The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-28

snairs of New No xieo
Ma. EDITOR In your paper OF the 2ith instant ind
letter. signed by the Hon X III Weightman delegat.
from New Mexico. which produced by The Hon M,
Foote and read in the Senate in the debate on the com
promise measures.
would trouble the public with notice OF this Ia
bored repetition OF words that really have no app,i
cation 10 our Territory. or the Mexican peopls Il
the honorable delegate had not. unfairly, and with
out any reason, brought 10 the notice of The NH
lie lie Santa Fe Gazette. He says "A vyo,ou.
eHor, this year made 10 interest the peope in mi.
vexed question, but IN vain. document entitled Al
dress to the inhabitants OF New Mexico and Caiforn;,
on the omission by Cons to provide them with terri;
toral governments. and on the social and political s
of slavery indusnously circulated in New Msy;co
in the Spanish language, by agent of the American ami
Foreign Anti Slavery Society, who is at this time editor
of the Santa Fe Gazetlein the columns Of which pan,r
he is epublshng occasional chapters of this document
From the above statement ii would be inferred that
large and copous had been published in the Ga
zette from the " document in question; which is not
true
IT is believed that the only part Of the documen"re.
erred TO that appeared in the columns of the Gazette
occurs in review OF Governor Calhouns message 10 the
territorial legislature in May last, and answer TO
the following extract from that mes age:
The relations between masters and poems should be dis
ncy defined, and each should understood their respective
obigationsj and appropriate remedies Tor violation of
them, upon the part of either. should be provided.
- Free negroes regarded
aud Territory ia the Union, and where they oeIaed
ety degraded. Iuus tho legislature will pass a
law that will prevent their into this Territory
The Disgusting degradation 10 which society subjected
by their presence IS obvious 10 NIL and demands prohb
tory act Of the severest character"
1t believed only by The editor, but the propric-
tor OF the Gazette, and the citizens generally of Santa
Fe that his exceency had in the above extract done in
justice TO those sections Of the Union where free negroes
were tolerated; and in combating his views in reference
TO this matter the extract occurs used doubtless save
the trouble TO make similar calculation 10 cover the
ground assumed
| The idea that the editor wished 10 bias the Mexican
mind the subject of slavery is perfectly rdcuous-for
he knew aud 40 did all persons acquainted with the
Mexican people in that Territory, that they do not under.
stand that question ii applies to the institutions OF the
United States and, more than this they nothing
about it.
The honorable delegate msconceves the facts in re-
gard TO this famous pamphlet II is well known that no
industry" used in its circulation The few that were
put in the hands of the Mexicans lit is believed not to
exceed twenty copies) were intended as reading
matter than from desire to conyer them 10 the doctrines
of free soil He that would undertake such task must
indeed be welded TO those principles. ! ain sure the ed
tor had such design he knew well the calibre'
of the poems and the OF the Mexican people to I'M
dertake reaeh their intelligence with the subject of
! ree-soiI.
The honorable delegate could safely hazard the opin-
ion that negro could be held to service in The courts of
New Mexico without producing popuidr excitement
II is well known that there has not, perhaps passed
week for the last hundred years that similar cases
have no, been brought before the inferior courts in that
territory with regard to their eioic eisens under
the system OF peonoge still in force under our own
laws To bring that class of the Mexican population
before these courts, and force them to serve, has, is
| believed, ever been principle OF The Mexican laws.
The service thus required is serve that required
of the slaves Of the United States and they by no
IL ,l.l f.l al
have been often known where the child has been re-
qured and Jrced do service for that due from de-
ceased parent, and this produced popular ereenent
The honorable delegate, in his enumeration OF the
slaves in Territory, omitted TO mention the Indians
who held 10 service by the Mexican people These
known 10 be and should be overlooked
They consist mostly of females-Navajo children-who
are captured in the of punder that has existed for
many years between the Meyicans and these Indiana
These children held IS servants, many of them
during life, and bought and sold as such The
treaties that have been made by the agents of our gov
eminent with those Indians saua,e for the delivery of
those prisoners, but has been found impossible TO com
ply with this condition. The owners, many of them
unwilling TO part with this property, and they canno,
be identified so TO force delivery.
Another description OF these Indian servants who are
still more numerous. is obtained from one Of the degra
ded tribes OF the Utahs inhsbitng the valleys of the
Sieue Nevada. They are aso mostly females, and are
bought when children, IRON ther own people, by the
Mexican traders. Under the Mexican government thi,
was profitable trade. have known as many as twenty
brought TO the Territory time and sold as servant,
for lfe who considered much the property OF the
purchaser his mule any other species OF property
owned by him; and his right to hold them was never
questioned.
do no, make this statement simply for the purpose oil
contestng the opinion OF delegate, meddng with
the vexed question of slavery As citizen of New
Meyco feel myself beyond the n1ue nee of that
ton My only object is TO Place the affairs OF our Ter
rlory understandingy before the government and the
people which my long residence in that country entities
me to believe can do during this winter
A CITIZEN OF NEW MEXICO.
WAsmNGroH, Dec. 81, 1851.