Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-01-14

they demand that representation and tax
, alton should 60 together. thank you for
, the attention you have given me-"
JUDGE g. b. AXTELL's
vigorous English touched responsive
cord in the heart Of every man present.
He said:
1T appears very inconsistent that the
oldest settled portion of the United States
should remain territory. The admis-
sion OF states into the union is matter
entirely within the power of congress. 1t
does not depend on the number of peo-
pie that live in territory nor does it
depend upon the wealth or personal ad-
vantage of the members of q section of
country. 1t depends entirely upon the
sovereign will of congress whether peo-
pie shall be admitted to the honor and
privileges of statehood, or not unless that
has been in some way changed by
treaty at the time section OF country
was obtained, unless it belonged to the
original states. At the time that this
country, was obtained by the United
States the country now known Us Utah
was also obtained. Utah has a much
greater population than New Mexico, and
much greater wealth, but she contains
within herself institutions and a condi-
ton of society that units her to become
q ,aember of this union. suppose that
f.Ite ls universal sentiment in the
mltted on account OF her moral status.
She was obtained under the same treaty
that this country was obtained. There
fore, take it that we can not claim that
We can demand admission on account of
treaty stipulations. The question natur-
ally arises at this point, is there any
thing in our conduct, in our social or
moral status, to exclude us from admission
and class us with the territory of Utah ?
1t becomes o question of intense social
interest, and question which necessarily
arises in the breast Of every citizen of this
territory whether We should come for.
ward and state truthfully the condition
We are in, SO that the congress of the
United States may understand whether
we are to be classed with criminals and
kept out of the union, or whether as citi-
zens We should be admitted into the
union. II the question had not been
raised at this time our exclusion might
not do us any hurt but as the question
has been raised, and as the assertion has
been broadly made throughout the country
at large and in congress that we are unfit,
by our conduct, by our knowledge, by our
legislation, by our laws, and by our ignor-
ance, to take our place as citizens, it be-
comes exceedingly interesting to us all
that We face these questions squarely and
honestly, and endeavor to place ourselves
as we really are before the whole of the
United States.
There is gentleman present, a native
Of the territory, who delivered some years
ago, an address and while he did not
apologize for the people OF New Mex
leo, he said there were may circum-
stances which excused them for not hav-
ing made that rapid advancementl which
has marked many Of the states OF this
Union. The absence of telegraph lines
and railroads as means of communica-
ton with the outside world, and the hos
tile attacks of Indians, should be taken
into consideration, and that if they had
not made the progress they should have
made, they were to be excused. Some
years have passed since my friend, Hon.
Tranquilino Luna, delivered this address,
and l am frank to say that during those
years, l have seen marked improvement
in New Mexico; for there are many
counties in New Mexico which were much
afflicted from inroads of hostile Indians,
which have since been removed from that
terrible scourge, and have since been
settled by an intelligent population.
There are OH our statute book many laws
which have been passed which reflect
honor on the people Of the territory of
New Mexico; and there has been o
marked improvement in the manner Of
building houses, i'll the manners OF the
. people Of the whole territory in regard to
} their methods of living and in regard to
! education. Here at Santa Fe you see
some Of the finest buildings in the city
| erected for the purposes of education, and
. there have been in all parts of the terri
J tory marked improvement in past years
in the same direction.
, ''If it is possible for us to remove this
stigma that attaches to us, that we are to
be classed with the polygamous Mormons,
and we can establish before the world that
we are desirous of improvement and de-
, sirous of advancement, it will bring to us
l fine class of population which will help
l us in making this forward step. 1t ap.
t pears to me also that statehood would
t arouse in the breasts OF all persons living
= in this territory who took any interest in
s public affairs desire that we place upon
o our statute book such laws as would reflect
1 credit upon us and benefit our people, and
| that we should respect those laws by car
r rying them into effect. We need more
: population, and We need capital to develop
s our industries.
k II wish to say at this point, and for the
n sake Of publication, that during the thir-
n teen years have known this territory,
l. both as governor and Judge, I am Of the
+ honest and earnest opinion that life and
|. property is as safe in this territory as it il
d in other states and territories, especially
" those on or near tho border. l am o1
q opinion that whatever might have beer
n the condition Of society twenty years ago