Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-01-04
Bar Association
Addressed
A Strong Argument For Statehood Made by
Hon. H. D. Esta brook of Chicago
Speeches by Other Attorneys.

=
The New Mexico Bar Association held
public session yesterday afternoon at
the court house. The audience that
filed the hall was representative one,
and Mberally applauded each one of the
speakers. Col. r. E. Twitchell appoint
| ed committee to escort to the chair
the new president of the bar associa-
tion, Judge A. A. Freeman, who had
| In the forenoon been unanimously elect
| ed. Colonel Twitchell introduced his
successor with well-deserved eulogy
!snnon the ability and character Of the
new official.
Hon. H. D. Estabrook, a distinguished
member of the Chicago bar. and coun-
sci for the Western Union Telegraph
Company, who came to New Mexico by
invitation of the bar association to de-
| liver an address. was then introduced
to the audience He began his address
with very pleasing allusion to his ar
rival in the territory upon a previous
visit, paid tribute to the climate OF
New Mexico, related his experience up
ON fishing jaunt in the mountains,
and then came to the subject matter
| Of his address. He asserted that had
destiny ordained that he should be a
| New Mexico lawyer he would have set
tied down contentedly. believing he
would have a useful and prosperous ca
reer. But he would certainly have gone
l h,1,,
changes in the condition. Of matters.
The speaker quoted from the writing )
Of various persons who have told of the
| languid habits of the early settlers OF
| New Mexico, and limited very politely
| that there was too much truth in the
| accusation. and that the territory Is
half alseep, which is the reason, while
rich in resources and potentialities, it
has not attracted more immigration.
The illiteracy of the people in the past,
said the speaker, had caused much pref
udice against the admission of the ter
ritory to statehood among people who
feared that the state would be but
''sedentary pueblo" Viewing the state
hood question as whole, he would vote
| for admissions were he i'm congress, as
the best thing TO do and in recognition
of the moral right of New Mexico. AS
| to having a political right he consld-
| cred that none existed, because the law
| gives none, and congress is not required
hood. But to hold a people in perpet-
| ual vassa'lage is an anomaly in the
American form Of government. Its ex
cuse is in the exigency of the moment
and should disappear with the exigency
which created it. Proof of this propo-
sition Us found in the fundamental prn'
ciples to which the republic is pledged
to allow self government, the largest
Individual liberty compatible with So
cial liberty, and the amplest local gov
ernment compatible with safety to the
general government. 1t Is found IN the
uniform policy of legislation, giving
even to municipalities larger and largel
powers of local government. 1t Is fount
in the history of those vast territories
which from time to time have beer
ceded to the United States-first divid'
ling them into limited areas, establish
ing territorial governments therein, ant
shortly admitting these territories al
states of the Union. 1t is found in tht
right of petition, guaranteed by thu
constitution, voicing the unanimous
wishes of a people, which voice of {
community every government ought tt
respect, and which this government Ii
bound to respect.
. More particularly as regards New
Mexico, is 1t found in the treaty o
Guadalupe Hidalgo, under which New
Mexico and its inha abitants were trans
, ferred to the United States. Here, In
deed, save for "a parentIhesis Of les
than a dozen words, New Mexico coul
almost claim a legal contractual righ
to be admitted to the Union. The mint
article of the treaty provides that Mex
. leans, who shall not preserve the char
> acter of citizens Of the Mexican re
/. public as otherwise stipulated, "sha
be incorporated into the Union Of TIL
OIWtCu 0pducS, dIAu w ESAAAlnu0CA IS hAA
! proper time Ito be Judged Of by tn
congress OF the United States) to tn
! enjoyment of all the rights of citizen
of the United States, according to tn
. principles of the constitution" WI
i amy one pretend that this article di
d NOT contemplate an almost inlmediat
! admission Of all the newly ceded terri
D tory into the Union? Or that congres
meditated the possibility Of postponin
= faction for fifty years? Read the article
l. parse it; analyze 1T according to tf
q most. elementary rules of gramma
and its literal and spiritual neanir
=. correspond. He argued that the burde
~ of proof Is upon those who deny Ne
Mexico statehood. Said he:
If Let US consider somewhat the obje'
3 tions that have been made. First com