred to that country
and with them may rest the decision whether
their soil shall be consecrated to Liberty or
prostituted to Slavery
The writer of the articles in the Mem Merican
urges the expediency of forming State Govern
ment, chiefly in view of the great division of SEN
timent in the States and in Congress on the ques-
ton of slavery in relation to the Territories He
refers to the position of Mr.. Benton one side,
that of Mr.. Calhoun on the other-to the action
of the Free Soil Convention that brought out Mr..
Van Buren, for the Presdency-to the fact that
"a majority of the present Congress is opposed to
the admission of any more territory, except with
the prohibition Of slavery.
WHAT he asks has been the universal le-
gislation upon this subject, from the days of the
Missouri Compromise to the present time? Has
t.SS ,eVsf& Z. l4rattM4 slscs eratent Yofmet
what this has been the absorbing question Has
there been legislation of late years upon this sub
ject, that has not convulsed the whole country
And now as to this very Territory acquired by the
treaty with Mexico lying south of the compromise
line, Southern statesmen, of both parties, declare
to the world that they have the right to take their
slaves there and that it is the duty of the Con-
gress to protect them in their slave property in
this Territory acquired by the common blood and
treasure of both the North aud South The mo-
ment that a movement is made in Congress TO
form Territorial Government, the Northern
Free Soil men proclaim that it alone can be adj
mitted as free territory that is with the prohibit
tion of slavery; and Southern statesmen have as
boldly proclaimed that they would alone abide the
Missouri Compromise; that territory north of
$50 should be admitted free, and that all south
should be received as the Southern States with
slavery. Now, am | sustained by the facts? Look
at the whole legislation of Congress on this sub
ject-look at the last Territorial Government bill
passed by the Congress. | mean the Oregon bill
Why was the Wilmot Provso attached to that
bll2 Ii could have no practical operation as to
that Territory and yet we find this very ques-
ton agitating the public mind at the time of the
formation of that Territorial Government South
ern Congressman submitted to the bill because
they said the whole of the territory was north of
the Missouri Compromise line, but publicly
proclaimed that they would never submit to the
prohibition of slavery south of the compromise
line. Now, facts are stubborn things, and judg-
ing of the future by the past what are we to ex-
pect That Congress can establish for US Ter
ritorial Government, as we ask it, silent on the
subject of slavery, when there is @ considerable
portion of the territory that lies south of the oom
promise line2 No"
He then proceeds to argue that the only way
to extricate the people of New Mexico from their
condition of anarchy, and terminate the struggle
in the States, is, to organize at once State Gov
eminent.
1t seems that Mr.. Foote'S letter against the for
nation of State Government was forwarded be-
fore or during the meeting of the Convention held
to determine the question of Territorial Gov
ernment - that the concurrent efforts of the
South were made at the same time and by
another paragraph in the Mem Mercan article,
we learn that different counsels emanated from
the Executive at Washington
III Is Known, says inc WriteT, tnat MT Skln-
ner besides the Foote letter, brought with him
the result of o conversation with the Secretary of
State, who gave it his opinion that the people of
Mem MeTico could not obtain from Congress Terri
torial Government He also gave it as his opinion,
that the claim of Texas was sufficiently formidable
to induce the people of New Mexico to send to
Congress her Senators and Representatives to
vote on this question: as we'll az Texas. This we
know, can only be accomplished by the formation
offs State Government"
But, as the result showed, the sentiment of the
people of New Mexico against slavery, (which is
said to be decidedly and the influence of the Chief
Executive proved of no avail against the power of
question in favor of a Territorial Government
secondly, the question against the Proviso.
The facts stated warrant the apprehension that
the Slavery Party in New Mexico is really in
the ascendency And yet the Mem York Express,
the Mem York TriJUne, and other Wing Journals,
formerly advocates of the Wilmot Proviso follow
ing now the lead of MIR. Webster, talk of the
Proviso as if it were mere abstraction-and as
if Freedom in New Mexico were safe, without
any such precautionary measure.
They profess to be confirmed in this view by
the following letter from Mr.. Smith, the delegate
from that Territory, in reply to one addressed to
him by Mr. Webster, who is seeking in every
quarter to find some support for his new position.
WASHINGTON, April 8, 1850.
To The Hon. Daniel Webster, IT, s. Snate:
DEAR SIR: have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the Sth instant, and
reply to II with great pleasure. New Mexico is
nm exceedingly mountainous country, Sante Fe
itself being twice as high as the highest point of
the Alleghanies and nearly all the land, capable
of cultivation, is of equal height, though some Of
the valleys have less altitude above the sea- The
country is cold Its general agricultural products
are wheat and corn, and such vegetables as grow
in the Nortern States of this Union II is entirely
unsuited for slave labor Labor Is exceedingly
abundant and cheap. 1t may be hired for three
or four dollars per month in quantity quite sufi-
cient for carrying on all the agriculture of the
Territory There is no cultivation except by
irrigation, and there is not a sui'ciency of water
to irrigate all the land.
AS to the existence, at present, Of slavery in
New Mexico, it is the general understanding that
it has been altogether abolished by the laws Of
Mexico but We have no established tribunals
which have pronounced, as yet, what the law of
the land in this respect is. Ii is universally con-
sidered, however, that the Territory is altogeth-
err free Territory. know of no persons in the
country who are treated as slaves, except such
rs may be servants to gentlemen visiting or pass
ing through the country. | may add, that the
strongest feeling against slavery universally pre-
walls through the whole Territory, and suppose
1t quite impossible to convey it there and main
tain it by any means whatever.
have the honor to be, with regard, your obe-
dent servant, HueH ~ SMITH
To these opinions of Mr. Smith, no doubt hon.
estly entertained of the natural obstacles to sla-
very, We oppose the facts-that the system pre-
walls amid the SHOWS Of Russia that it had OBJ