New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-26
WASHINGTON.
Judge Baker and Slavery In New-Mexics.
Correspondence of The N Y. Tribune.

Judge Baker and Slavery in ew-Mexics.
Correspondence of The N Y. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Monday, Feb. 90, 1854
have been waiting to see what notice,
if any, would be taken OF the letter you publishsda
week since from Judge Grafton Baker, tof Nss.
Mexico, in which he denies that he has been pur.
chasing any slaves in this city, with the view 10 tale
them out to that Territory, and which Winds up in
very vague and mysterious intimaton that he knows
more than most people about the adaptation Of that
country to slaveholding. II seems to me that TIL.
letter should nos be permitted to pass in entire
silence especially The Republic, OF this city, -
well as other papers elsewhere, giving circula'
ton TO paragraph, purporng to be drawn from 1t,
TO the effect that Judge Baker has denied In The Tn
bte the charge that he intends to take slaves out to
New.Mexico. Now do not see, In his letter, that
Judge Baker has made any such denial lie denies
simply, as understand his letter, only very i'm
material part Of the charge, namely, that he has
been bry,,g slaves IN Washington. The man charge,
the most material part OF the accusation he 10
the owner OF slaves,-that he intends to take then
out to New-Mexico as slaves, to introduce Slavery
there-stil stands This, Judge Baker has not denied,
Will he deny it, Has the universal rumor that be
the owner of slaves,-that he has himself avowed y
gentlemen here his intention to take them out with
does not tell US, and why ! Will he inform usi !.
is material to his full vndication. II matters very
little whether the slaves were bought here, or In
Mississippi, or anywhere else, or whether they
ever bought at all, provided they are slaves, and
are to be taken as such to New-Mexico. II he has
had no intention to take them to that Territory then
Judge Baker has done himself less than justice IL the
matter, for he has himself announced his intention
To .in n AZ 1e at m
he has, in this intention, undergone a change Of
heart, and no longer empla.es doing it, for
shall be glad to have from the Judge that assurance
The closing portion Of his letter also demandss
word of notice What did his Honor mean BY ~
He rebukes the author OF the communication to yos
for his ignorance as to the adaptation OF New.MsI.
leo to slavehOldIng, and PROCESSES TO think that II
be had known more about 1t he would not have
thought of making the charge he did against the
Judge. While am content to leave that gentle.
man to fight his own battles, and be is abundlnty
able, let me simply ask Mr. BAKER what are his own
views upon the adaptation Of tn region to Slavery
II not suited to that interesting institution, how
long has his Honor been Of that opinion Is this
new conviction, or one tina. he has for some time
entertained, even when he was himself giving out
his intention TO take his slaves out with him on his
returni
If such is not, after all, his real opinion, but only
his intention to have 1t so inferred from his vague
and iil-dehned expression of his superior knowledge
in regard to it, will he not let the world know what
he does think upon the subject He has said too
much to be silent to what are his real views and
intentions. Thus far he has denied only very i'm
material part Of the charge can he deny the more
material portions Of it Until he has made some
such denial at least let The Republic and other jour
nails, over.anxious to clear an appointee Of the Ad-
minstration, not deny for him than he Is will
ing to take upon himself to deny. 1t will DO time
enough to state that denial when It has been made
IrHURIBL.