The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-07
No. 46.

for the exercise Of State sovereignty, when will
they be qualified? They have for twenty years
past exercised the rights and privileges of self gov
ernment, and the measure now before the Senate
proposes 10 extend to them the same rights II does
then appear TO me to be strange and extraordi-
nary position for Senators to take, when they de-
clare that they will under no circumstances, vote
to admit New Mexico into the Union State.
What! not admit New Mexico State to heal
the bleeding wounds of the country? Not to restore
the harmony of the countrys Not even to save the
Union! can neither comprehend the reason nor
the patriotism OF such a declaration. cannot ap-
prcciate the exquisteness OF the sentiment OF ten
derness to the interests of the people, that, for the
sake OF some further politco- educational training
or to save them the expense OF State government,
or to preserve them from the injuries of unwise
State legislature, would leave this great country
exposed to all the evils of continued agitation and
discord.
tionaDle, because it contempatcs the admission OF
New Mexico as State without settling the bound :
aries of Texas; and should State be 80 admitted
and the Supreme Court should decide in favor OF
the claims Of Texas to all the territory of the
Rio Grande, the anomaly would be presented of a
State without territory or inhabitants, or small
portion of either as To despair of all preensions
to such rank But is that just view of the policy
recommended by the President The President
distinctly recommended to Congress to provide some
plan for the settlement of the Texas boundary
Were 1t proposed to-day to authorize New Mexico
to form State constitution, with view to her ad
mission into the Union a State, Congress would
have the power to make the same proposition to
Texas for the adjustment of her boundary which is
made in the bill under debate any other which
might be deemed expsdientI and the embarrass-
ment would be greater in the case than in
the other have now done with this part of the
subject
The policy of the President is to leave the inhab-
tants of New Mexico at liberty to settle the aues-
ton of slavery for themselves, without any inter-
vention the part of Congress, and to put an end
to all agitation on the subject present and future.
He advised that they be authorized to form State
constitution and be admitted into the Union as
State. The plan Of the Committee of Thirteen,
having the same general and patriotic object in
view, proposes to establish territorial government
for New Mexico, without any intervention on the
the question of slavery. ! have cndcavored to de-
monstrate, and think have done so successfully,
that the plan of the committee will not put an end
to the agitation connected with this Territory but
that the plan of the President will. And think
that have further shown that, so far as respects
the interests Of the South, the policy of the Pres-
dent is more favorable to them than the provisions
of the measure under debate. The only other real
difference between the two plans is, that the
proposes the admission of New Mexico into the
Union a State at some early day, while the other
contemplates the postponement Of that event until
some future and more remote period. would my
self prefer, on some grounds, that New Mexico
should not be admitted into the Union as q State at
any very early period, yet there considerations
and public interests connected with this subject
which far outweigh any fair objections that can be
made to the opposite policy, and fully justify the
early admission of New Mexico a State.
omit any notice of the Mormon settlement; they
are a people who fled from the protection of the
laws of the States in which they have heretofore
sided; and they arc prosperng, 1t is understood,
under their present voluntary association and gov
ernment They arc in the enjoyment of such por
ton Of the public domain as they have thought pro-
per to appropriate to themselves. Give them the
protection of our arms against the Indians, and it
matters but little whether any government be pro-
vidcd for them now or ten years to come. Ger
tainly there is no obligation to provide a separate
government for these people at the hazard Of any
great Inconvenience or embarrassment TO the whole
country.
Mr.. President, there may be said to be three diff
ferent plans for the adjustment Of this unfortunate
and distracting question: the plan Of the Committee
of Thirteen; the plan of the President and the pro-
position of those gentlemen of the South who say
that they would be satisfied with the Missouri
compromise line, if adopted in its true spirit.
The honorable Senator from Mississippi, (Mr.
FooTE,) stated, in speech a few days since, that
the measure now before the Senate the only
plan of adjustment in regard to these Terrific
rics, which could pass. The distinguished Senator
from Kentucky (Mr. CLAy) has, upon more than
one occasion, expressed a similar sentiment and it
has been widely disseminated through the country.
The Senator from Mississippi rested his statement
that no other measure but the one before us could
receive the sanction of Congress, on the ground
that the distinguished Senators from kentucky,
(Mr. CLAy,) Michigan, (Mr. CAss,) and Massa-
chusetts, Dir. WEBsTER,) have declared their un-
alterable determination not 10 vote for the adms-
sion of New Mexico State into the Union
Mr.. FoorE. state, with perfect conscentious-
ness and with a complete conviction of what / say,
that if New Mexicoi is admitted a State the Union
cannot continue TO exist. Instead of settling the
question and healing the wound, il would ma Ike the
wound incurable. / speak in reference TO the well
known sentiment OF the South.
Mr. Bell. have already shown that the true
interests of the South would be promoted by the ad
mission Of New Mexico as State. But, at the same
time, the announcement made that no mea-
sure but the under debate could pass and after
triumphantly defending himself from the calum-
nice which he considered had been hcaped upon
him at home. the honorable Senator from Nissis-
sippi MIR. EooTs) proceeded TO assail the Admin
istration in a manner which astonished me- under
the circumstances; for j supposed that, from the
duty he had just discharged to himself, he would
have had more charity for others. will not trust
to recollection for his words; ] have them here
printed:
1--WE arc informed that the people of New Mex.
leo are engaged in an attempt ~ establish State
government; yes, sir, that such a government, in
name at least, has already been set on foot. Under
what authority all this has been DONE we do not at
present know; but hope that the resolution which
had the honor to offer on yesterday, and which
has this morning been adopted, will shortly secure
US full information upon the subject This much,
though, will undertake 10 cay at present that
whoever be the man that has either planned insti-
gated, sanctioned this vile scheme, is not pa.
triot, but insidious traitor to the public veal
an enemy 10 MS country, whose pcrluy aud incl
fable profigacy hope may ere long be branded
with indelible infamy. Sir, this attempt TO cstab
lish and organize State government in New Mex
leo at this time was obviously intended to aid in
defeating our plan Of adjustment, and retain the
country in its present excited condition."
Now, sir, have never understood that the Prcsi-
dent has given any other orders to the officers
commanding the forces in New Mexico, or TO
any other agent Of the Government, than those
which have been submitted 10 Congress in relation
even to the formation Of State constitution or as
20 the course which he resolved TO pursue
should Texas seek by force possess herself Of the
territory claimed ON the upper Rio Grande We
may infer, from his last coinmuuicat ton to Con-
gress upon this subject that he will consider il his
duty TO maintain the possession Of New Mexico
until the question of the boundary shall be adjusted
Mr.. FooTE. Will the Senator allow me a mo.
ment of explanation,
Mr.. BgLL. With great pleasure, sir.
Mr.. FooTE. II the Senator had examined nv
phraseology a little more closely, he would have
found that cautiously avoided charging the Pres.
idcnt or bis Cabinet with any interference in this
affair. spoke Of the conduct of the lieutenant
colonel, acting with or without orders as the care
might turn out TO be- Now, any defence which
the Senator may set up, in behalf of the Admins
trstion, against any thing have said, will be an
implied ackpowl wledgment on his part that the Pres.
ident and his Cabinet at the bottom Of this pro-
ceeding; which have not charged, and which it
NvoulI ,riyc rpc tGca. -,