The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-03

The Republics defence is incomplete. II does
not meet that material part of the attack in which
Mr.. Clay charges that New Mexico neither in the
amount character Of its population, is qualified
to form State government and apply for admis-
sion into the Union. This charge is neither denied
nor answered. Again. no apology is made for the
government Of New Mexico by lieutenant colonel,
except the contemplated shortness of his reign; no
other provision suggested in case of her failure to
form n State government, to meet such a contin-
gency."-Albany State Register.
The amount" of the population of New Mex
leo is set down in Mr.. CLAWS speech at ninety
or hundred thousand. That material part"
of his attack therefore-material in the opin-
ion of the Registcr-having been met by Mr..
CLAY himself we did not think it necessary
for the completeness Of our 'sdefence" to ''meet"
it again.
As to the alleged want of moral and social
preparation on the part of the people of New
Mexico for admission into the Union as State,
giving that objection all the weight it is fairly
entitled to, the question is, whether, they are
undoubtedly prepared to comply with all g the
acquisitions Of the Constitution Of the United
States" in the formation of a State constitu-
tion, preparatory to their admission into the
Union as State, the interests of the whole
UfliOn will not be better subserved by that
course, than by the course proposed in the COM
promise plan? And as this question equally
applies to the objection that, during the interval
which must necessarily elapse before she can be
admitted into the Union, as State New MeXi-
co will be left under ''the military government"
50 reign" the Register has it. OF a Lieuten-
ant Colonel, we will consider that objection now.
The term military government as used by
Mr.. CLAY in this connection, may be understood
in sense very different from that which he in
tended. 1t may be understood as implying a
government, in the administration of which the
application Of the principles and practises Of
military Ia,D alone is Observed. Mr.. CLAY most
PROFESSIONALLY never meant to allege or insinu-
ate that the PRESIDENT proposed TO leave the
people of New Mexico under any such govern
ment as that But the Register improves upon
even the strong language of Mr. CLAY, and APP
pears, as will be seen by reference to the ex-
tract from its columns, which is placed at the
head of these remarks, TO understand the PRES
IDENT as having proposed 10 leave New Mexico
under the reign" of Lieutenant Colonel-a
term which is never applied TO the administra-
ton of an executive officer in this country,
but to kings and emperors And upon what
authority, we. beg leave respectfully to ask
the Register, does it 50 understand the Pres
IDENT? Is its authority that passage in his
message to Congress on the subject of Calfor-
| nia and Nau Maxico uharain aptar snooacti mn
for the reasons there mentioned the inexpediency
of establishing territorial government for
New Mexico, he adds, that, in his opinion, such
a course would not be expedient, especially as
the people this Territory still enjoy the benefit
and protection Of their municipal la,cs, original
! ly derired from .MericoY" What great hard
ship it would be to the people of New Mexico
to leave them. for such brief space as will be
requisite for them TO form a State constitu-
ton and be admitted into the Union as a
State, TO the enjoyment, benefit, and protec-
ton of their own municipal laws, originally
derived from Mexico, with Lieutenant Colo
mel of the army Of the United States who will
exercise the civil functions of Governor in the
manner and To the extent that they were for
merly exercised by Mexican governors, and
who will also be in command Of a sufficient
military force to protect them, as far as posi-
Bile. from the depredations and hostile incur
sions of the neighborng savages-what great
hardship, we say, it would be to the people of
| New Mexico 10 be governed in this manner for
short period, we profess 10 be wholly at
loss to conjecture. That any Lieutenant Co
lionel can be found in the army Of the United
States less qualified for the discharge of such
trust than any Mexican that ever filled the
Office. is not at all probable
But. granting that the people Of New Mexico
are subjected TO serious inconvenience from the
manner in which they are at present governed
they have il in their power to form State
constitution and to apply for admission into the
Union, as they have been recently recon-
mended TO do by their delegate who is now in
this city, without delay.
BE the Inconvenience, which they NAV in
the mean time labor under. what they NAV i.
and be their want Of moral and social prepare
ton as great as Mr. CLAY represents it to be,
what are these considerations in comparison
with those which 80 imperatvely demand a
speedy and final settlement of the distractnQ
question which agitates the country in refer
ence 10 the admission or the inhibition Of the
introduction Of slavery into this Territory
question whose agitation. il continued for one or
two years longer, may produce consequences
which, in the language Of Mr.. CLAY, mo man
can foresee." That the establishment by Con
gress Of a territorial government OF govern
ments over this Territory ,ciH be the means Of
continuing that agitation, there is abundant rea
son to believe. That the PRESIDENT prin-
ciple Of adjustment, on the contrary. if adopted
and carried out ,oiH give complete finality to
the question and restore permanent harmony
70 the country, no man can doubt. For that
reason we prefer the latter TO the former.
Great Britain and her Colonies.
The colonial policy Of Great Britain. always
an important part Of her political system, is be-