New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-13
The President, the Territories - New
Mexico and the Compromise.

IL o CCa.
The President, the Territories - New.
Mexico and the Compromise.
Our readers will have observed that we
have not much to say of late concerning the
questions now paramount at Washington
nor, indeed, concerning what is called Poll
tics generally. We do not see our way
clearly through the may labyrinth just be-
fore us, and it seems the part of prudence
and of patriotism to halt, take observations,
consider and note what events may develop.
Perhaps another week may make plain the
path Of duty, and call for decided and ener-
getic action.
What we want and would fain secure
NAV be summed up as follows: |. Califor-
MIA admitted with her Constitution as it is,
and her boundaries as that Constitution de-
fines them: Q. The unorganized Territories
of the U. States duly organized, in such
manner as to shield them from the intro
duction Of Slavery and 3. New-Mexico
guaranteed and protected in her ancient and
rightful boundaries, so that she may not be
subjected to the hated domination of Texas,
and thereby to the rule Of Slavery. Such is
compend Of all we desire to see effected by
the present Congress with regard to the re-
gions added to our country by the War with
Mexico.
1--we cannot at present secure all Of this,
we deem it our duty to take such course as
seems likely to secure the most Of it that is
possible. With this view we have been dis
posed to acquiesce in the Presidents propo-
sition that California as she is be at once ad-
mitted into the Union, and let the Terrific
ries remain as they are until they shall sew
orally effect preliminary civil organization
and apply to Congress for admission as States
into the Union. We could acquiesce in this,
not as all that we desired, but as the best
that could now be obtained. With Cass,
Dickinson & Co. voting against the Proviso
of Freedom in every shape, and denouncing
il as unconstitutional, we do not see how it
can he carried through the Senate, and there
fore see no utility in sacrificing any attaina-
BILE good in fruitless struggle for its imme-
date adoption. We could submit to the ne
cessity of taking California as a Free State
now, and for all beyond that biding our time.
But it seems to us that the peril of New
Mexico, long apprehended, but at length re-
solved into an active, present, undcniable
struggle for her existence, interposes new
element into the calculation, which cannot,
must not be put aside nor overlooked. We
perceived when the official correspondence
of the War Department with regard to New
Mexico was first published that here was
chasm in the Presidential project which must
be pcrilous and might prove fatal. The whole
scheme was based upon the presumption that
the unorganized Territories would be left
unmolested to form such constitutions as
shall be dictated 10y the feelings and wishes
of their inhabitants respectively. But Texas,
it was well known, laid claim to the better
portion Of New-Mexico, including nine-tenths
Of her people, and was not unlikely to at
tempt the forcible establishment of her do
minion it. What if she should attempt
it? What part should the u. S. authorities
and forces therein stationed take in case of
such an attempt? Obviously, what they
omqki to do was TO maintain the statu quo
the existing state of things, until the new
policy should have had fair trial. To talk
of allowing conquered region quietly and
gradually to ripen into q legally organized
Territory, and thence into State, while at
the same time neighboring State should be
permitted without rebukc to overawe, invade
and subjugatc that region to her own sway
is not that the climax Of contradiction?
Texas to be allowed to invade and subject
New Mexico and New-Mexico TO beequally
free to resist and repel Texas, and the Fede-
raj Government to stand by as bottle-holder,
what sort of statesnanshipis this! We can
imagine no case of clash of arms within
the limits of our Union TO which the Federal
Government ought not to be party-cer-
tainly none in regard to which it should adj
vertise beforehand that it would not inter-
fsre Ii does seem to us, therefore, that the
Cabinet, in authorizing the issue from the
War Department of that fatal order to COM
mapdant Col. Monroe TO maintain neutral
;tv in case Of an attempt by Texas to estab-
lish jurisdiction over New-Mexico, has rem
dered, in conjunction with the march OF
events, the persistent prosecution of the Ere
s;aeui's plan impracticable-that decisive