The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-20

proceeded to prove. If Mr. Rabbit were ad-
mitted under existing circumstances, he held that
the Supreme Court of the United States, on any
case coming up, in which the rights of party
depended on the question, whether so admitting
him did not recognize the force of laws in Deseret,
the court would affirm that recognition.
Mr.. w. further contended, that so far as the
House knew, the whole people of Deseret had
moi participated in sending Mr.. Rabbit here. That
was the act Of the Mormons alone, in which the
Mexican population in that region had not parti-
cipated. He argued, further, that the treaty Of
Guadalupe Hidalgo was, in this connection, only
for the benefit of the Mexicans in that territory
Now, this fact settled the point that those sending
Mr.. Rabbit here, came before the House without
treaty guarantees in their favor, and in derogaton
Of the rights Of those who could alone claim the
validity of such guarantees in their favor. These
Mormons were recent emigrants who had settled
on the southern border Of the Salt Lake. There
was no determining who were people politically,
save by reference to fixed geographical limits.
III those the southern border of this lake might
rghtfully claim to be people, surely those on the
north border of the same lake might next come to
the House claiming to be another people. Under
this rule the inhabitants Of each county of Virginia
might claim to be separately represented here; and
after this fashion one hundred and fifty States
might be added to the Union in a trice. Thus,
carrying out this principle to its utmost limits,
each man would become political sovereign; or,
in other words, as free from all law as the buffalo
of the Rocky Mountains. He insisted that it was
necessary that political rights of communities
should be defined by geographical limits. If this
were not done, the result would be that every
man would be left free to regulate himself under
the impulses Of his own voltion.
Mr.. EVANS, of Maryland, urged that the
applying delegate should not be admitted, on the
ground that snch action might delay the formation
Of proper territorial government for Utah.
MIR. BROWN, of Mississippi, said he had ia
ken no part in the debates on the question Of adj
hitting the delegate from New Mexico, nor did he
intend to participate in this discussion at any
great length.
The honorable gentleman from Tennessee, Mr..
GENTRY had announced the principle which had
governed his vote in favor of Mr. Smith, as a
delegate from New Mexico, and had informed us
that he should govern himself by the same princ-
pie in voting for Mr.. Rabbit, the delegate from
Deseret. To the correctness Of the honorable
gentleman's theory, Mr.. B. made no sort Of OBJ
lection, and il the theory was applicable to the
matter in hand he should be found voting with
the gentleman from Tennessee
The honorable gentleman says, it is part of the
early theory of our Government, that, whenever
you govern people, you should grant them re-
presentation. No one could mistake the meaning
of the gentleman. He meant to assimilate this
to that of our colonial forefathers, and to as
sumo that, as they complained with justice of the
British crown for governing them without giving
them representation, the people in New Mexico
and Deseret may justly make the same complaint
of us. The Colonies ioere governed The crown
gatherers. 1t required the acts Of their local legis-
latures to be sent home for approval. 1t governed
them with most despotic sway; but do we govern
New Mexico and Deseret' How, sir, in what
manner have we governed these territories, We
have steadily refused them all governments. The
agis of our protection has not been extended over
them. We have sent them neither governors,
secretaries, judges, or tax-gatherers. We have
taken no cognizance of them, or OF their condi-
ton. This state Of things ought not so long to
have existed. 1t was the solemn duty of Con-
gress to have taken these people under its care
to have extended over them the shield of the Con
stitution-to have given them laws and Govern
mena. 1t was reproach to Congress that all
this had been neglected or refused. He, Mr.. b.,
took his due share of this general reproach. 1t
bad been the misfortune Of himself and Of others,
proper to be granted. 1t had been the misfortune
Of the people who were now seeking this informal
admission on the floor Of Congress, that these
differences Of opinion existed. But were we on
that account to set all precedent at Defiance disre
gard the law and trarnple the principles Of the
Constitution under FOOT He could not agree to
this; he stood ready now as he had stood from
the beginning to vote a proper republican form of
government to these territories-to fix for them
proper metes and bounds, and this being done, he
should vote for the admission Of delegates from
each.
Mr.. B. said he dsclaimed all sectional feelings
in the votes he was giving. He had taken ground
against the admission Of Mr.. Smith when he
avowed himself jealous pro-slavery advocate
He based his opposition then, as now, on the
ground that the laws Of the United States and the
Constitution had not been extended over the
Territory, that no territorial government had
been established, that nothing had been done
which gave to New Mexico any legal right to
have her delegate on the floor of Congress.
When Mr.. Smith changed his position and to