The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-07

ican heart and American character, have been ap-
peaed TO- 10 carry out the provisions OF treaty
with Mexico which require that these people should
have the full protection OF the laws and Constitution
Of the United States, and of regular civil govern
ment. ii is "high time" says the distin guished
Senator from Kentucky, that the national faith
should be maintained in extending to these people
the protection of civil governments; and that they
should be rescued from the oppression of a "inili
ary government" and the conscience Of the whole
country is sought to be aroused and awakened TO
the enormHy of the policy which would leave our
treaty obligations unfulIled. Well, sir, the Pres-
dent proposes to comply with thcse obligations to
the letter lie proposes to dispense with all mill
tary authority in New Mexico, and to give the peo-
pie the protection OF State government as
practicable Ought not this satisfy the most ten
der conscience on this point?
have now, cir. think, successfully shown that
there has been and is no oppression practised
by the military government Of New Mexico; and !,
whether such oppression exists not, that the
President proposes to remove all ground Of COM
plaint on that head, and at the time COM
ply with our treaty obligations in the most effective
form.
Mr.. CLAY. If the Senator will allow me, | will
read passage from the address of the delegate
from that Territory to the people of the Territory.
In that statement, he says:
at is useless for me to remind you that you have
no other than military government to administer
the civil laws with which you came into the Union
(and under which. you and your ancestors have
lived for two centuries.) What other executive
have you but the commander of the troops in New
Mexico? Does he not absolutely control all the
civil establishments of your country. Is there
civil officer but holds his office by commission from
the military officer during his will and pleasure?
Has he not, indeed, assumed TO order the courts
whom to bring 10 trial. and in every way prescribe
their jurisdicton?' sc.
There is another document from which it APP
pears that the people Of the Territory have de-
clared against this military government, and de-
nounced ii most odicus and despotc insttu-
tion.
Al d., I A.
documents, and am only surprised that the saga
cious Senator does not perceive that there may be
strong political motives or interests for much ex
aggcration, over-cooring. and rhetorical flourish
and description in the authors of those documents.
felt desirous Of coming at the truth in regard TO
these charges when read them. And asked the
delegate from New Mexico (Mr SMITH to point
out TO me, If he could, any instance of military op
preston IN New Mexico in the three years of our
occupation of that country; and he could recolect
none, except, as have before stated, that when
offence is committed against any of the United
States troops, the offender is seized, sometimes by
the military, and taken before the proper civil Off
GERS for trial and punishment and complaints
made OF instances in which the punishment is said
to have been inflicted without such trial, but none
could be specified
come now, sir, to consider another question
connected with the policy recommended by the
President, which, admit, presents fair ground
for diversity OF opinion Is there sufficient popu-
latiUn in New Mexico to justify her admission
State? and are they sufficiently intelligent and
trained in the practice of self government TO justly
clothing them with the rights OF State sovereignty
know that the Senator from Texas (Mr. RusK)
has said that II would be preposterous to admit
these people State into the Union. The honor
able and disting guished Senator from Michigan says
that 'no human gacity forctell the time when
these people will be ready TO come into the Union" "
The honorable and distinguished Senator from
kentucky has said that he cannot think of it, and
he has used stronger expressions even than these.
Now, what is the number of inhabitants in New
Mexico? have in my hand authentic docu-
ment, taken from the archives Of Santa Fe, by
Lieutenant Albert, an intelligent and scientific gen
tleman, and his work was printed by order Of Con-
gress. From this documentwe learn that on the l7th
of June, 1874, the population OF New Mexico was,
as taken from the official statistics. one hundred
thousand and six xty four, 100, ,064 The intelligent
delegate from New Mexico states that, from his
own observation and all the information in his pos
session, he estimates the population At ninety thou
sand. And these are not composed Of Camanches
Navajos, and other wild tribes some gentlemen
seem 10 suppose. This population of ninety thou
sand arc made citizens Of the United States by
the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The Pueblo
Indians, who compose part OF the population,
are civilized. The Senator from Texas admitted
mat they among the best population of the
Territory. census taken of the Pueblo
Indians at a recent period, which will be found in
the correspondence of Mr.. Calhoun, the Indian
agent at Santa Re, whose high standing and intcli
gcnce vouched for by the Senator from Texas
(Mr. RusK) From this, il appears that instead of
try as stated by that honorable Senator on for
day, they only amount TO six thousand, of five
years OF age and upwards; and, taking the usual
ratio of children under that age, we may infer that
the whole number of these Indians docs not exceed
nine thousand at the most. These Indians live in
separate villages, and arc Il docile and pcaceable
people. What other classes ofpopulation exist there?
There some three or four thousand of the pure
Spanish or Castilan blood, OF different ages and
sexes. In addition 10 these, there is mixed race
Of the Spanish and Indian stock, which has multi
piled in the last two centuries until il has attained
It's present number. Tins ls the class which is gen
orally and properly denominatcd hIeaicans. They
constitute the mass of the popu' alton, and do
not recognize any connexion with the Indians,
though undoubtedly tinged with their complex
ion. With a few exceptions, the entire popula-
tion, Mexcans and Indians, live by agriculture
almost exclusively; many Of them are wealthy
their property consisting chiefly of hocks and
herds. 1t may be said of the inhabitants of this
Territory generally, that they arc docie and
tractabe people, addicted to the of peace from
the necessity of their condition, being daily ex-
posed TO the pundering incurrions of their sava &c
ncighbors. The more wealthy are well educated;
of these having received their education in the
colleges and schools of this country others in those
of Mexico Besides these classes, Mr.. Smith to
whom have before referred, states that there are
twelve or fifteen hundred voters, cmigants from
the United States, and we know enough of these
adventurers TO territories 10 be satisfied thai
their superior intelligence and energy will exercise
| a controlling influence the more passive and
tTaCtADlc NltAlChDs ana lnolans. we must also
bear in mind in estimating the cha and train
ing of these people, that since the revolt and indie
pendonce of Mexico they have been in the practice
of self government They have had their terrific
rial Legislature, to which, with some interruption
they have been in the habit Of electng delegates an
nually. They have at the same time chosen at regu-
| lar periods delegate to the Central Congress in
Mexico; and, upon the whole, they arc just as we'll
qualified for sclf-government most OF the States
| of the Mexican republic. The policy of Mexico
| in excluding New Mexico from the rank of State
| il is well known, was founded in the apprehension
Of revolution and separation, TO which their remote
situation was supposed TO tempt them We have
in truth had lower estimate of these people than
they deserved; and principal reason for this was
that derived our impressions Of their character
and condition chiefly from the population of Santa
| Fe now well known to he one OF the poorest viii
| ages in the whole country, and whose population
is the most idle, vicious, and corrupt OF all others.
hut, sir, the question is not whether these people
arc as intelligent and well qualified ss we could
wish them TO be- or as they may become by the in
| fusion of greater number of emgrants from the
old States, before admit them into the Union
but whether they sufficiently qualified to JUS
tfy their admission, il IL be espedient for the we'll
being and harmony of the rcpublic-if IL should be
found necessary To close up the bleeding wounds Of
the country. That is the question. Honorable Son
ators have taken strong grounds upon this subject
! The bOuOra BILE Senator kentuckv " Mr w