In place, making, as I understand it, thirty in all. An agent or sub-agent for each would be a very large number, and greatly disproportioned, it seems to me, to the number of Indians, especially as they are in a great measure civilized and tractable, and easily influenced and managed. view of Mr Smith's recommendation, and of your own, in your No. 5, the Department is disposed to favor the plan of arranging the Pueblos into districts, so far as this is practicable, with full agents for the more important, and minor agents for those of lesser importance." From this extract, it would seem the Hon. H. N. Smith and the then Indian Agent, James S. Calhoun, had the satisfaction of knowing their views had influence with the Department, and I am thoroughly persuaded their recommendations were not unwise, and that the Department acted discreetly in adopting them. As early as the 24th of April, 1850, the policy of the Government of the United States was proclaimed by the proper authority at Washington, as the foregoing extracts clearly show. The organic law of this Territory sustains that policy, in its 5th section, in the following terms: "An apportionment shall be made, as nearly equal as practicable, of the several counties or districts, for the election of the Council and House of Representatives, giving to each section of the Territory representation in the ratio of its population (Indians excepted)." Can it for a moment be supposed that the Congress of the U. States passed the organic law, and the President who approved it, designed to take from citizens of this Territory their right of representation? It is undeniably true, he Pueblo Indians are not allowed by the organic law, representation in our Territorial Legislature; and are a people known, who are not entitled to representation, to be entitled, as voters, to select representatives? I suppose not; and I apprehend this is the precise condition of the Pueblo Indians; and if it be such, may I not be pardoned for re-asserting "the Pueblo Indians are not a part and parcel of the political community of New Nexico, recognized by the Organic Law"? I have the honor to be J. S. CALHOUN. SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW MEXICO. [C.] EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, To the Honorable House of Representatives: In view of the early period at which the present session of the Legis lative Assembly must terminate, I trust I may be pardoned for pressing upon your consideration suggestions of importance to the proper conducting of the affairs of the territorial government. In the first place, I beg leave to call your attention to the fiscal condition of the territorial treasury, and the absolute want of funds for county purposes. The taxes heretofore collected are now withheld, and collecting officers are defaulters to an amount that would very materially relieve present urgent demands if it could be realized. I have already informed you, there are no means in the county treasury of Santa Fé to feed the prisoners awaiting trial, and the sheriff of the county has been compelled to resort to expedients which involve personal responsibility, in order to furnish food for them. Under these circumstances, what is to be done with the prisoners and the defaulters? Unless means are provided to subsist the prisoners, they must be released, and if defaulting officers are to go unpunished, it will not be unreasonable to doubt the propriety of levying taxes. There are bandits, as I am informed and believe, in the mountains near our roads, who are committing depredations upon the persons and property of our citizens, and unless means are provided by law to check their infamous course of life, and punish them for their offences, they will assume a bolder front, and their numbers and depredations will increase. Funds should be raised and appropriatious granted to offer rewards for fugitives from justice, and to pay other incidental expenses. I regret to inform the Legislative Assembly that the Comanche and Navajo Indians, and perhaps others, continue to roam through our settlements, and kill and drive off the stock of our citizens who are unable to defend themselves. A large body of Comanches are now in our southern settlements, seizing whatever they may desire. During the past week the Navajos attacked a corrall at a place known as the Valle, and killed one man and carried off more than one hundred animals. Other animals were driven off from the neighborhood of Abiquiu. I apprehend we have complained and submitted to such wrongs until we have despaired of a proper application of remedial measures. It is a subject I conceive which demands of the Legislative Assembly, now in session, energetic action, previous to its adjournment. That you will authorize an organization of the militia, and confer upon the Executive authority to call them out to protect the persons and property of the people of the Territory, I do not doubt. But we cannot forget that we are without the munitions of war, and without the means in our treasury to subsist our militia if called into service. We are advised that additional troops of the United States army are approaching, if not altogether within our borders, and we have reason to believe they are to be actively and, we trust, successfully engaged in our protection. Yet may not prudential considerations suggest the propriety of clothing the executive not only with power to call the militia, mounted or otherwise, into service, but to contract for such loans as may be necessary to subsist them, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by law. I am aware that nothing short of an absolute necessity to prevent the utter ruin of the interests of this Territory, could secure the loans suggested, notwithstanding the just claim we should have upon the government of the United States for its reimbursement. Nevertheless I regard it as incumbent upon all who are charged with the conduct of public affairs, to use their utmost exertions to secure tranquility and promote the happiness of the people of the Territory. I have the honor to be RULES FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW MEXICO. OF THE DUTY OF THE SPEAKER. 1. He shall take the chair every day precisely at the hour to which the House shall have adjourned on the preceding day; shall immediately call the members to order; and, on the application of the majority, shall cause the journal of the preceding day to be read. 2. He shall preserve order and decorum; may speak as to points of order in preference to other members, rising from his seat for the purpose; and shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the House by any two members, on which appeal no member shall speak more than once, unless by leave of the house. 3. He shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting. 4. Questions shall be distinctly put in this form, to-wit: "As many as are of the opinion that (as the case or question may be), say aye," and after the affirmation is expressed, "as many as are of the contrary opinion, say no." If the Speaker doubts, or a division be called for, the house shall divide; those in the affirmative on the question shall first rise from their seats, and afterwards those in the negative. If the Speaker |