8O1 .N55 X 30th CONGRESS, [SENATE.] MISCELLANEOUS. Nn - 5 - PETITION THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO; Assembled in convention^ praying the organization of a territorial gov eminent. DECEMBER 13, 1848. Referred to the Committee on Territories, and ordered to be printed. Petition of the people of New Mexico, assembled in convention, to the Congress of 'the United States of America. We, the people of New Mexico, respectfully petition Congress for the speedy organization,by law of a territorial civil government for us. We respectfully petition Congress to grant us a government purely civil in its character. We respectfully represent that the organic and statute laws promul- gated by authority of the United States, September 22, 1846, for the tem- porary civil government of New Mexico, (a copy of which is herewith despatched,) with some few alterations, would be acceptable to us. We desire the following offices be filled by appointment of the Presi- dent of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Sen- ate : the governor, secretary of State, United States marshal, United States district attorney, and judges. We desire to have all the usual rights of appeal from the courts of this Territory to the Supreme Court of the United States. We respectfully but firmly protest against the dismemberment of our Territory in favor of Texas, or or any cause. We do not desire to have domestic slavery within our borders, and un- til the time shall arrive for our admission into the Union as a State, we desire to be protected by Congress against their introduction amongst us. We desire a local legislature such as is prescribed in the laws of New Mexico, September 22, 1846, subject to the usual acts of Congress. We desire that our interests may be represented by a delegate who is to be entitled to have a seat on the floor of the Congress of the United States. In consideration of the fact that New Mexico contains from 75,000 to 10Q,00 souls, we believe that we have made no unreasonable requests, Tippin & Streeper, printers. V [5] 2 and we confidently rely upon Congress to provide for us laws as liberal as any enjoyed by any of her Territories. SANTA FE, October 14, 1848. ANTONIO JOSE MARTINEZ, Presidents de la Cundado de las, $*c. J. M. GIDDINGS, Secretary. FRANCISCO SARRAINO. JAMES H. QU1NN. GREGORIO VIGIL. Y. VIGIL. JUAN PEREA. ANTONIO SACERLE. RAMON CRUOS. CHARLES BEAUBIEN. E. P. WEST. MANUAL ANTONIO OTERO. 0. ARCHABALD. JOSE PLEY. Petition del Pueblo del Nuevo Mejico reunido en convention al Congreso de los Estados Unidos de America : El Pueblo del Nuevo Mejico respectuosarnente pedimos al Congreso uria pronta organisacion de leyes para un gobierno civil territorial adecuada a las circunstancias de nuestro pais. Pedimos respectuosarnente al Congreso que el gobierno que se nos con- ceda sea de un caracter puramente civil. Respect uosamente solicitamos que la ley ojganica y estatutos promul- gados por autoridad de los Estados Unidos el dia 22 de Setiembre, 1846, provisionalmente para gebierno civil de Nuevo Mejico (copia de lo cual remitemos,) con algunas alteraciones, nos seria deseable. Deseamos que los destinos de gobernador, secretario de estado, alguacil mayor, procurador general, y jueces, sean llenados por nombramiento del Presidente de los Estados Unidos con el consentimiento y la aprobacion del Senado. Deseamos tener el derecho acostumbrado de apelacion de las cortes de este territorio a la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos. Con el respecto devido, solicitamos encarecidamente que ni a favor de Tejas, ni por ninguna otra causa, se permite el desmembranriento de nu- estro territorio. Por ninguna causa deseamos la esclavitud domestica dentro de nues- tros limites, y rogamos al Congreso que nos protije contra su iritroducion hasta el ser admitidos en la Union como Estado libre. Deseamos una legislatura local tal como esta prescrila por las leyes del Nuevo Mejico promulgadas en Setiembre 22 de 1846, sujeta a los actos acostumbrados del Congreso. Deseamos que nuestros intereses sean representados por un delegado que tenga derecho a'un asiento en el Congreso de los Estados Unidos. Tomando en eonsideracion que el Nuevo Mejico contiene de 75 a 100 mil almas, creemos que no hemos hecho una peiicion inmoderada, y des- cansamos en la confiariza que el Congreso nos proveera con leyes igualmeu- te liberalcs como las que gozan los demas territories de la Unjon. SANTA FE, Octubre 14 de 1848.