The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-19

ton Of delegates assembled At Santa 70, ON the ~.
day Of -, l549, representing themselves to be
the delegates Of the people Of New Mexico; and that
said n. N. Smith be allowed to address the Houso
all subjects referred " In the instructions given
him by the convention Aforesaid"
The honorable gentleman supported his amend
ment by . few remarks. Ho did not think Il right
that Mr. eInith should appear here In the usual
character Of delegate, but ~ an attorney, to car
ry out the will Of the convention.
MIR. SAVAGE was against the admission Of the
delegate. There was no law authorizing his cleo
ton. Ia the course Of his remarks, he said that
gentlemen on the other side had accused those on
this of stealing land from Mexicoi aud now these
same gentlemen want 70 steal portion of that very
Mr. JOHN A. KING said that the admission ola
delegate did not involve constitutional power
but was matter of which the House was to be the
Judge, having acquired the territory AZ part of
the United States II contained population of one
hundred thousand persons. Ii presented itself here
in different character from any other property.
The question appealed To the sense discretion, and
judgment Of the House.
Mr.. RICHARDSON said that every map coming
here as a delegate ought to be elected by the peo-
pie. He ought to be endorsed by them.
Mr.. CARTER inquired whether the convention
was not elected BY the people, to elect delegate!
Mr.. RICHARDSON did not care whether there
Mr.. Smith was elected by it, and not by the people
Of New Mexico whom he processes to represent.
Mr.. BUTLER, of Pennsylvania, called attention
to the fact that of the objects of the convention
was to elect a delegate TO Congress-
MIR. STRONG. To go to Washington to enforce
the suggestions of the convention, and to urge the
action Of Congress in their behalf
Mr.. BUTLER They sent delegate, and com
Inissioned MIR. Smith. The design was that he
might represent them in the thirty first Congress.
II had been asked, What New Mexico? He
would answer the question by asking, What is
Texas!
MIR. HOUSTON said, that the first delegate from
the Northwest Territory was sent here by con-
pention - William Henry Harrison, afterwards
ala IN thp Nf he Inite At He
the first entitled to seat on this floor del
egate. IA voice: In what year?l He did not speak
Of the year, but of the fact. He was admitted TO
seat by the indulgence of the House. Delegates are
no moro entitled to seats by the constitution than
the corps of reporters who occupy the desks are,
and who are admitted by the license of the
Speaker. They come in as the printers to the
House do, foreign ministers. or citizens--by
courtesy. A delegate Is not a representative, but
a nero agent TO superintend the interests of the
people Of the Territory, and make their wishes
MIR. JOHNSON, of Arkansas, said that Mr..
Smith was born and bred in the South, but he had
published pamphlet of a grossly abolition char
actcr, and, by this means, had drawn to him the
sympathy of u majority of this House He found
gentlemen going for Mr.. Smith for no other
than this. And he read from the Journal the
MIR. sibley, as the delegate from Minnesota, and
about to vote for Mr.. Smith
Mr. HOUSTON My purpose is to vote for the
admission Of the delegate.
did not read your name. tecl satisfied now that
gentlemen who change their ground should give
to the House and the country some good reason for
doing SO.
Mr. BISSELL simply wished to say two things,
which by no means would influence his vote. The
ntimation had just been made that Mr.. Smith is to
be introduced to his seat on abolition grounds.
MIR. JOHNSON. never said 30. Other gentle
men may vote for him for different considerations;
but say that there arc some who will vote for him
on that ground.
ri n Ii "A
be influenced by the charge, whether it was gene
raj or specific. Another thing the intimation that
it will lead to civil war would not influence his
vote, because he did not beievci If it had come to
this, that the admission of a delegate to speak,
with scarcely any of the privileges of q momber,
is TO endanger the Union, and embroi US in civil
war, the quicker we know it the better. The ad-
mission OF the delegate will not be attended by any
such consequences; and he did not believe that II
the delegate was admitted it would be by an abo-
lition movement. There great proprety in
admitting the delegate.
Mr.. SCHENCK, whose name was read by Mr.
johnson as having voted against the admission OF
MIR. Sbley, replied to that gentleman. BY what
process Of reasoning the gentleman could charac-
bic 70 determine. We then voted, said Mr.. s.,
against the delegate (Mr Siblcy) from free ter
ritory, and now we arc willing to vote for dele
gate from a Territory which, il is asserted, may
tolerate slavery. This il the reverse Of the propo
siton. Further remarks were made by the gen
tleman in justification of his vote against Mr..
Siblcy.
Mr. CONRAD briefly sustained the amendment
of Mr.. Bowie.
Mr. INGE sent to the Clerks desk, to be road,
two extracts from the pamphlet Of Mr.. Smith, ad-
dressed to the people OF New Mexico, in which he
spoke about the slave power and sordid spectators
being nrrayed against New Mexico, and called
upon them 10 assert their rights by forming State
constitution interdicting slavery.
Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Arkansas, made further re-
marks, drawing distinction between Minnesota
and the present case; and arguing that the former
was more entitled to delegate than New Mexico
Mr.. MEADE replied 10 Mr.. ScHENcK, and re-
fcrrcd TO what he charged ms that gcntleman's in
consistency.
Mr.. BURT offered an amendment" provided
that said Hugh N. Smith shall take no part in the
debates of the House, and shall not be entitled TO tho
pay mileage allowed by law 10 delegate from
sterritory" He accompanied the amendment with
few remarks.
and caused a list Of votes tsbe read for what pur
posc could not learn.
MIR. INGE moved that the committee rice, but
the motion disagreed to.
Mr.. SCHENCK replied 10 Mr.. BURT; when the
question was taken on the amendment Of the last
named gentleman, and rejectcd-aycs So, noes 10.
The question being taken on the amendment
that IL IL "expcdicnp" 10 admit MIR. Smith, IL was
decided in the ncgative-nycs IS, noos SO.
The amendment Of Mr.. BowIr--to admit Mr..
Smith ne the advocate OF the convention held at
Santa re, was rejected; was aso, by vote Of
ayes So, noes 90, the substitute (for the original
rosoutions) that the said Hugh N. Smith, esq, be
admitted to scat in the House OF Representatives
ne delegate from New Mexico for the thirty first
Congress, provided that, by such admission, the
House IL not to be understood ne expressing an
opinion relative 10 the conflicting boundary be-
tween New neIico and Texas.
The question was then taken on the resolution OF
the majority Of the Committee Of Elections, and
which is a follows, viz
Rssoivsd, That IL is ineSpcdicnt TO admit Hugh
N. Smith, Gao TO a scat in the House as delegate
from New Mexico.
This was agreed to-aycs %, noes Sc.
The committee then rose, and
The SPEAKER having resumed the chair, he
stated the question to be concurring in the req
oluton just reported
Mr.. STRONG moved the previous question.
MIR. STEVENS, OF Pennsylvania, moved that
the House adjourn; and the question being "a ken,
IL decided in the negativc--yeas 6s nays ll6.
MIR. CROWELL moved that there be call Of the
House; and tho question was determined in the
negative-ysas 81, nays "a.
On motion Of Mr.. FOWLER, at fifteen minutes
TO five O'Clock,
The House adjourned.
The following petitions were presented under the