Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-15


Government in this time Of profound peace 10 this country
Boosting is the eest in the world and in this middle OF the
nineteenth century, boastng the most enlightened and
intellectual in the whole history of And to reconcile
the country AID Congress- and the people thus ruled the
exercise OF military power told by the President that
these people "w have the benefit and protection of their
municipal laws originally derived from Mexico, that they
VIII nave military force to protect them against the Indians,
land against themselves too, perhaps, agreeaby
ayoe doctrine that the people their own worst enemes
and that they are better protected in their and liberties
and religion, than they ever were before the treaty. of
cession."
The honorable Senator Missouri expressed yey diff
eren opinion from the President this subject He told
that New Mexico had suffered more under our dominion
than had suffered before during an equal period under
the dominion of Spain Mexico and certainly the informa
ton contained in the California documents corroboaes this
statement. In letter from Mr.. Cahoon, Indian agent
dated October l. s49 he tells the Indian Department that
the wild Indians Of this country have been much
successful in their obbees since General Keamy took pos
of the county that they do notsbeeve have the
power 10 chastise them. And in letter Of October ID,
S49 he says The Indians at Jemez with one voice
newed their complaints of gross wrongs, TO which they
have been compelled submit and they such
require immediate remedial measures"
And appears the evils they labor under do not result
alone from Indian incuons They extend to civil agrees
sons The frauds and impostions," says Mr.. Cahoon in
the same letter. certain alcades unknown their laws
ought not to be endured &c. "Conrbutions upon their
labor and property frequently made by the law laws,
which alcades and projects TO suit the
son. The powers here" he states elsewhere shave
otto mass in this Territory, &c. and he adds significantly
that the truth in relation Governmental affairs here IS
not understood at Washington"
But the blessings that New Mexico enjoys from military
government are more fully portrayed in the commentary Of
the Republic than in the Presidents message and is en-
phacaly announced that we profess be wholly loss
to what great hardship there would be leaving
thepeople OF New Mexico in this condition, with lieutenant
colonel IN the army of the United States who will exercise
the civil functions of governor in the manner and to the
extent that they were formerly exercised by Mexican
ernors and who will also be in command of sufficient mill
tary force to protect them, &C. And then comes the
great compensation, which in its principle has always
the browning grace of all arbitrary Governments,
phrase have already borrowed that the ruler wise
and Paena one which leads to the consong reflection that
the people are better governed by such man than they
could be by themselves "That any lieutenant colonel
can be found in the army Of the United States less qualified
for the discharge of such than any Mexican that
ever filed the office, is not at all probable.
And SO, when foreign people attached to our Conede
racy, is great consolation them 10 be told that thew
Will have no worse military than they had BEFORE
and that our lieutenant colonies good heirs-for
short period or for along And this, urged
reason for legislative naction not under the pressure of the
necessity Of immediate and temporary organization but
two years after the acquisition and continue no
knows how long. Well sill shall argue such PROPOSE
ton this before the American people. If it is not con-
demned insnctivey they have sadly degeneated from the
of their fathers and prepared to surrender the great
principles OF the Revolution. The present Lieutenant colonel
at Santa Re is no doubt very good man and faithful Officer
That was stated by the honorable Senator from Mississippi
Mr. DAVIS, in whom all have confidence, but it does
not weigh as the small dust of the balance in this inquiry
am dealing with human nature not with personal cha
and though this officer may be very good ruler his
second lieutenant pehapsfor that depends at
least for time, the accidents of the military service-may
be very bad The world has had its Neros well
its Traans and, unfortunately the class of the former
much more numerous than that of the latter "Oh how
wetched says the great deneato of human character
"Oh, how wretched
Is that poor that hangs princes favors !"
Experience first edition Of
Shakespeare for Santa Fe should read
n s'Oh, how wretched ..
4 Is that poor man that hangs colonels' avors !"
is the object of all wise Governments by providing
cessary securities render the administration Of public affairs
little dependant possible upon individual discretion.
There many Governments, think
such caedwhere the character of the sovereign
emper the real despotism Of the system But who would
be content with such political organization, for the
shortest period When death accident changes the ruler
and succeeds be he emperor king, lieutenant
colonel, or lieutenan-or great men die well small
oneswhat security is there that he will belong the class
of patriots and of tyrans' Human rights should have
foundation than what have inapy
ed the accidents of dgeson the personal temperament of the
ruler. As to the entire npaidiy of such government
wherever the constitution of the United States extends ex-
cept far the voluntary act of the people be affected by
it, in the absence of Congressional Legislation, may give
liberation, shall not waste the time Of the Senate
considering We have reached that point yet the pro-
gress of this country But the extraordinary feature
of the Executive recommendation is the effect is to have
upon the agitation of the country.
"We should abstain, says the President in his annual
message, from the introduction Of these exciting topics of
sectional character, &C., and with his view he
mends to Congress to avoid all legislation the Territories
How absanng from Legislation to abstainng from
the introduction Of this erctng Topic not told and
mortal power could accomplish the latter shall
enter upon the inquiry. The President recommends that
should not act but not that should talk He under
stands his duty, well the character of his country
men, and the nature Of their institutions too well to do that
Still is the introduction of this ercg Topic the talking
about in fact which he apprehend and which be is DESTROYS
much deliberately. says that the Presidents object
in this recommendation put stop all agatioe, in
Congress and out of it, the subject Of the introduction Of
the institution of slavery into that Territory &c and after
speaking of the danger of legsatng says, that law
could pass Congress without bringing up the Wilmo pro-
vso if indeed any such bill could pass without having that
provo incorporated into it.. The discussion of that
question in Congress- and the necessity of having
upon to be deprecated and avoided because such
discussion and such VOTE if the Wilmot proviso
should be voted down, would, in all probability, the
seeds of agitation and excitement broadcast the land
Well, sir, the fear of the Wlmot provso is gone it is
among the things that have BEEN Voting and discussion and
agitation, all that left be apprehended As to
voting, leave the fear Of it those if there any, and
do believe there one who may yield it. and the con-
demnaon Of their conduct TO their constituents which
to 1t is not such motive for avoiding legislation upon
grave subject should have expected to find in an
official journal. At any rate, it is not applicable the
Senate for we have all taken positions in the face Of the
country do believe applicable to the House
of Representatives, their position be equally taken,
and perhaps taken at the very Of this debate.