The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-09
New Mexico.

We understand that copy of the Constitution
framed by the Convention Of the People of New
Mexico for the Government of the State Of New
Mexico has been received in this city =; but, as it
requires the formal assent and concurrence of the
people Of the proposed State it is to be considered
as yet in an inchoate condition. 1t was referred
to the Popular Suffrage to determine, by general
vote for or against it, the 10th of June, it's &C
ceptance or rejection. After the sense of the peo
pie has thus been taken, the Members of both
branches Of the Legislature and the Governor of
the State being together assembed, the votes upon
the Constitution are to be counted, &c.-as will
more particular appear by the following provi-
sions of the Constitution:
g The first session Of the Legislature of the
State of New Mexico shall be held at the city of
Santa Fe, and shall commence on the first day Of
July, 1850 . ~
4" The Military and Civil Governor of the Ter
ritory shall be requested, Immediately after the ad
journment Of this Convention, to issue writs of
election to the Projects of the several counties, re-
curing them to cause an election to be held on
the Goth day of June, 1850 the electors to vote
for against this Constitution, for a Governor
and Lieutenant Governor, Representative in the
Congress Of the United States, Senators and Re-
representatives. to the Legislature and the returns Of
such election shall be made to the Projects, who,
together with the Projects clerk shall count the
votes given, and certificates of election shall be
given by them to such persons as shall have re-
celved the highest number Of votes for members
of the Legislature The Projects of the several
counties shall make correct returns, under their
hands, of all the votes given in their respective
counties for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and
Representative to Congress, and the return of
for against this Constitution, to the present Sec
rotary Of the Territory at Santa Fe, who, when
the Legislature shall convene, shall lay such re-
turns before them on the first day OF their session,
so soon as both houses shall be organized and
10 o D..
the President pro tempOre of the Senate shall, in
the presence Of both Houses, examine the returns
and declare who are elected to fill those offices;
the number of votes for and against this consti-
tuition, &c. ... ......., -. ,
"The returns of the electors for and against
this constitution shall be certified to by the Gov
ernor elect, or Che Lieutenant Governor acting as
such, who shall dispatch the same TO the Secre-
tary Of State Of the United States within thirty
days of the day Of election, &c.
sit shall be and is hereby made the duty of the
Governor, or Lieutenant Governor, acting as
such, If it appears from the returns of votes for
and against this Constitution that it has been
adopted by the people, he shall immediately cause
fair COPY Of the same, together with fair digest
ton, to be forwarded to the President of the
United States, to be laid before the Congress of
the United States
To satisfy very natural curiosity on the part
of the public to know what are the provisions of
the Constitution in relation to the questions of
Slavery and of Boundary, we are glad to be able
also to place exact copies OF those provisions be-
fore our readers:
"All men being born equally free and indepen-
dent and having certain natural, inherent, and
inalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoy
ing and defending life and liberty, the acquire
ment, possession, and protection Of property, and
the pursuit and attainment of happiness; therefore
no male person shall be held by law to serve any
person as servant, slave, apprentice, after he
arrives at the age Of twenty-one years. nor female,
in like manner, after she arrives at the age of
eighteen years, unless they be bound by their own
consent after they arrive at such age, bound
by law for punishment of crime"
The limits and boundaries Of the State arc de-
fined as follows:
" eginning at the dam in the Rio del Norte
which supplies with water the "aseguia," or ir-
rlgating canal of the town of Ell Paso del Norte,
and running thence due east to the hundredth par
alel of longitude, west from Greenwich thence
due north on said parallel to point where the
same intcrsects the river Arkansas thence up the
middle of the channel of said river TO its source /;
thence in a direct line to point on the Rio Colo
RADIO OF California, where the same was interscct-
ed by the one hundred and tenth parallel of long-
tude west from Greenwich thence due south on
said parallel of longitude to n point on the Rio
Gila, intersected by the same thence up the mid
die of the main channel of said river to the point
which may be designated by the Commissioners
appointed to establish the line between the United
States and the Republic Of Mexico, as the point
where said river, or one OF its branches shall be
intersected by the western line of New Mexico !;
thence southery on said line, the same shall be
established by the Commissioners, to the angle
formed by the State Of Chihuahua, Sonora, and
New Mexico thence easterly on the line between
the United States and the Republic Of Mexico, as
it shall be laid down by said Commissioners, TO
point where the Same may intersect the Rio del
Norte; thence down said river TO the place Of be-
ginning. "-,Nit. Inteiigenesr,