The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-23

ftues IN the C0DMtHee q Inc Uh0fe ON IN
state Of the Union. bs M IS aa3
Mr. CHAmMAs: should deeply regret the
admission of the applicant upon this floor, rs 4
delegate from New Mexico, not so much from
any bearing it would have upon the question Of
the boundary Of Texas, as the effect it will inev
itably produce on public feeling in that State
i cannot doubt, that it would at once put an enc
to all hope of adjusting the present controversy
with Texas by negotiation or compact. 1t would
be regarded by all parties there as an act Of un'
necessary hostility and aggression by this Gov.
ernment. The public mind in Texas, as is well
known, is already greatly excited and infiamed
by the treatment which her commissioner re-
Gently met with in Santa Fe, in his efforts to or
ganize that country under the laws and jurisdic.
ton ofthe State Public meetings have beencalled
in various sections of that country, which exhibit
the most settled determination to enforce the
rights of the State, about the justice OF which as
against this Government, none OF its citizens
entertain the slightest doubt. The latest intel
ligence assures us, that special session OF the
Legislature viii probably be called, and that the
most energetic measures will be resorted to to
bring into exertionthe whole power of the State
to maintain it's jurisdiction. 91aF Eiaaa
1 feel it my duty to make known, that the
last mail from Galveston, brought enclosed to
me demand from the Governor of Texas,
upon the Executive Of this Government, to learn
whether the course of Col Munroe in calling a
Convention in Santa Fe to form State govern
ment, embracing large portion of the country
claimed by Texas on the east of the Rio Grande,
was by the authority of, or met with the appro,
baton Of the Executive Of the United States.
i have enclosed this demand to the President
with the purpose of learning whether this action
in New Mexico is appreciated by this Govern
ment and whether Texas is to be resisted by
the military force of the United States in the
enforcement of her jurisdiction in any portion of
the country claimed by her on the east bank of
the Rio Grande. In the event of an avowal by
the President of the action of Col. Munroe, /
am instructed to present formal protest to the
Executive, forwarded by the Governor Of Texas
for that purpose "a
Mr.. BURT, with the permission Of the gentle
man from Texas desired to ask if any response
to this communication had been returned BY the
President! - 4,8i8
Mr.. HOWARD. No answer has vet been
received, owing no doubt to recent public occur
rences, with which the House is familiar In
deed, there has as yet scarcely been time for an
answer; but have reason to anticipate an early
reply
j am incapable, Mr.. Chairman, of stating
these things in any threatening sense Such q
course on my part would be unauthorized, and
would be doing injustice to the State which l,
in part, represent in this House. | make these
statements with no other view than that of
showing to the Committee and the country the
actual state of public sentiment in Texas on
this very perplexing subject Of boundary. |
have on former occasion stated to the House,
that resolutions were, at its last session. intro
duced into the Legislature Of Texas, requiring
its delegation on this floor to withdraw from
their Seats in case this so called delegate from
Santa Fe was admitted to a seat These reso-
lutions were not adopted, owing to firm con-
viction that the House of Representatives of the
United States had too high sense of justice
and propriety to adopt such measure. The
Committee will, therefore, Judge of the proba-
bic effect on public feeling in Texas, Of the re-
ception Of Mr.. Smith here at the present juno
ture. It would be regarded by her whole popu-
lation as adding an insult to wanton disregard
of the rights Of the State.
Sir, must not be regarded as indulging
either in the language of menace or boast, when
say to you and the country, that people,
who have slept upon their arms for twenty years,
amid many perils, are not likely to submit tame
ly to what they consider an outrage upon their
rights and honor, be the consequences what
they may.
When all the circumstances are considered,
the opposition of the State Of Texas to these
proceedings in Santa Fe, cannot be considered
unreasonable or extraordinary. The reception
of this delegate would be a practical recognition
of the Territorial government established in
Santa Fe by an unauthorized convention Of a
r. I1oI
lamation Of Col. Beale, of the United States
army.
1t is well known fact, that the population
of New Mexico proper, which, as Texas insists
is on the west side of the Rio Grande, does not
amount to ten thousand It is composed mainly
of Pueblo Indians, of a very low grade in the
scale Of civilization. 7 la
This movement for Territorial, and subse-
quently for State government, has been gotten
up within the State of Texas. The credentials
Of Mr.. Smith and the plan of government ac-
companying them, show on their face that the
Convention was holden in Santa Fe and ma
jOrity of the delegates were elected by the peo-
pie east of the Rio Grande The House of
Representatives is as much bound to take official
notice of civil and geographical divisions, as the
courts of the country are held to judicial notice
of them. Besides the map accompanying the
treaty with Mexico, and made part of it, shows
the country on the west bank of the Rio Grande
to be New Mexico, and that on the east to be
within the limits of Texas. This map was COM
municated to the House in special message in
July, l84S, as stated by the gentleman from
Georgia, (Mr. Stephens) as showing the true
boundary between New Mexico and Texas
The map of Com. Young of the General Land
Office OF 1S48, published by order of Congress
after the treaty, exhibits the same demarcations.
All the ALIASES published in this country since,
that have fallen under my observation, present
the same boundary. | assume it then as a fact
which can not be contested, that the House
knows officially, that the whole proceeding by
which Mr.. Smith claims, was had within the
limits of Texas, as she asserts them, and as they
have been recognized by this government, what
ever may be the legal effect OF that recognition.
This territorial organization, therefore, Texas
declares with reason is in opposition to her laws
and jurisdiction, and an act Of sediton and revo-
luton, which will under her Constitution amount
TO treason, if supported by force. The Consti-
IF fheI ted - .,<,, 70