The southern press., 1850-09-03

On the PfOceedfugS OF me EEecuLipe an CdLy0r-
mia and Neo Merico, dslisered in The House Of
Representatives, Wednesday, August II, 1850.
The House being in Committee of the Whole
on the report Of the Committee on Elections
in the case Of the application of II. N. SMITH
to be admitted to a seat in the House as
Delegate from New Mexico.
Mr. BAYLY said
Mr. CHAIRMAN: had not designed to take
part in this debate until heard the speech of
the gentleman from Indiana, Mr.. McGAUGHEY.1
He said that the question of the admission of
the Delegate from New Mexico was one of but
little consequence to any one but himself; for
that she had formed constitution and would
shortly apply for admission, and would be ad-
mitted into the Union as State That gentle
man, it is known, does not speak entirely with
out authority of the party with which he acts
BESIDES this there are other indications, not to
be mistaken, OF the existence of the purpose to
which he al!udes. Coming events cast their
shadows before" and it is certain that ere the
end of this Congress is reached an effort will be
made, by a powerful party in it, to bring New
Mexico into this Union upon an equal footing
with the other States and, unless it be arrested
by public opinion, it will be successful. de-
sire to meet it " in Iimine" upon the first oc-
spectacle quarter; and venture to say, that if
it shall be consummated it will be one Of the
grossest outrages, and most fagrant violations
Of the Constitution, which has ever been perpe-
tratcd. But before proceed to establish this
desire to say word or two in relation to the
course which the party in power has pursued
with respect to our Territories shall say no
more OF it in California than is necessary to H.
luStrate my argument concerning New Mexico
for it has been so thoroughly discussed already
that | nm sure should be listened to with very
little patience if were to attempt to 90 over
the whole ground again.
Sir, from the close of the last session of Con-
gress to this time, not one step has been taken V
the Administration with respect to California and
New Mexico, in which the Constitution and laws
have not been trampled under foot. Its course
has greatly added to and complicated the embar-
rassments and difficulties by which we are sur
rounded. 1t has been the prolific fountain which
has swelled the bitter waters that are spreading
through the land. But the party necessity for
the coul sc which has been pursued had its origin
prior to the time to which refer. 1t originated
in the course which the Wing party saw fit to
pursue in the Presidential canvass of lS4S. In
that canvass the subject of slavery in the Terrific
res, and the course which should be taken upon
it, was the all absorbing issue. Yet the Wing
party ran C. nddate no refused to MAKE de-
claration of his opinions concerning it; who was
held up at the North as the friend of the Wilmot
Proviso, and 1T the South as its most reliable CD
ponent He was voted for in the two sections
undr the influence of these Inconsistent repre-
sentations of his opinions. He was elected, and
went into office under diverse expectations by
his friends ofthc course he would pursue. Under
t!est circumstances, it was evident, if he was
ever brought to act directly upon the su ject, thet
one section or the order would be grevouslv
disappointed, and fatal party rupture would en-
sue. TO avoid this, it was necessary that some
plan should be hit upon by which the issue could
he evaded and that plan was found in the
scheme to induce the inhabitants of the Terri
tories to form Constitutions containing slavery
prohibition, and apply for admission into tie
Union rs States.
1t is true that ut the last session of Congress,
gentleman, now a mem ber of the Cabinet, (Alr
Preston,) proposed Il bill providing for the ad
mission OF our Territories acquired from Mexico
as Il State; that the Wilmot Proviso was put
upon it; and it was thus made Identical in sub
stance with the present constitution Of Caliror
MA and that in this shape it did not receive
solitary vote in the House of Representatives 4
1T was unanimously condemned by Congress,
to whom it is conceded the power of organ
king governments for our Territories, in the
first instance belongs. But what did that weigh
with men more intent upon cxtrcating them.
selves than their country from difficulties! They
saw no other escape than the plan they pro-
posed. They supposed by the exercise of En-
ccutive patronage; by the outcry they could
raise about the derection of duty Oh the part
of Congress, i'll not providing governments for
the Territories, and the necessity for them and
above all, by the sympathy Of the North elected
for the provision excluding slavery, they could
carry their scheme through, and thus evade the
issue of the Wilmot ProvisO. 1t was we'll un-
drrsood in California, and IN effort was made
to resist it, but the Administration proved too
strong.x
'"Mr. SEMrLE, president oft Convention
feel under some obligation to repeat conversa-
tion which has direct bearing upon this matter
There is distinguished member OF fCongress, who
holds his seat from one of the States of the Union
now in California. With desire to obtain all
the information possible in relation to the state of
things on the other side Of the mountains | asked
him what was the desire Of the people in Congress
observed to him that it not the desire OF the |
people Of California to take larger boundary than
the Sierra Nevada, and that we would prefer not
embracing within our limits this desert waste to
the east. His reply was 'For Gods sake, leave
us no territory to legislate upon in Congress- lie
Went on 10 state tnell tnat the great Object ~
formation Of State government TO avoid further
legislaiion; there would be no question as to our
admission by adopting this course; and that all
subjects Of minor importance could afterwards be |
settled. think it my duty to impart this infor-
nation to the Convention. The conversation took
place between Mr.. Thomas Butler King and my
self. "-Debafes, 1884,
Speaking of this communication, Mr.. Shannon
says, debates, 19l y
"Ihe chief argument which has been urged in
favor of the extreme boundary has been, not as to
the necessity, not the convenience not the benefit
to be derived from it, the necessity Of incud-
ing it, but the probability Of It's passing the Con-
gress Of the United States, and the authority of
gentleman from Congress, that, if such propo-
sition was adopted, it would pass. Sir, claim
for the dignity of the new State Of California that
all dictaton Of this kind should not receive very
favorable reception in this House; that we should
not listen to the propositions Of gentlemen in this
matter, however high their characters at home,
who shall come here and say to this Convention
Gentlemen, pass such and such boundaries for the
State Of California, and YOU will probably he able