Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-07-02


invested with the full rights of American
citizenship; if be moves back, he lose:
them. This is improper and absurd
He is no more intelligent or honest Oh
patriotic because he has crossed An i'm
aginary line, nor does he lose any goot
qualities when he recrosses it.
Lack of sufficient numbers, or proper
ty, or intelligence, might cause from
necessity temporary suspension of fu
civil rights to the inhabitants Of district
of country, but will endeavur to show
briefly but plainly, that neither OF such
conditions exists in New Mexico a.
present.
SPECIAL OBLIGATIONS.
Apart from the obligation which the
nation owes to each OF its citz MS to Sc
cure to him the right of sef-goverment,
except where special exigencies prevent,
specific promises were made to the peO-
pie of New Mexico at the time Of its ac-
QUESTION, which have hitherto been dis
regarded. When Gen Kearney made his
peaceful entry into Santa Fe, he issued a
formal proclamation on August %. 1876,
assuming the government of the entire
territory, and containing this statement.
ut is the wish and intention of .ke
United States to provide for New Mexico
free government, with the least possible
delay, similar to those in the United
States" The people were satisfied with
the pacific sentiments of the American
commander, relied on the promises of
the proclamation and offered no oppos!-
ton to the occupation OF the whole area
of New Mexico. The treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, executed February 81, lS4S,
confirmed this promise.
ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN STATEHOOD.
Relying on these pledges, and anxious
to possess all the rights of American citi-
zensbip, the people, early in 1850, held a
convention, adopted constitution, elect
ed state officers, legislature, and VIM.
S. Messervy as member OF congress. In
July, the legislature elected H. I'll. Weight.
man and F. c.. Cunningham as senators,
and they with the member of congress
proceeded to Washington. While on the
journey they were met by the intelligence
OF the passage, on September 8, of the
famous Compromise Measure" which
admitted California as state and rele-
gated New Mexico to the condition Of a
territory.
From that time to the present attempts
to secure admission have been made con-
stantly. The territorial legislature has re-
peated by memorialized congress on the
subject. The delegates have introduced
enabling acts, and the people have never
rested conten,edly under their depriva-
ton OF the rights OF citizenship. Con-
sress has not entirely failed to respond to
hese appeals. Both houses of the Forty
,hird congress passed an ensblIng act, the
house by vote OF 100 to 81, and the
senate by so to IL. The bill was slightly
amended in the senate, and failed because
t was impossible, at the end of the ses-
zion, (it passed the senate February 24),
% bring it up for concurrence in the
house. In the succeeding congress q
similar bill passed the senate by vote OF
IS to Is, was reported favorably in the
rouse, but failed to he reached. II it was
proper to admit New Mexico in 1874 or
1876, before it possessed mile of rail
Dad, single public building, developed
nine, a matured orchard or an alfalfa
ield. what reason can now lie given for
lelav, when its population hss greatly in
creased, its condition vastly improved and
ts resources OF all kinds are being de-
'eloped into sources OF wealth?
POPULATION.
In this respect the claim to state hood
} indlsputable. No territory at the time
+ it's admission, with the exception OF
Dakota, has contained the population
low in New Mexico. By the census of
800 it had 153,076 inhabitants, without
ounting the Indians on the reservations.
he real population, as has been conclu-
lvely shown in public documents, and is
racticany unquestioned, was between
80, 900 and $4,000; the difficulty Of full
numeration where the area is so vast
nd the population so scattered, account
ng for the difference. But, taking the
ensus figures, the above statement as to
ther territories is correct. The following
able shows the date of the admission OF
ach territory, with its population accord
ng to the next preceding census. Of
curse, in some cases there had been con-
iderable growth between the census and
he date Of admission, but there is like.
rise an increase in New Mexico since