Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-22
SITUATION OF NEW MEXICO.

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Monroe, the military commander at Santa Re,
calling upon the people of New Mexico to elect
delegates to Convention for the purpose of or
ganizing STATE government, is naturally received
with great Joy by the Northern press. The New
York Tribune publishes the news in postscript
to long article complaining of Gen Taylor for
not acting upon the "opinion,'' expressed in his
late special message that possession of the part of
New Mexico visited by Major Neighbours Gnclud-
ing the country about Ell Paso and Santa Fe)
'swas acquired by the United States from Mexico,
and has since been held by the United States, and
ought so to remain until the question of boundary
shall have been adjusted"
Indeed! Your opinion is quite right, Mr.. Presi-
dent! we had doubt OF it said Mr.. Greeley in
the body OF his arcle) but what opinion has Texas of
your unsupported opinion and what It will your ought
country and your station demand of you something
rather potent and decisive than your opinion
on this subject You elected man Of action
rather than OF speculationyour function is not so much
that OF decision as OF execution.
But the President thinks there is no reason for APP
pretending that Texas will practicauy interfere with
ifhe United States pumpy asserts and decisvey main
tans that possession But the practical case is very
different from this. Our commandant in New Mexico,
mics, under orders to take part bet,oeen the
agents of TEXAS and those apho mag resist her sDay
Ofcourse he -nullified. What sort of pos
session is that? New Mexico has no organization nor
civic force of her own because the United States au-
thores within her borders are her authorities, and
these forbidden resist Texas Her hands being
thus tied and the oppessor duly advertised that he will
encounter no resistance Is peposerous to say in the
face OF the demonstrations OF Texas, that there is
reason for serious apprehension the part of the
friends of New Mexico? Yes Mr. President, there is
raacn dali tho prv
ing misrepresentation. If you cannot aid her defenders,
at least do nothing to embarrass and thwart them"
But these forebodings and distrusts of the edi-
tor were quickly removed by the tidings from San
ia Fe. He breaks out in his postscript, follows
"This is altogether the most important and gratifying
we have received for long time. True, though
we long, impatently and for time confidently, ex-
with the drift OF General Taylors new Special Mes
sage above quoted frombu very ready to waive
that 1t the Administration is at last fairly fully, open
y committed to the independence of New Mexico and
the maintenance other territorial integrity we are with it
heart and soul. Much precious time has been lost but
by trankness, energy and determination all may be
gained. There will OF course be new call on the
President for information, and look for an answer
very different in tone and bearing from that of Monday
when it comes, look out for hurricanes in Congress-
All we have yet had nothing to them. II what
Col Monroe is reported to have done is avowed and
justified by the President the divorce between him and
the last remnant of the Slavery Propaganda will be
complete. We await with interest, but no longer with
fear, the developments Of the ensuing month The sky
brightens Rejoice friends OF Freedom! and press on
ward w
The Commercial Advertiser, a cautious print,
whilst manifesting its qualification at the reported
proceedings of Col. Monroe, regards the report,
in its present shape as ga somewhat unsafe foun-
dation for any hypothesis and thinks it probable
that " Col. Monroe has acted on his own respon-
loI1 H.. III Al
raj wish of the people, and simply given form to
movement that he could no longer suppress"
The public will be soon informed as to the facts
of the matter, so far, at least as they are known
in Texas, and we need not speculate upon the ac-
curacy of the Geographic statement. But, whe-
Their it turns out that Col Monroe had or had not,
specific instructions from the President to call
Convention to organize State government, there
can be little doubt that that officer has acted in
conformity with the known policy of the Admin
istration.
In his annual message, the President distinctly
stated to Congress that he had invited the people
of both California and New Mexico to adopt
form of State government and submit it to the ac-
ceptance of Congress. He mentioned the fact
that the people of California had already adopted
his advice, and expressed his belief that New
Mexico would soon follow her example. In a
short time after the date of the message, news
came that after an animated controversy, the New
Mexicans had determined, in Convention called
by the commanding officer, under instructions
from Washington, that the Territorial form of 60
vernment was better adapted to their situation,
M cd doll
to represent the Territory in Congress- and to
licit the establishment of Territorial govern
ment. Mr.. Smith came to Washington early in
the session, and after taking his observations of
the peculiar state of affairs there, he seems to
have become a convert to the idea that the only
salvation of New Mexico consists in her becoming
State. He recently published, in the National
Intelligencer, letter from st. Louis, written by
gentleman just arrived from Santa Fe, and re-
presenting that although the people of New Mex-
CO prefer Territorial government, ten to one,
yet, since the arrival of the Texas commissioner,
an almost universal cry had been raised to
ganize State government, in the belief that the
government they have asked for, and desire above
all others, will not be given them during the pre-
sent session of Congress-
The protest, addressed by Major Neighbours to
Col. Monroe, on the 18th of April, (Which we pub
lished on Wednesday ast,) was based, it will be
recoected, on the fact that he had, during the
day, seen notices posted up in Spanish and Eng
llsh' Inviting the citizens of Santa Fe TO con-
vene on the next Saturday, to take into consdera-
ton the propriety of making State movement,
| and to petition YOU. fCol Nj \ az the head of tbe
government, TO call Convention" This popular
meeting at Santa Fe was, no doubt, the beginning,
on the part of the New Mexicans, of the e State
movement" of which we are now definitely an
prsed How far they were influenced by sue-
gestions addressed to them from WASHINGTON
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