The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-30
From the Nep York Courier and Enquirer.

In no part of his recent speech was Mr. Clay more
emphatic in his denunciation of General Taylor
sity of giving territorial governments to New Mex
leo and Utah. He dwelt at length upon the fact
that the President proposes no government for
Utah except such as the Mormons may institute
forgetting, apparently, that the Mormons are the
inhabitanfs of Utah, and that the proposition to
allow the inhabitants of community to frame such
laws they fit, is neither novel nor startling to
those who have faith in republican principles.
In speaking of New Mexico, Mr.. Clay held up to
the odium of all parties the Presidents recommen
dation not to construct any government, by federal
authority, in thatterriory, but to leave its nhabit
ants to form constitution for themselves. Mr..
Clay depicts the horrors of military government,
such as that to which they now subjected, and
he dwells upon the fact that the Governor is not 10
interfere in the contest between Texas and New
Mexico, as showing the necessity for creating a
government in that Territory. We cannot per-
ceve any connexion between the premises and the
conclusion. 1t would doubtless be desirable to set
tie the boundary question; but what has that to do
necessarily with the question of territorial gov
ernmenR II such government be framed, the
question Of boundary can only be settled by con
vcntion with Texas II will still remain matter for
negotiation, and IL ia that now. IL Congress de-
sres to settle that question: let it proceed to do SOL
but let il be done its merits, and not part
of some general scheme. Let the negotiation, or
Legislation, which is TO adjust the quarrel, proceed
upon the facts of the particular case and not upon
the admission rejection of California. The fact,
therefore, that New Mexico Is under military gov
eminent, and that the Governor cannot interfere
in the contest between Texas and New Mexico,
does not strengthen, in the slightest degree, Mr..
Gays argument in behalf OF the compromising
scheme.
Mr.. Clay declares that the people of New Mexico
not capable Of governing themselves; and he
asserts that she will not, for many years TO come
have such population will make IL proper to
admit her State. "And YETI he says, "the
plan Of the President is TO leave this military gov
eminent under this lieutenant colonel in full opera
decI1 he does IN
that they have a very good government there now"
What ground Mr.. Clay has for thus directly inn
peaching the veracity Of General Taylor, he does
not State. He mentions no fact TO show that the
government of New Mexico is not adequate to their
wants-that il does not secure them abundantly and
fully in the enjoyment of life and Of property. He
cites none of the "evdence" which, as he alleges,
10 in opposition TO the declaration oil General lay
lor. He does not pretend that the people OF New
Mexico have no laws, that they are not well adj
ministered He docs not claim that murder, rob
berry, disregard Of private rights or OF private obi
cations, or anarchy misrule in any form, are
more prevalent in New Mexico than in other new
countries, furnished with government by the fede-
raj power. He does not pretend that they arc not
well protected against Indian invasion as they
would be under territorial government. The only
point upon which he dwells is, that they are not
protected against Tszas. Neither would they be ne
ccssariy, as we have already shown, If Congress
should give them territorial government, except
the adjustment Of the boundary should enter into
that arrangement; and this adjustment can be CT
fected just as well without such government as
with it..
Clay cxclaims, abiding 10 General Taylor's plan
"And yet they are to take OF themselves.
They have got Government good enough for
them
"Mr. President, that Is not my conception Of my
duty an American legislator. My duty tells me
10 perform what we have promised TO perform; my
duty tells me to extend TO this people in Utah and
New Mexico the benefits of that supreme authority
residing in the city OF Mexico which they bad when
they constituted part of the republic Of Mcxico
but which, when they came to US, we promised to
extend TO them from Washington, on our part
That is my conception of duty, and will under
take TO perform ii, If III cannot do it on
count OF the Wilmot proviso, II, ms the result OF
any other obstacle that may be thrown in the way,
] cannot accomplish what deem my duty, shall
stand acquitted in the sight of God and my own
conscience; shall be irreproachable as to any de-
liberate neglect, even IL fail in the attempt TO per-
form my duty"
Mr.. Clay erclains, "tbey have got government
good enough for them, in way calculated TO give
the impression that this is General Taylor's asser-
ton. lie could not have intended such an intima-
ton, for IL In not true. General Taylor has evinced
his estimate of the character OF the people of New
Mexico, by proposing TO allow them to frame a
Clay declares, in explicit terms, they arc not fit TO
do. Which OF the two positions evinces most re-
spect for the people Of New Mexico, we need not
say.
quirc the immediate admission Of California az dis
tinct and independent measure. Why is Mr.. Clay
not equally resolute in performing that duty, f he
CAMP Why does he not call upon Congress 10 dis
charge that solemn obligation, and extend TO the peo
pie ofCslfornia the benefits Of the American Unioni
He has told us why: because there obstacles in
the wsy;" portion Of the South is opposed TO IT,,