The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-24

should have oeen no diss .t,fe,sn eSar.s',d - ~;
name or by his authori' y 's'u IA MS
Let us look little o,yy,hs, ;.,o III;
which make most nantml,v Whsn Io aaJ.a
,hs,s wnn,d sJ"' time SINCE was in hopes that
o,ssr WI ~ ave been Tecprocaton from the
scheme The avenue, Of approval of the entire
Of ;tssIr ather than OF This part Of il only which
harm would exasperate and aggravate, instead of
81 ;onlzing the country. did hope that we
souid nave had some sign, in some form or other
Oh me executive satisfaction with the entire scheme
Let us look at the condition of these territories
and OF the country. Iendeavor to observation-disclosures
NV The bye, ii is a discrimination essential to the
public mind IN Just cons. Iteration Of the subject
between non-action in regard to slavery, and nom
action il respects the government of people, who
by the ordinances of Providence and the course of
events have come to our hands to be taken care of
Here, cir, let me pause amoment to recall topic
to which ought TO have advered before; i mean
the question OF there being nothing done for the
South in these territorial governments. What, sir
is there nothing done for the South, when the satu
9po is left for the South What has she been COM
planning of all along? The Wilmot proviso; the
poviso which, if it be fasenedupon this MEASURE as
trust il may not, fear, will lead to evil results
and increase the difficulty of satisfying Southern
men. Their great effort, their sole aim, almost
was to escape from this provso. The proviso is
not in the bill. The bill is silent that point.
The bill is active upon the subject of slavery
The bill admits, if slavery sthere, there it remains;
it admits, if slavery is not there, that there 1t is
not. The bill is neither Southern or Northern
it is equal 1t is compromise which will not
dishonor or disgrace any man who is de-
srous Of healing the wounds of his coun-
try. Yes, sir the bill provides that this terri
tory shall be left open to the same condition in
which it is. If slavery is there, il remains; if
not, it does not go there. The South has not tri-
umphed; she maintains that Congress has right
to legislate for its introduction or inhibition.
Neither party triumphs. Each has an open field
before it. The proviso, on the one hand, is repu-
dated by the committee; and on the other hand, no
attempt is made favor Southern interests by the
of &
very or admitting il into the territories. beg par
don for this depression from the subject immediate
ly in view, which was TO contrast the recommended
ton OF the President with that Of the Committee of
Thirteen.
The recommendation of the President stops, as
have already said, with the simple introduction of
with which, standing by ITSELF there have been the
strongest manifestations of dissatisfaction in the
Southern portion of the country. The measure
proposes TO leave all else untouched and unprovided
for. Let us see what will be the condition of all
else, thus left untouched!
The first proximate territory to California is
Utah. In what condition is that left by the Presi
dents Message! Without any government at all.
Without even-call il blessing or a curse, as you
may view ia military government. There is TO
be no government except such a self-protective
government as the Mormons shall erect for them
selves Until the common parent shall extend its
power and authority over it, Utah will have no GO
veTnment at ell
Then we come to New Mexico; and in what con-
with a military government, which is no govern
ment.
Let me call your attention upon this point of the
subject TO what has been said by the delegate from
that territory, in address which has recently
been made TO the people there Willmy colleague
read il for me
Mr.. UNDERWOOD having read the extract referred
Mr. Clay resumed With regard to Utah, you
leave no government whatever, except such as the
Mormons have been driven by their necessities TO
create; and when you come TO New Mexico, hers
is military government, under Colonel-a Lieu
tenant Colonel of the army of the United States
is the governing power of New Mexico in a time
Of profound peace. We had doubt about the au-
thonty of the late President of the United States,
even in time of war, and ii was cause OF reproach
against him, 10 establish military government
But here in time OF profound peace, IT is proposed
that such a government be continued-by what
authority il has been esa blished, sustained since
the peace ensued, ] know not-but that such gov
eminent should be continued indefinitely, until New
Mexico should be prepared to come in as a State.
And when will that be! She has now about
ten thousand people, Mexicans, Spanish and Anne
ricans; and about ten or twenty thousand Indians
civilized half civilized, and uncivilized, barbarous
nnd Wild And cay it hcrs place, under all the
responsibilities ofmy official position that il she
10 come here tomorrow with such a population as
that, and with such constitution such popu-
lation could make, for one would not vote for her
admission State into the Union. She has no
sort Of preparation, moral or political. She has not
shown herself to be capable Of sefgovernment, nor
has she done anything emitting her to admission,
nor will she, in my opinion, for many years to
come, be entitled to admission a State into this
Union. And yet the plan Of the President is TO
leave this military government in full operation
under Lieut. Colonel, when We have this evil
dence before u.s. by a representative of New Mex-
co, that he himself declares that they have very
good laws. But what sort Of a governor is this
military commander who is placed over them Z /
suppose one Of the first and greatest objects Of GO
verment is protectionl to the people, defence OF
territory, and repulsing invasion within the limits
of the country. How does this military governor,
acting, as II is said, under the authority Of the Sec
rotary Of War, behave upon the first approach Of
an invasiona Commissioners are sent (they are
perhaps the mere pioneers Of an army from Texas
into New Mexico, claiming the territory on this
side of the Rio del Norte as the property Of Texas
And what does this Mexican governor do De-
fend his domains l-repel threatened inva-
sion 7 No such thing. He says that he means to
be neutral and has Instructions from head quar-
tiers TO be neutral-upon this contested point be-
tween the people of Santa Fe, or New Mexico. and
the people OF Texas The governor Of this very
people declares that he means to take part in
the contest between the two parties, but to leave
them TO fight il out as well as they can with the
power Of Texas. And what American say
that, under circumstances like these, il is UNSUITABLE
In him to give no protection And SIR, what be-
comes Of the sacred obligations Of the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo Ofall the honorable disiinc-
tons that characterize man, in a social. aggregate,
individual station, the fulhlment or observance
Of contracts IN private life, or OF treaties in public
probation Of enlightened mankind. Yet here, with
that provision OF the treaty staring in the face,
which requires us TO extend protection and govern
ment to the people Of Utah and the people Of New
Mexico, we told that we may safely-it is not
said, admit, in terms, but IL is so in effective
may safely withdraw from the fuhlmeni Of our
Obligations, and leave these people themselves to
work out their own salvation and happiness well
as they may.
Under what circumstances, il Congress were TO
adjourn without an adjustment Of this territorial
boundary question. without the establishment Of |
territorial governments for Utah and New Mexico,
would be left the people Of New Mexico. east OF
the Rio del Norte. in this conflict with Texas Sir,
! need not remind you Of what every body knows
of the settled purpose Of dislike and insufierabe
antipathy existing upon the part Of the people Of
New Mexico towards Texas, disowning their au-
thorty denying their conquests, contravening the
existence of their laws and night, and II they have
Yet all this is 10 he let alone and left TO take care
of itself hy the plan Of the President.