Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-02-13

lous district of the territory commonly desig-
mated by the name of New Mexico. If the
people of New Mexico had formed plan of
state government for that territory, as ceded by
the treatv of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and had been
admitted by Congress as state, our constitu.
ton would have afforded the means of obtain
ing an adjustment of the question of boundary
with Texas bya judicial decision. AT present,
however, no Judicial tribunal has the power of
deciding that question, and it remains for Con-
gress to devise some mode for its adjustment.
Meanwhile, submit to Congress the question,
would it be expedient, before such adjustment,
to establish territorial government, which, by
including the district so claimed, would practi.
cally decide the question adversely to the state
OF Texas, or by excluding it, would decide it in
her favor. IN my opinion, sueh a course would
not be expedient, espeeisly as the people of
this territory still enjoy the benefit and protec-
ton of their municipal laws, originally derived
from Mexico, and have military force stationed
there to protect them against the Indians. It
IS undoubtedly true that the property, lives, IL
berties, and religion Of the people of New Mex
leo are better protected than they ever were be-
fore the treaty ofcession. g.s''s r,s.ys..r.,~.
Should Congress, when California shall pre-
sent herself for incorporation into the Union,
annex condition to her admission as = state.
affecting her domestic institutions contrary to
the wishes OF her people, and even compel her
temporarily to comply with it, yet the state.
could change her constitution at any time after
the admission, when to her 1t should seem ex-
pedient. Any attempt to deny to the people Of
the state the right Of selfgovernment, in q
matter which peculiarly affects themselves, will
lnfallibly be regarded BY them as an invasion Of
their rights; and upon the principles laid down
in our own Declaration of Independence, they
will certainly be sustained by the great mass Of
the American people. To assert that they are
conquered people, and must as o state, sub
NIT to the will Of their conquerors, in this re-
gard, will meet with no cordial response among
American treemen. Great numbers of them
are native citizens of the United States, and
not lnferior-to the rest Of our countlymen, in
Intelligence and patriotism; and no language Of
menace to restrain them in the exercise Of an
undoubted right, substantially guaranteed to-
them by the treaty Of cession ITSELF shalleve be
uttered by me, o. encouraged or sustained by
persons acting under my authority. It is to be
expected that, in the residue Of the territory
ceded tous by Mexico, the people residing there
whi, at the time Of their Incorporation into the
Union as q state, settle all questions of do
-. =.
mestlc policy to suit themselves.
No material Inconvenience will result from
the want, for short period, of a government
established BY Congress over TINT part. Of the
territory which lies eastward of the new state
Of California, and he9reasons for my opinion
that New Mexico will at no very distant period
ask for admission into the Union, are founded
on unofficial information, which l suppose is
common to all who have cared to make inquir-
les on that subject. .'21's = ''.5'" sA ,f's'
Seeing, then, that the question which now
excites such painful sensations in the country,
will in the end certainly be settled hy, the ii.
lent effect Of causes Independent Of the action
of Congress, | again submit to your wisdom
the policy recommended in my annual message
OF awaiting the salutasy operation of, those
causes, believing that we shall thus avoid the
creation Of geographical PORTE J, and secure the
harmony OF feeling sonecessary to the benefi-
cial actiorl Of our political system Connected,
~ the Union is, with the remembrance of past
happiness, the sense Of present blessngs, and
the hope Of future peace and prosperity, every
dictate OF wisdom, every feeling Of duty, and
every emotion Of patriotism, tend to inspire
fidelity and devotion to il, and. adnonish us
cautiously to avoid any unnecessary controyer-
~ which can either endanger il Of. impair ,its
strength, the chief element Of which is to be
found in the regard and affection Of the people
for each other. 7aa b z. TAYLOR q