Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-10

RDAY, AUGUST 10, 1850.
objeSt as understand H. Of this bill especisy
establish government for New Mexico The necessity Of
the establishment Of for that Territory that
which introduced one Of the leading provisions Of the BILL
As to government for Utah. il is matter of comparatively
little importance 10 any There than eight
or ten thousand inhabitants In the whole Territory, and they
are governing themselves believe, very WELL Now, this
amendment suspends the operation of the bill and says in
effect there shall be territorial for New Mexico
east Of the Rio Grande This BILL Just brought in give it
territorial government shall be suspended until certain
ton has taken place by commissioners until report made
to Teras, report made to the United States and unh that
report has been acted upon the Governments Of Texas and
Now, Mr.. President would il not be much better to strike
out every thing thai relates New Mexico Just to strike the
whole matter out Of this bill that relates New Mexico and
not attempt to establish government for houssnd popu
stion out OF population of ninety thousand Would il
not be better strike oil Of it, and insert this amendment
in s place. merely the effect that these commissioners shall
be appointed to and settle the boundary It will be better
70 wait than to and organize territorial government
Tor only part Of the Territory which certain event only
y b extended over the whole The Sbacsns urged by
36 Senator from New Jersey (Mr MrLLKn) are powerful
objections to retaining this provision in this BILL Ahoash
he y not coect believe in saying that the governor to
be elected by the people, yet he s respects the To-
gislave council and that Legislative council, elected by eight
thousand people, would become the Legislature for and
would give laws to ninety hundred thousand people
the provisions of this bill shall be extended the
residue Of the country.
Now, this does not seem to me right. It would be much
better to strike out the whole Of what relates New Mexico
from this BILL But how is the government of the country
east Of the Rio Gande to be left in the time The fact
that the effect Of this amendment is understood alike by
gentlemen upon the other side Of the chamber great OBJ
lection to Il IL not definite legislation The expana-
ton given Of it by the honorable Senator from Georgia. (r
DAwsos who introduced it. totally different from that
of the honorable Senator from Kentucky who advocated it.
One stated that the United States would retain Of
the country the side Of the Rio Grande and that he
would justify and maintain them holding that possession
though should require resort to arms to do so and
the efon of blood That bis view in relation to the
subject What then, the opinion of the honorable Sena
from Georgia He assumes that this country belongs
Texas and be does not believe that there single Sena
the floor who would consent that the United States
should continue possession there against the authority of
Texas. ~
Them sir there is misunderstanding with respect this
amendments with respect the in which the govern
ment Of these people is to be continued and the amend
ment prevails, knsws, will know, what intended
by it. The objection to is, that it is uncertain-a defect
which pervades the whole bill One Of two things must take
place Either the United States defend the possession Of
that country against the attempts of Texas, they
do know what the Executive may think proper to do
under the circumstances whether he will take the
gesed by the Senator from Kentucky aud defend the posses
son or whether he will retreat before the military civil
ganzaon OF Texas and surrender that possession
nothing about that amendment PREVAILS it is necessary that
should know, and that should express ourselves that
should Iequthe Executive of this Union either retain
the possession and maintain the inhabitants according the
treaty of Guadalupe Hdsgo in the possession of their liberty
and their property ;ha should do that orthat should
direct the Executive retire before Texas possession
of the territory her. What desire is distinct and unques
tonabe legislation. My opinion Of this BILL from the first to
the last that it lacks dienctness and certainty. II has
had proper dsnctness Different opinions expressed
its effects upon different ses Of this chamber. There is
uniformity Of interpretation In the single provision pro-
posed to be made by this amendment this want Of certainty
to be augmented enfod. Then this country is
to be left in this condition, tell how long We
know nothing upoa the subject respects the rights of par
ueswha their rights what their duties The ci
zens vf New Mexico do not know they advised.
There difference of opinion here in this chamber
this subject They told whether they allegiance
the United States, territorial government to Texas
may make himself subject to forfeiture conscaton
DEATH without being able to know beforehand what
law he is liable to infringe. You do tsll him what the
law is You do not tell him WHOM he allegiance,
against whom he is liable to commit treason. All this he
must conjecture for himses The nhabtants remain
in that unhappy condition in which have often found
themselves in other countries in which they liable to The
penalties Of the law which they have not the
Of knowing how evade by obedience and good citizenship
Such is the diculy, in my opinion, with this amendment
cannot for it, look upon as an unfortunate amend
ment making if it be passed. the worst feature in defec
tive hill
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President, do rot und0r-.
stand this exactly The Committee OF Thirteen
gave us bill proposing government for New Mexico, on
the east side Of the RIO Gande well the west and
that 60 on, while propositions were made in
the bill to Texas which in the time she was to consider
That ooke3as if govern the whole territory Afsr
while the gentleman from Maine (Mr. BRADsURr) offers
proposition that that part Of the bill reported by the Commit
tee of Thirteen making proposals Texas ana proposing to
give her sum Of money! shall be stricken ou and that
shall appoint commissioners to negotiate But, sir, all the
provisions Of the S reported by the Committee of Thirteen,
embracing both sides of the Rio Grande still to have
their effect and operation, and give government
to the whole Territory. But my friend from Georgia
comes forward with the proposition that it is altogether mpso
per to give any all to that part Of the territory
east of the Rio Grande.
Mr. FOOTE. The Senator is laborirg under mistake.
The boundary line Of New Mexico specified in the bill
before u.s. It only provides government fos all the ter
ritoy of New Mexico that may exist such, leaving this
question of boundary unsettled.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. am told that the bill does not
specify particular boundary of New Mexico It may not
am speaking in reference to the arguments which have been
heretofore advanced based my remarks upon what UNDER
stood them to be- and only shows how green not to
understand it little better Now the whole matter presents
itself in this point Of view my mind will make the sup
position that the Of plantation, and asI hail from
slavehoding State, will suppose there are forty fifty
servants upon It. man and says to me, "Mr Tn
derwood claim all these and this plantation, and
desire that you will yield up the government to and that
you will let the people under my direction, and that
you will make no improvements the farm till my title TO the
negroes and the land shabe settled Sir it that
of this sort should be very apt reply that should
undertake, in possession, and claimed the pro-
pey to go on with domestic just precisely as
had with it for years. and when he had established
his title would give up him. improved by my labor and
management bestowed upon it.
Now, seems to that il is the duty Of this Government
10 hOfh