Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-03

pleasure. twill be question of some interest
| to the public, who wrote the article? We pre-
sumo the Unions censure cannot fail to draw HIM
| out. We have before adverted to coincidence
| between the positions of the article and those OF
Mr.. Robert G. SCOTS recent letter. The resem-
blance is the more striking because both commit
the error of treating the 32d degree OF latitude as
. the proposed Northern boundary OF Texas. But
| it is very possible that Mr.. Scott may have have
derived his misconception from the Enquirers ar
| tcle.
Operation of the Presidents Plan in regard to
Ne1o Merico.
The plan, of settling the slavery question, re-
commended by the President, and now rashy
pressed upon Congress by the Cabinet, has a two
fold aspect.
In one view, we are told that the South ought to
be content if Congress decline 70 give govern
ments to the Territories, for thus the Free Soil
issue would be avoided. When those, who OBJ
ject to the plan, urge that the Territories, left I'M
provided for in this manner, will be bones Of
tional contention so long as they are Territories;
that the Free Sellers will not be bound by the
Presidents recommendation, but will bring up the
Wmot Proviso in Congress at every opportunity,
and keep Free Soil party rallied upon it in the
North; and further, that Congress is solemny
bound, in justice to the people of the Territories,
and by the express stipulations of the treaty with
Mexico, to provide them with governments
when these incontrovertible arguments are pre-
sented they are answered with the other aspect of
the policy which is in fact the most important, be-
cause most relied on, and it is this: The Presi-
dents scheme contemplate the admission Of the
Territories as Slaies, Immediately upon their ap-
plication. And we are told that these new States
will be competent to decide the slavery question
for themselves, without giving offence to South
| North. In the special message, known as the Ca
lfornia message, Congress was advised that both
California and New Merico were expected shortly
to forward their State constitutions for its sane
ton, and their admission as States was distinctly
recommended. New Mexico, however, disap-
pointed the Presidents expectation. After a full
canvass of the relative advantages of State and
Territorial form of government, her people wise
| w chose the latter. 1t would seem to have been
the rational conclusion from this event, that the
Presidents recommendation TO Congress should
be so far modified as to allow these people the in
ferior privileges which they preferred. But not
so. During a recent short visit to Washington
we learned that New Mexico, abandoned to most
ptiable condition, was still expected to send on a
State constitution before the end Of the present ses-
sion Of Congress-that being her only resort for
self protection. 1t is, we presume, in accordance
with this expectation, that it is argued against the
proposed arrangement of the Texas boundary by
the Compromise bill, that, under the Presidents
plan, the boundary question could be settled by
the Supreme Court in fifteen minutes Whilst
New Mexico is a Territory, she is not according
to Gen. Taylor, in his California message) COM
petent sutton in the Supreme Court. She must
become State in order to have her claim against
Texas adjusted by that tribunal. As Territory,
shorn of the privilege of asserting her rights, and
seeing the authorities of Texas steadily advancing
upon her, whilst her military governor, ap-
pointed under no law of Congress, stands with
his hands tied by instructions, she will be forced
to demand the privilege which she would gladly
eschew. To save herself from anarchy, from In.
the boon of becoming State, when she feels that
she is entirely unfit for that high condition. The
Cabinet policy dictates her immediate admission.
Now let us reflect upon the necessary results of
that measure.
New Mexico has become sovereign State of
the Union, and brings her boundary dispute be-
fore the Supreme Court. The Democratic states
r IL L. Al. IN
tied to all the country East of the Rio Grande,
from it's mouth to its source. Mr. Polk waged
the Mexican war upon that assumption. And
now, many, who considered the pretenson of Tex
as utterly worthless, Gncluding, we observe, the
Richmond Whig) hold that it has been made good
by the United States through the war and the
| treaty. All who adopt this view, and all who
sustained the claim of Texas from the first, must
expect the Supreme Court to decide adversely to
| New Mexico What then will be the condition of
things? Two thirds of the population, of what
is now known as New Mexico, will find that they
are citizens of Texas. Their capital, Santa Fe,
most of their towns, and most of their valuable
land, will be summarily turned over to the Texan
| authorities. But the most peculiar and most i'm
porant result will be, that the sovereign State of
New Mexico will recede beyond the Rio Grande,
and its civilized population cannot erceed fifteen or
ta0enty tho usand souls! And this is what is
gravely recommended to the South as being more
satisfactory than the organization of Territorial
government in New Mexico, without any restrc-
ton of slavery, with homogeneous limits conceded
by Texas, not violating the dignity of the old
States and all former precedents as an unfedged
State government would and bearing to the South
in its very establishment, the strongest assurances
of future tranquility
The retention of New Mexico and Utahin the
Territorial condition. without oovernment to