The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-25

should Texas get possession OF these 1our degrees
Of what is now New Mexican territory, slavery
viii exist, as far up as the old southern boundary
| line of New Mexico, by virtue Of the laws OF
Texas; but beyond this line, although within
the bounds of Texas, it will not exist, because
forbidden by the "will of Godp Hence the ex-
| traordinary spectacle will be exhibited, of the
| existence Of slavery coming plump up to the
south side Of an imaginary line, by the laws OF
Texas, while on the north side Of the said imagi-
nary line, its existence will be cut square off by
the will Of God y although both sides are with
in the same political jurisdiction. This will be
a miracle, compared with which the supposed mi
raculous preservation of the Jewish feature and
complexion, for two thousand years, will be I'M
worthy to be mentioned 1t remains to be seen,
however whether this miracle will be vouchsafed
to Mr.. Webster, as proof of the Divine favor.
Onthe 5th Of June, Mr. Webster voted against
Incorporating the "Proviso" into the Govern
ments for New Mexico aud Utah, because slavery
was already prohibited there by Asiatic scene
ry" and the law of physical geography" On
the next day, too, he voted against the following
amendment offered by Mr.. Walker: "And that
peon servitude is forever abolished and prohib-
jtA3 u Whatbor BIO ynta5 hAransA tbia snanjes
present time) was prohibited by sceaeryp ana
| geography" does not appear.
Dut VI Tue IUn Oh June, NIT, w eOsltT, III lnc
Senate, suggested qualification Of his doctrine
as laid down on the 7th Of March, viz: that
"every foot of territory of the United States
has fixed character for slavery" An uncer-
tainty as to the boundary line between New
Mexico and Texas, gave rise to this qualification.
Let me say to gentlemen said Mr. w ebster,
q that if any portion which they or I do not be-
leve to be Texas, should be considered to become
| Texas, then, so far, that qualification of my re-
mark is applicable"--fCo Globs, 3ist Cong, LIST
sess, p. 1891 That is, if the Compromise bill
should so establish the boundary line between
New Mexico and Texas, as that "any portion
[of New Mexico which they or Iother gentle
men or Mr. Webster, do not believe to be Texas,
should be considered TO become Texas,n then, As
Texan territory, it might lose its fixed charac-
ter" and become slave territory, Notwithstanding
the Ordinance Of Naturen and the "will of
GodD But, strange to say, on this same 18th of
June, the Kennebec letter was written, which
carries the southern boundary Of Mexico on the
east side Of the Rio Grande, four degrees below
Ell Psso, and, of course, includes all that region
within New Mexico and therefore within the
E" ordinance of Nature and the "will of God p
So that, after ell, he acknowledges that the or
dinance Of Nature and the will of Godn may
be overridden by the laws Of Texas
But his citation of authorities is among the
most surprising Of all his alterations from fact
He first quotes Major Gaines, Who as he says,
"traversed part Of this country during the
Mexican war; By "this country ! suppose
he means New Mexico IL he does not mean
New Mexico, then the citation has no relation to
the subject II he does mean New Mexico, then
he asserts what is not true. Major Gaines did
not 20 within four or five hundred miles Of
New Mexico, during the war and if the quota
ton from him was designed to create the belief
hat ~, hat Ma,or 10; oa;d Ia
of New Mexico, it was as gross an imposition as
could well be made
The next citation is from Colonel Hardin. Two
sentences are taken. | transcribe the first with
Mr.. Webster's italics.
The wlole country nseraby icafered large districts
hare sctsr at all The streams small and at great
distances aparf One day We marched on the road from
Moncova to Parras hirfyfr miles, chout Uaj pretty
severe days march for infantry"
And what country does this describe
From Monclova to Parras, thirty-fve milesw
says Colonel Hardin. And where is Monclova ?
Away down south in Coahuila, hundreds of miles
from any part Of New Mexico
| submit the following notes, one from the
Colonel of the regiment in which Mr. Gaines
was a major; and the other from major in the
regiment of which Mr.. Hardin was Colonel
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,, June 81, 1850.
In reply your this date thst Major
part Of New Mexico Major Gaines enterd Mexico Ca
msrgo the Rio Grsnde engaged saltllo until
he returned to the United States way Of Vera Cruz
HuMPHREY MARSHALL.
Ps In reply to your verbal inquiry, whether Colonel
attached Gener.l WOODS command passed
San Antonio de Bexar the Preside de Rio Grande Mon
clova and Psrras to Sato that he did not enter New
Mexico Fl. nj.
Hon H. Mann.
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,, June 2s, 1850.
SIR reply yonr note of this date have the honor to
say, that was officer Of the First Regiment Illinois
Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Hardin during the
Mexican aud that during the time Colonel Hardin
In command Of the regiment he not in New Mexico.
His nearest point Mexico Monelova Parras
which several hundred miles distant In my opinion,
Colone Hardin in New Mexico; he certainly
not in that country during the Mexican war
Respectfully, WA. RICHARDSON.
Now what possible excuse can be offered for
these misleading citations? What information
would be given Of the soil of the Genesee valley
of New York, by proving the condition of the
sands of Cape Cod
Mr. Webster next quotes, for the second time
the letter Of Hugh N. Smith, Esq This letter,
if taken by itself, would render il improbable, in
Mr.. Smiths opinion, that slavery would 60 into
New Mexico but it by no means proves the
ply steal impossibilty of its existence there But
what different language has Mr.. Smith since held
ia his Address to his constituents will quote
a few passages from this Address to show it's gen.
eral drift and intent
"Your State New Mexico is threatened with dsmember-
ment and ioha is yet fatal the tr oduciion Of sa
pery into lis bosomh-PageL
THE most formidable part of against You
Is that which originates in the slave interest II only
rallies against you the whole South bnt ali the
influence Of selfsh venal and ambitious In the North
locking specnstions in discredted bonds job
bling, to the political honors Uhlc the combined rofs Of
the SoufhS ma rofni<e -
1.-THE doctrine Of the saveholdns States in regard to
their domestic institutions Is intervention but with
regard to yours 1t Is instant err eton set at nong
the prohibition Of slavery which yen brought with you
the Union,n &c.-Ib.
al am myssfa native of the section mr. Smith Ken
tuckianI whose fate deplore, and If my duty did
require would be the last TO advert to the malay that
prsys upon its life The schemes of those who
would bind You the destiny Of the slave States render
necessary that your should
the Halls Of Congress."-Page3
You len PROSTATE, that Teras may dismernber and
bride Ner Merco, and subject her 10 Southern influence
that negro slavery may be introduced into the remnant Of
territory that may not be appropriated TO Teras and
finally hat The rsgion thus secured TO Southern policy may
become the stock rhh 10 graf oonques from Mer
icon- Pages. These are MIR. Smiths talicsI
The frat step in this process to snppant the fand.
mental municipal Institutions brought bv New Mexico with
her into the Union, by Territorial Government which, by
emitting the inhibition against slavery in the Congressional
act falling to reserve in Mexican code
and people the Territory from legslang
upon he subject OF slavery and from renacng the pro
hbtory cause will unqnestion bly, abolish all projections
against that institution; and indeed, e6ectua egisa
ton for the Of slavery into New Mexico could not
be enactedn-Pags5
"The whole body Of Southern influence that mining
Ia mania would combine to poar Immense colony OF
saves into New Mexico The consequence Of this would be
~ level the whole population Of New Mexico With the
caste brought into compsfiicn and you my Mexican fellow
citizens who till your soil with your hands would
be compelled TO fly country be degraded from your
equality Of reemen FORGETTING your hopes Of rising the
eevao, promised alliance with the great North
American Republic and living only witness the ruin Of
all that renders life desirable Puget.
This is what MIR. Smith says, when he writes
home to his own people, who know all about their
own country, and its danger Of being invaded by
slavery.