The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-14

Mexico previous to the conquest and therefore,
by the very terms Of the Treaty with Mexico
no,c citizens Of the United States
He fortihes this opinion by extracts from Mex
lean DEGREES, approved In 1921 and 1912, and
adds The nomsd tribes are always spoken OF
as savsges, or GsHileS, while the Pueblos are as
uniformly recognised as citizens and Chia'GHS"
In regard to the worthiness Of the Pueblos TO De
citizens, he says:
al shall not be understood, Of course, as max
ing any invidious comparison between them ana
other portions Of our citizens, when merely state
what is admitted by all, not even excepting the
Governor himself In point Of honesty, INDUSTRY,
and virtue, 1t IL universally admitted that 'nty
are, to say the least quite equal to the great mass
Of the other citizens In point OF hdiH'a in.eii'-
gence, believe they are not thought TO Dc inie,
rior to any and 30 far as my own observation anu
experience has extended, there is quite as great
proportion of them able to read and write as Oh
our Mexican population, and grester proportion
Of them who manifest desire to improve upon
the stock Of information they possess
"Nor can the plea Of prejudice always mean
and paltry plea in itself) be urged here in extern
ustion of the Governors recommendation Ills
plea might be urged, perhaps, by a few Americans
whose pr9udicss run away with both tbeir COM
mon sense and their sense Of justice. IL might
perhaps be urged by some covetous Mexicans VINO
are DESTROYS to get possession OF the fertile
valleys" Of their Pueblo neighbors. But win
the great mass Of our population, no such pre)u-
dice exists, and the Governor has not even this
most ptifu and pusilsnimous of all pleas to plead
for bis recommendation. | have DO doubt but
that the Legislature and the General Government
when properly informed) will be inclined to do
Ia p,ak 10 a.t ind
Of the Governors suggestion to the contrary and
here am willing to rest the matter Of their de-
fencep
In the Territorial Legislature, on the Goth Of
June. Mr.. Skinner submitted o resolution calling
on the Governor for all the instructions he may
have received from the President Of the United
States or the Indian Department, to justify him
in proclaiming that "the Pueblo Indians are not
part and parcel of the political community Of
the people Of New Mexico" Adopted.
A bill has been introduced in the House, by
Mr.. Baird, providing for the exemption of q
homestead from forced sale.
The right Of the Pueblo Indians to citizenship,
by the terms of the Treaty, seems to be clear and
we have information from New Mexico going to
show that this opinion is generally entertained in
the Territory The Pusblos were regarded as
citizens under the Mexican Republic, prior to the
e.s.ssutst y, inc on,tsa 5rae y. he ~ < Z. :.
DISTINGUISHING them appears to be to cut down the
vote Of Freedom in the Territory, and thus give
advantages to slavery in future trial Of strength
in the adoption of Constitution. We trust that
Congress will decide this question at an early
day after its meeting, and not permit any portion
of our citizens to be disfranchised by the unau-
thorized acts OF any Government official