The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-18


valid one; but IT was IA claim, aud two thirds of
the population Of New Mexico and wo.thirds Of
the territory were claimed to be within the juris-
diction of Texas Under these circumstances the
delegate should not be admitted. II would have
tendency to aggravate the bitter feelings which,
unfortunately, now exist.
The debate having terminated,
Mr.. CROMWELL moved to amend the resou-
ton, declarngit nexpodent to admit MIR. Smith TO
a seat delegate from New Mexico.
The CHAIRMAN informed him that an amend
ment OF Mr. McGAUGHrY, OF the minority of the
Committee OF Elections, was pending viz
Resoued, That the said HUGH n. SMITH, esq, be
admitted to seat in the House Of Representatives.
Il delegate from New Mexico.
MIR. BOY ID offered an amendment to this, namely:
g And that A. w BAnBlTr be admitted to seat IN
the House OF Representatives, as delegate from
Dcseret."
Mr.. CARTER Immediately rose to a question of
order lie said that the amendment OF the gentle
man had nothing to do with the question before the
committee. 1t was totally foreign to it.
The CHAIRMAN decidedit 10 be in order.
Mr.. DUER said that the amendment related to
another territory; 1t was not therefore, In order
and nc appealed from the decision OF the Chair.
Mr.. SCHENCK wished to inquire of the Chair
what the subject which had been referred to
the Committee OF the Whole on the state OF the
Union, and made the special order. He would in
quirc whether il was not the admission OF the dele
gate from New Mexico?
The CHAIRMAN said he was not disposed to open
an indirect debate; and he repeated, as the ground
OF his decision, that the amendment Of Mr.. BoYp
(to admit the delegate from DcscreD merely pro-
posed to confer the privilege OF seat this floor,
an exercise OF prerogative, and it was no crea-
ton Of territorial government within the limits OF
the United States.
lit was with extreme difficulty we could hear any
thing that was said, there being much "noise and
| confusion" during the action on amendments. and
until the committee rose.
MIR. SCHENCK desired to know from the Jour
nal what was the business of the committee.
The CHAIRMAN said that the Clerk would
port from the Journal.
While the Clerk was hunting for the informa-
ton, several gentlemen addressed the Chair, and
not one half of the members in their seats.
The CHAIRMAN would not recognise any gen
tleman, until he replied to the inquiry Of MIR.
SCHENCK.
Mr.. HOLMES rose to privileged question.
The CHAIRMAN repeated that he would not
recognise any gentleman until he had replied to
the question propounded. And he then informed
Mr.. ScHENCK that the memorials of Mr.. BABBrrT
and Mr.. SMITH had been referred to the Committee
of Elections; that subsequently reports on the two
cases were made, and that they were referred to
| the Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union; and that the report in relation to New
Mexico, by the request Of the Chairman OF the
Committee of Elections, was taken up first,
MIR. HOLMES was understood to say that it was
not probable any thing could be done to-day; and
| he Hloyed that the committee rise.
The motion was not agreed to.
Further proceedings took place, when
Mr.. AShMUN inquired whether the appeal
Chair was debatablei
| The CHAIRMAN said that he would not be
drawn into an indirect debate by answering the in
qulry
| The question was then taken on, Shall the deci-
sion OF the Chair stand the judgment of the COM
mttce? and it decided IN the ncgative-ayes
| %, noes IS.
| So tho committee declared, in effect, that the
| amendment of Mr. noyn, proposing to admit A.
| w. BABBlTr TO seat on the floor, as u delegate
| from Descret, was out of order
| Mr.. SCtENCK moved to amend the resolution
Of Mr.. McGAUGHEy as to admit Mr.. Smith to a
a delegate from New Mexico, ''tor the thir-
| ty first Congress" This agreed to.
| Mr.. MEADE moved further to amend, by add
ing a delegate ''from that portion of the terrific
| ry of the United States known a New Mexico, ly-
ing wcst of the Rio Grandc." He said that his OBJ
lect in offering this amendment was to avoid de-
cision on the boundary question, which was fraugh
with SO much danger To the peace of the country.
1t was confidently believed that if the intention Of
the late President had been carried out, with view
of sustaining the United States authority in New
Mexico, it would have resulted in conflict OF
between Texas and the United States. Gentlemen
might sneer at the imbeciity of a war between
forces unequal, but they cannot tell the extent
| which the war would have involved others.
| lie had heard the opinion confidently expressed
by gentlemen, whose views were entitled 10 weight,
that had the Chief Magistrate lived, without by
any means ga yipR a word TO impusn his patriotic
motives and intentions,l thie country would have
! been INVOLVED in civil war sixty days from this
time. BY the resolution you undertaking to
decide a question which involves doubt. No man
can say that the question Is free from difficulty.
| lie asked if il was not in the very wantonness Of
! power, in this impromptu manner, that they at
tempted TO decide the question. Are we in favor of
! the Union of these States' II SO, he would invoke
/ gentlemen 10 abstain from unnecessary aggression.
Are not the questions numerous enough 10 distract
and TO SOW the seeds Of disunion? We but add to
the number of thos, disputes, and throw another
frebrand to those which are already Kissing, por-
| tentous of the fate OF the country.
| lie appealed TO gentlemen on the other side TO
vote for the resolution OF the majority the Com
| mitoc of Elections, iexcluling Mr.. Smith, and
| by this means avoid the question unnecessarily
| thrust upon Are these important ends TO be sc-
complished by thus distinctly settling the question:
| No, Then he would ask gentlemen 10 abstain frum
| giving vote to admit the delegate.
Mr. FITCH said that the gentleman from Yir-
! gnia, MIR. MIADE,) argued against the resolution
| because il committed the House TO the support OF
the boundary as claimed by New McIico, II the
House, by voting Tor the resolutien, could thus be
| committed, voting for the amendment OF the gen
| tleman would commit the House 10 a recognition
| of the boundary as claimed by Texas For the pur-
pose Of obyiang the difficulty, he wished TO offer The
| following amendment, which was read for informa
/ ton, viz:
| Propided, That by such admission this House IL
not TO be understood az expressing any opinion rel
alive " the conflicting boundary between New
| Mexico and Texas.
| The question w4s linen taken on the amendment
Of Mr. MEADE, and it was reccted-ayes 90, 90.
Mr. FITCH now offered his amendment. He did
not desire to make any additional remarks For one,
| he did not desire 20 be considered as committing
| himself in favor of the claim of New Me<ico, and
his objection to the amendment al the gentleman
from Virginia was, that by its adoption the House
| would have been committed in favor Of the claim
| of Texas. He wanted the question decided hereaf.
| ter by Congress. Efforts now in the course OF
| being made, in the Senate, TO seNle IL, with the
| consent Of Texas. His amendment would admit,
| perhaps, of some change in phraseology. IL az
| sumcs that the dispute as to boundary u between
New Mexico and Texas, when it is clearly between
| the United States and Texas; and If in order, he
would modify his amendment accordingly. HE,
however, by the ADVICE Of friends, did not modify
i'll
adopted.
Mr. GoRMAN offered an amendment, as fol
lows:
Provided, That the said delegate was duly elect
ed by the qualified voters Of New Mexico, in ac-
cordancc with the laws in force therein
Mr.. HOUSTON rose to point of order. The
amendment proposed to admit the delegate, and,
at the same time il did not admit him. The sub.
jeet was referred to the committee, and they had
reported.
The CHAIRMAN did not conceive that the gen