The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-29

now spoken Of not az New Mexico, but as va
cant territory of the United States. But New
Mexico has just exactly the same rights, in com
ing into this Union, that Texas had She is
annexed by conquest and Texas by treaty; but
Texas was admitted into the Union by treaty as
State, and New Mexico was admitted into the
Union by treaty to be converted into State
There is, then, only one question arising out OF
this subject; and that is whether it is necessary
for the protection Of the people Of New Mexico
that they shall be admitted rs State now That
is the question in dispute, stated in the way most
favorable to those who oppose the interests Of
New Mexico. There is boundary question in
dispute between the people OF New Mexico and
Texas. The government of the United STATES
is now engaged in providing for the settlement
of that boundary. Texas is a State, and is rep
resented here, and she is invited to appoint com
missiOners, rs an equal of the United States, fol
the settlement Of this boundary. X
New Mexico, the equal of Texas in right, ir
justice, in position, and in everything except the
fact that you have not given to her the State
government you have engaged to give, is unrep-
sented before you and among you, and for that
reason alone. She is unrepresented in this hall
--she is unrepresented in either chamber oi
Congress. Heryoice is not heard in the elec-
sentative and yet you are entertaining the ques-
ton of the dismemberment of her territory,
and the subjugation of great part of it to Tex
as, without even giving to New Mexico hear
ing. Fulfil your treaty engagement; bring New
Mexico in as State, and let her be heard in
this debate. Let us hear her wrongs; let us
hear her story of her grievances, | have no
donbt that it will be as eloquent am sure il
will be as just--as the exposition of the rights
of Texas, which we hear every day. Bring
New Mexico here, then, before you decide upon
her fate Give her hearing, I" Strike,' if you
will, but hear" "se l6 F5e,8
Ii you bring in New Mexico as State, as she
is entitled to come, you have then security that
justice will be done by your commissioners. II
you amend your bill by allowing her, as have
provided in my amendment, to appoint commits
sioners equal in authority, and powers and dig
nifty with those of Texas, then the United States
will stand equal and impartial between these
two contestants---these two interests. Who
will refuse a proposition, conceived in justice
like this Admit New Mexico, and then you
can pass this bill without denying to New Mexi-
CO the justice that you profess to be willing to
award to Texas. But, sir, bring New Mexico
into the United States, and you will have re-
moved all difficulties in the way of settling this
question judicially. The constitution and laws
provide for the settlement of this question, and
provide for the settlement of it by law, without
the interposition of the military arms Of the
State.
n Texas will find respondent whenever she
chooses to file bill in the Supreme Court OF
the United States, to assert her claim to that
territory. New Mexico will go before that an
gust tribunal and will stand in an attitude very
different from that which she maintains Here
the laws Of the land will regardher as an equal
and Texas as an equal, and each as equal to the
United States. Her representative, appointed
Housa Of Representatives,. With the fact be.
fore you, known to the world, acknowledged in
this very debate this day, that the people of New
Mexico are on their way here with their consti.
tuition, by two senators and representative, to
lay their rights and wrongs before you, implorc
you to wait You are consuming all the hours
of this day--every day--in anticipating their ar
rival, in order to be able to say to New Mexico
that the door was shut before she arrived. This
sir, is the justice and this is the magnanimity o.
the United States of America! This the mag
nanimity which is shown to q conquered and /
helpless and harmless people! Sir, there is moi
in the history Of the Roman empire an ambition
for aggrandizament so marked as that which has
distinguished the career of the American people
There is not in Roman history transaction SO
unjust as this. What is the reason---what is
the policy of such untimely haste-sueh violent
haste! ,s,,s,.. lsIs
The question we are upon, is not with New
Mexico; it does not concern New Mexico. New
Mexico is a stranger to it. The question before
us, and which has engaged us from the com
mencement of the session until now, and which
threatens to engage us to the end of the session
is not the admission of New Mexico, or the set
tlement of the boundaries of New Mexico, but
the right of California to be admitted into the
Union. Detach this question from both, ano
leave the measure to stand upon its own merits
and leave the bill to contain only the measures
which are necessary, and you will afford New
Mexico the time to arrive here, and to give her
hearing; and if then you pronounce against her
she must submit, because from that decision there
is no appeal Well, sir, what apology can be
offered for this violation of the rights OF New
Mexico? It is said that we are to prererve
peace, sir. How is peace to be preserved by the
exclusion Of New Mexico from hearing, and
giving notice to the whole world that you have
refused to admit her to a participation in this
commission and determined to reject her consti-
tuition, to disorganise her government, and then,
uLer tne EpSe OI year, OF TWO OF Iliree years,
that commission comes back, bringing with it all
the excitement of this hour, together with the
increased excitement consequent upon agitation
throughout this broad land--agitation increased
by new injustice! Sir, those who expect to
make peace in this way, in my judgment,
-s s'Stem the stream with sand,
And bind the flames with haxen band"
There will be no peace, unless hearing is given
to New Mexico. = a N
Il know, sir, that the constitution of New
Mexico is not here. That is not her fault nor
my fault. 1t is enough that she has a constitu-
ton, a constitution of her own choice, that fact
is known; and my amendment provides for as
certaining the adoption Of the constitution by
official authority, in an official and conclusive
way. 1t provides for the admission of New
Mexico, when her constitution shall be offered
here and filed in the Department Of State, by a
proclamation to that effect issued by the Presi-
dent of the United States All the world knows
the contents of the constitution of New Mexico
historically; and although it would be more
regular to have the constitution before us to
examine its provisions, yet if the question must
be whether New Mexico shall be admitted now