Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-03-22

TIE Legislature of New Mexico, IN i85S-59, passed
aN Tor the protection of slave property in that terri
tory and this year bill presented IN the House OF
REPRESENTATIVE for its repeal The House not only in
dgnantly rejected the BILL but requested the member
who presented to resign his position as Speaker OF the
House. which request be deemed it wise to comply with
We sUboin extract from the report OF the commit
tee to whom the bill was referred in order to show the
common sense grounds which the bill was rejected
It is by purchase that the United States derive their
title to jurisdiction the Territory of New Mexico
That purchase was consummaed by the treaty OF Qua
dalupe Hdago, concluded in 1649 with the Republic of
Mexico For the sovereign jurisdiction over this Ter
ritory ana California the United States under that
convention paid money price and consideration That
price and consideration paul. not by any one OF the
STATES by any class of the States whether slaVehOd
ing nonslagehoding nor by any number the States
less than the whole. 1t came from the treasury
of all the States had been contributed by ALL and was
the property of all Thus therefore, by the purchase
so made New Mexico became the territory not of any
class any portion of the States but of all alike and in
common. Whatever advantages were expected from It's
acquisition for the benefit not of any class or any
portion Of the States of their citizens but for each
and all who might avail themselves of them, without dis
tincton or discrimination. In seeking to avail himself
of those advantages the citizen OF any of the States had
and has the right TO to the Territory and bring
with him his property, IN whatever it may consist The
citizen whose property consists IN slaves has the
right to bring them and demand protection them
that any other citizen has to bring his money, his
chandise or stock So it expressly determined
late the year 1857, by the Supreme Court of the
United States in the celebrated case known the
bred Scott case" This right Of the of slaves
being thus mcOntrOveFtibly established both by
and by the highest judicial ad udication the Terri
toral Government rghtfuly refuse to him protection
for his property when the protection of all property this
equally with eny other, of the primary objects
of lis own Institution? Can it righttully attempt in
this to exclude large class of citizens for whose
benefit and 10y whose money, equally other citizens
the Territory Itself acquired aud incorporated III
the Union? 10 contend tb0t the Territorial Govern
mcnt mGy d0 thtS IS to maintain the G5sUrdHy that
citjcen may haze RIGHT echch right The Government
| may righttiMy disregard, defeat and DESTROY.
But this territory not only acquired by the
treasure of all the States but It's great government
al affairs have been conducted and administered since
its acquisition at the common expense OF all The Lee
gslatve the Executive, the Judicial branches of the
Territorial government the military force, the Indian
affairs, the land surveys and the mail service have all
been maintained and conducted from the common funds
Of all the States of the Union; contributed by all the
citizens OF ALL and arising from the property of ALL
And so it must continue as long as New Mexico re-
mains Territory OF the Union Would it be just then
surprising that rightuIy possessed the power to
Guide large class OF citizens who equally with any 9th
erS contribute their to these purposes from the
benefits Of that protection which is due to their proper
ty as to that OF any other property? We answer no.
Common justice, then, well constitutional duty
requires that the awnaking power OF this territory
far from destroying or impalring the security OF the
property Of the of slaves, shall imparaly as to-
wards other property, supply every defect which may
hereafter be discovered in the remedies already provided
for him