The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-07
DAILY.
I: WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 7, 1850.

will give satisfaction to nine-tenths of the people of
the South. Judging by the evidences around me-
fear he is sadly mistaken Sir, repeat that can
not be persuaded that the existing agitation, North
South in relation to these Territories will cease
upon the adoption of this measure. Sir there is
some danger that il will become more s5rious, and
that this compromise, as IT Is called, may not onl
fail to heal this of the bleeding wounds SO eo-
qucntly depicted by the Senator from Kentucky,
but that it will not even stanch it.
Sir, in regard to this measure, taken a whole,
my fears are, that, though it may heal the surface
these wounds, which are now described us open
and bleeding, will continue to tester within until
the vital parts OF the system arc seriously af-
| fectcd.
But in reference to New Mexico, while, in nv
judgment fears may be justly entertained that
the remedy proposed by this bill will prove abor-
tive the plan of the President would heal this one
of the bleeding wounds of the country Admit
New Mexico State, or provide for it's adnis-
sion at some future day. and after Texas shall have
acceded to settlement of her boundary, though
there may be some increased excitement at the
South for time, will soon pass away, and all
vii. be permanently quiet. If slave labor shall be
found to be profitable. slavery would find its
way there, and the North would longer have
| the power TO forbid it.
MIR. DowSs ! should like to know how slavery
could be carried into New Mexico with every per-
son voting to prohibit carrying slaves there,
Mr.. BELL. have given my views briefly upon
this point in my preceding remarks. The true in
terest Of the South, i concluded more than a year
ago, was to admit these Territories into the Union
as States. The same reasons for this policy apply
to both New Mexico and California. If the last
Congress had either admitted California a State
| or authorized her inhabitants to form State
| stituion at a subsequent day, and to be admitted
| upon the proclamation OF the President, the ques
ton Of slavery would have been decided by the peo
pie, uniniuenced by any apprehension of the power
| and sentiment of the North. The question would
have been beyond the control of Congress There
is no settled repugnance to slavery among the in
habit Cali ha (ol
mia go there with no fixed sentiment upon this sub
ject 1t is nterest-pecuniary intcrest-that impels
the tide of emigration to that Territory; and the
moment it should be found that slavery could be
Protitably employed in the rich and inexhausiible
gold mines, the constitution would take the form
these interests demanded. 1t is interest alone that
carries slavery anywhere. If California were to-
day admitted State, the prospect of introducing
slaves would be far more favorable than il could be
under territorial government in the form pro-
posed by this bill. Nor is there any such settled
sentiment opposed to slavery among the inhabi
| tants of New Mexico that might not and would not
be overcome, if, by the discovery of rich mines of
gold in her territories slave labor should be wanted
there.
| Mr.. President in pursuing the contrast between
the plan of the Committee Of Thirteen and that Of
the President, the next point of difference between
them which has been pointed out and proclaimed
to the country by the distinguished Senator'S from
| Kentucky and Michigan, and by them dwelt upon
with great emphasis and confidence evidence Of
the vast superiority of the plan of the committee,
Isl that the plan of the President proposes 10 leave
the people of New Mexico at the mercy of a militia
! ry government, a lieutenant colonel, /" and with
out the protection of a regularly organized civil
| government. Now, without undertaking to repeat
all the terms and forms u rcproach and denunca-
ton, OF rldiculc and scorn, with which the plan OF
the President has been met and objected by these
gentlemen, undertake to say that the grosses in
justice has been done to the President upon this
point; and that there has been the grosses pcrver.
sion of fact however unintentiona, in relation both
to the character of the government in operation in
New Mexico, and to the policy OF the President.
have before adverted TO the manner in which the
Senator from Kentucky treated this part of the sub
ject. The Senator from Michigan has signalized
his preference for the plan of the committee, and
his opposition TO the views of the President, in a
manner not less un just and extraordinary. They
both concur in denouncing the policy of the Pres-
dent as ''n0g- action policy" The Senator from
Michigan says: What glorious and brilliant
triumph it would be for an administration to tri-
umph III doing nothing" What genius, what ca
pacity, what statesmanshp would be thus illus
tratcd in the policy of ''doing nothing
Mr.. DAVE, of Massachusetts. "hlaserly inac-
! tiyity."
Mr.. BELL. Yes, the policy of 'masterly mac
tiyity;" the policy OF continuing for an indefinite
period an arbitrary and odious military domina-
tion over these people. II these honorable gentle
men could divest themselves of the bias which their
preference for favorite policy of their
poses them to, and would subject the plan OF the
President TO the test of reason OF true and fair con-
sderation, they could not proclaim these sentiments
wv NS'J N'io4S''hNJ WIN NhS' N"'' ''B'
characters
Now, what is the truth in regard TO the Presi-
dents plan? The only fair objection which can be
taken to the policy of tho President is that proposes
eIcesSire action. Instead of being plan of mon
acfon," II Is rather plan OF action. That IL
an objection that might be urged with some JUS
tcc and plausibility. Honorable Senators say that
the President proposes to leave these people with
out the protection of civil government and TO the
tender mercies Of military authority. ii their inn
petuous feelings would allow them to reflect, they
would see that the President proposes the protec-
uun OF "A more rigorous civil government than the
one recommended by the committee And tins Is
no aiterthought OF mine; the President, in his mes
sage on this subject, expressly states that New
Mexico may be expected soon TO apply for admis-
sion into the Union State;'' and it is fairly
within the scope and intention Of his policy that
Congress should forthwith authorize the inhabitants
TO form State constitution, and be admitted INTO
the Union as State whenever Texas shall have
agreed 10 a settlement of her boundary. IL Is not
true, therefore, that the Presidents policy Is one OF
"nOn- GctiOn;" nor is ii true that 1t proposes TO
leave the inhabitants Of New Mexico at the mercy
OF an arbitrary military government. The policy
OF the President is to dispense with military gov
crnment by the admission Of New Mexico as
State; which can be as readily accomplished as
by Territorial government. The true merits OF
the Presidents policy, the true genius, sagacity,
and statesmanship displayed in II, consist not IN
"non- action - but in closing up eflectually and
forever this one of the bleeding wounds OF the
country; In violating no principle OF the Consutu-
tion, giving these people the privilege Of determn-
ing the question OF slavery for Themselves, and in
giving permanent peace and harmony to the coun-
try.
This military governmental in New Mexico has re-
cevcd a very bad name. We have had so many
perversons of its true nature and character, that
doubt very much whether the people OF New Mexico
would recognise the government spoken OF here as
the same that actually exists there. What is the
government that actually exists there at this mo-
mcnt IL Is IA cirii government, the same cstab-
shed by General kcarny, during the war, and
continued under the sanction Of the present Admin
istration. The civil and municipal ofAces are the
same; filled, as understand, by the same incum-
bonts and conforming az lar as possible TO the
municipal laws of the Territory before the treaty OF
cesson. They have their projects OF counties, their
alcaldcs Justices Of the peace in the several dis
tricts and their courts and judges in the last
sort. Since listened to the uumeasured denunci-
ati6n by honorable Senators Of the military sway
in New Mexico, have made particular inquiry into
the nature and extent ofthe authority exercised by
the military in that Territory, and can hear of nc
instance in which the military has interlercd with
the regular administration Of the laws by the pro.
per civil officers. Although the intelligent dele
gate from that Territory in this city has remon-
strated against the continuation of the military
thority, yet, after full inquiry, could hear of nc
pftb m of he