The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-29
washington, Monday, July %, 1850.

that senator took his sss4hsse, h va bound, .,
we were, to comply with ttdt article Of the Con
stitution which says that senators, before they
take their seats, shall swear to support the Con.
stiution have said to them that II, when he
came to the book to take TINT oath, II he had
refused to take the oath, he could not have taken
his seat; or If he had promulgated to the Sen
ate the reservation which he now makes, or has
hitherto madc with reference to this superior
law, so rs to make invalid that oath, there is not
senator that would have permitted him to take
| it. Therefore, sir, IL he had not concealed
his understanding of the obligations which he
wns about to take upon himself, he would not
have been permitted TO take his scat here. !
contended for this with his friends, and none Of
them said was wrong 10 the facts Icontended
that with these opinions we ought to turn him
| out of the body, as he never should have taken
q sent here.
Mr.. President, now come to the amendment
which is this:
Insert after the word "That, " in the first line,
the following:
"New Mexico shall, on proclamation by the Pre-
sident Of the United States, be admitted as State
into this Union, on an equal footing with the ori-
ginal States. Provided, That the President, be-
that the constitution recently framed by the con-
yention of New Mexico has been approved and
ratified by the people Of New Mexico in the elec-
ton held for the purpose Of considering it on the
10th of June last 8ilEelQt 9rtb
| Here then, sir, is a proposition that Congress
should admit New Mexico as State into this
Unien with constitution which Congress has
never seen. establishing boundaries not known to
the Senate or to any one else that we should direct
the President Of the United States to proclaim the
admission OF New Mexico as State, with what
ever boundaries she may choose to assume, even
if they include half or two-thirds Of Texas, and
whether that constitution is republican in it's form
not, provided he shall believe that the people Of
New Mexico are willing. Therefore, if they have
established government not republican in its
f0rm-a kingly government-the provision Of the
Constitution which says that we shall admit no
State which is not republican in its form, or, If by
its boundaries it includes part Of Texas, that
provision Of the Constitution which prohibits sepa
| rating from the limits of any State, without the
assent Of that State, are to be disregarded, and
| New Mexico is still to be admitted as State by
proclamation, although she does separate parts of
other States without the assent of those States,
and although her constitution may not be in re-
publican FORM Am not right then, in saying
that no one---except the Senator from New York
! entertaining his opinions could submit propo-
| sition like thisl Am Inot right in saying that
there is no Senator upon this aoor-and ask the
yeas and nays to If there is any one-who will
vote for an amendment directly violative Of these
two clauses Of the Constitution to which have
| referred Hgi,Q5 fAft a es.l
Mr.. President, have desired upon all occa-
sions, and am sure that it is still my determine
ton to cultivate towards my brother Senators feel
ings of harmony and respect, so far as l am capa.
/ Bile of entertaining them. will not say--l will
not pretend to say--lhat such feelings can be en-
tertained by me with reference to such PROPOSE
| ton as this, or to the member of the Senate who
made it. $500 elsI 82f lsf 4.,i G-fFs
Mr.. DAYTON. MIR. Presdent---
The PRESIDENT. Did the Senator from
Maryland ask for the yeas and nays Ha#t
Mr.. PRATT. Yes, sir. #E
Mr.. DAYTON. Mr.. President, have re,
The PRESIDENT. The Senator will suspend
until it is ascertained whether the yeas and nays
are ordered. a t IA f8ls.
The yeas and nays were then ordered.
Mr.. DAYTON. After the yeas and nays are
ordered, the request that have to make cannot
be complied with. I meant merely to ask the
Senator from New York whether it would not be
better for him to withdraw his proposition.
Mr.. CLAY, Tin his seat.) fobiect.
Mr.. PRATT, Gin his seat.) The yeas and
nays have been ordered. 5.t g4.sL
| Mr.. SEWARD. If there is any proposition
have ever made, any measure have ever pro-
posed, which l am willing to stand by here,
before the country and the world, i is the pro.
position have now submitted. Therefore, though
j stand alone, shall be content, convinced thai
l stand right. .s-. .s..5 /, q. ~ N. a NJ,
/ do not propose to reply to what is personal tc
! myself in the remarks Of the honorable Senator
from Maryland. ! have nothing Of persona
character to say There is no man n this land
| who Is of sufficient importance to this country
and to mankind to justify his consumption Of five
minutes Of the time Of the Senate at this period OF
the discussion with personal explanations relating
| to himself When the Senator made his remarks,
rose to express to him the fact that he was under
misapprehenson. The speeches which ! have
made here under rule Of the Senate are recorded,
and what is recorded has gone before the people,
and viii go, worthy or not, into history. leave
them to mankind. stand by what have said.
That is all have TO say upon that subject. i
The Senator proposes to expel me. | am ready
to meet that trials and If am expelled, shall not
be the first man subjected to a punishment for
maintaining that there is a power higher than
human law, and that power delights in justice;
free people, bound to administer justice for the
benefit Of society. Senators, when they please Ia
bring me for trial, or otherwise before the Senate
Of the United States, will find clear and Oper
field. ! ask no other defence than the speeches
upon which they propose to condemn me-. The
speeches will read for themselves, and they viii
need no comment from me.
| 4
the interposition which l have submitted to the
Senate is this that it may bring into the United
States royal or kingly government. Sir, here is
the constitution Of New Mexico, sent to me by
one who attended the convention Of New Mexico.
have just as good evidence to satisfy me that this
is the real constitution of New Mexico as had TO
satisfy me that the honorable Senator from Mary
land had been elected member of this branch OF
| Legislature when heard his credentials read.
Now, sir, am prepared to answer the only ar
gument Of the honorable Senator from Maryland
against the admission Of New Mexico, which is,
| that the constitution Of New Mexico may be one
creating kingly government, if the honorable
Senator does not disdain to examine constitution
not officially laid before the Senate. II begins
with these words:
eve, the people Of New Mexico, in order to
establish jurisnce, promote the welfare, and se-
cure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and to
our posterty-" ua. a.p
This, so far, is the language Of the Constitution
Of the United States. Then it proceeds to utter
what the senator from Maryland will consider a
dangerous heresy
acknowledging with grateful hearts the good
ness of tn, sovereign Ruler Of the Universe, and
imploring his aid and direction in its accomplish
l L Al. n H..