The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-25

ieve that obligations 81 no ordinary charac-
ter demand the institution Of civil govern
ment in New Mexico and Deseret, without
further delay. A failure to perform our
duty, win proclaim the extreme Teril Of our
institutions, from the existence of radical
d'vison OF sentiment about slavery among
the people OF the States. Ingenuity and
selt-interest will soon devise means OF
making up the issue between us, and once
made, the destruction Of the Government
will De materially forwarded, and may not
be avoided
But we owe the discharge &c this duty 10 con-
sistency. We spend hundreds Of thousands OF
dollars annually % provide civil government in the
territories Of Oregon and Mfhnesota-why shall
we fail To institute the same government in New
Mexico and Deserct; Is il only because slaverv
is prohibited in Oregon and Minnesota New
Mexico has commerce far more valuable than
that Of MinAesota--a population SURPRISING that
of Minnesota in numbers-more defenceless--tar
more requiring the aid Of Government and the
protection Of the strong arm Of the Union. can
not listen to the plea that she has better govern
ment now than formerly. have conyersed with
the intelligent delegate deputed by that people to
bring here the representation OF her grievances.
What sort of government has New Mexico
Sir, government emanating from Executive au-
,thonty only, and carried outby military chief
acting under Executive order. Are the rights and
remedies Of creditor and debtor regulated by law
Are the persons of citizens secure? II the COM
mandang OF post shall order the collection Of
debts To- be suspended, as to given individual IN
community, his order will be obeyed; if he shall
order citizen to be tied to cannon for breach of
military regulation, 1t will be DONE. This may be
better than the New Mexicans were accustomed
to before the treaty of cession, and from the bar
baritF Of some of their officers to the Santa Re
I III ObatI IN
Improvement upon ancient customs; but, MIR.
Chairman, it is not the government an American
citizen has right to expect, nor docs 1t comport
with my IDEAS ofthe enjoyment of regulated civli
liberty. -
/ confess, do not appreciate that philosophy
which would convince me that to-day the inhablt.
ant Of New Mexico has no need Of territorial
government established by law, because the be-
nign teaching of regular soldiery is an improve
ment on his former condition, but that tomorrow
shall trust the same New Mexican to frame
State constitution, republican IN its character ana
shall embrace him as an equal in privilege, and
counsel as to the policy of our glorious Union.
If California has framed constitution prema-
turey, and without consultation with Congress as
to the proper time, because we have not discharged
our duty to her people, when am ofhciaiiy
informed that New Mexico is expected to do tho
same thing-these people to whom anarchy or
military rule is an improvement feel that there
is no longer plea for delay in the performance of
our duty But again: must express my ex-
treme dissemination to the continuance OF gov
eminent over any part of the American people,
in which an officer Of the regular army plays the
governor and the power Of the State is maintain
ed by military authority. II is aprecedent only
unsuitable in case Of extreme necessity-a pre-
cedent to be dispensed with as soon as possible,
not to be prolonged indefinitely satrapai power
uncongenial to the spirit Of American institutions
lat war with every notion of just government IN
Ian uxyotay, tf.r xbIc
ted-dangerous in its example TO the rights OF the
citizen, and the liberty Of the States.
And why shall we not perform our duty, our
whole duty, to these infant provinces?
Tell me not it is the plan of the Administration
| to delay. ! have already commented upon the
views of the President According to my con-
structon, he says to us, by implication as torci-
bic rs language can convey, that our duty is APP
parent to him, if we have the patriotism to dis
charge it-at oil events, it is apparent to me- MY
action as legislator is the consequence OF my
own judgment. pursue the true spirit OF the
declaration of the Executive, that the lndepen-
dence Of the representative is Indispensable to the
preservation of our system of self-governmenf,
and that he owes no responsibility to any human
power but his own constituents.
acknowledge the astuteness OF those VINO nave
rallied upon what they are now pleased 70 term
g the plan of the Administration Sir, the Ex-
ecutive who heads this Administration, holds the
doctrine (f understand the principle upon which,
above all others, he came into power) that plans
are to be devised here-in the legislature-and
merely TO be executed by the department OF which
the President is the chief. Justice to the Presl-
dent will not authorize the declaration that this I'D
ministration is committed 10 any plan. II VIII sub,
scribe cheerfully to whatever constitutional amt
consderate plan the wisdom of Congress may de-
wise. The motive inducing the adoption OF the
principle of g non-action are so clearly displayed
in a letter Of the gentleman from New York,
| as
any power Of analysis for their comprehension.
The policy surrenders no view Of the 8 Free Soil
party. Proceeding upon an expectation that the
territories viii voluntarily exclude slavery II re-
serves the power to interdict II by express egis-
ation should the territories fail to do So 1t APP
plies the fable Of the aggos to this case, intro.
ducing one State at time, carved out OF parts OF
the public domain, under the practical assertion
Of principle, the immediate application OF which
the whole domain would be SO obnoxious to the
slaveholding States as to be mtolerabe. BY re-
fusing to act at all il throws the onus Of all agta
ton apparently upon the slave States. 1t finally
attempts to clothe itself with the name OF an
{. Administration plan," and to. bring to its and
the popularity and name Of the President OF the
United States.
Mr. Chairman, / know no party or section, in
the adjustment of this delicate and difficult subject
In my reflection, / find that the geographical ex-
tremes of the country are most excited, and least
likely to listen to terms Of Cancellation and accom-
modation have tried to embrace the whoie
country, and to know no guide but the common
good II you will accept the counsel of the bor-
ders where the different systems Of labor come
into contact, this controversy will be settled IN
day If its adjustment rested solely upon the
voice Of the vallics Of the Ohio and MISSISSIPPI,
it would not last a week. No speakers seem to
have realized the fact, that in this Government
there is region where cotton and sugar do not
grow, and where manufactures and navigation are
not the only employments Of industry. There Is
such region, and lis united roce ,ril De heard ~
is region that the hand of Omnipotence has
marked for the heart Of splendid empire. Already
the great granary of the continents directly 1t viii
be the centre of political power, as well as OF the
military strength Of the union--l mean the val
hes of the Ohio and Mississippi. The interests
Of that people are identical, no matter whether
they i've in free State or slave State and they
cannot be induced to sacrifice their welfare or their
friendship for the triumph of any extreme doc
trine about slavery. The farmers of the West see
capital industriously engaged in contriving the
ways and means Of commerce between them and