Speech #560021060

Now let us see what our country. what our people understood of this question in 1847 and 1848. In the ninth article of the treaty with Mexico there are some significant points to which I desire to call your attention. We had good lawyers then. and the Government had entered into the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. a most carefully prepared treaty. a treaty with a country which had been prostrated by our arms. a country seeking our mercy. just as was the case with Spain. and the whole question of citizenship was involved in the controversy that was then presented. the whole question of the laws and the operation of the Constitution was involved. and in one section of the treaty. which I will not read. the terms were stipulated upon which the Mexicans might emigrate out of the territory we so acquired by this conquest and by this treaty. It was decided that they should hold the right of property. that they should have time enough to emigrate. and they should not be put to annoying or vexatious conditions. and then as to those who remained in the territories so acquired here is the provision: The Mexicans who in the territories aforesaid shall not preserve the character of citizens of the Mexican Republic. conformably with what is stipulated in the preceding article. shall be incorporated into the Union of the United StatesThat is. simply by remaining there they were to be incorporated into the Federal Union. What else?and be admitted at the proper time. to be judged of by the Congress of the United States. to the enjoyment of all the rights of citizens of the United States according to the principles of the Constitution. Observe that language: Shall be admitted at the uroper time. to be 4udged of by the Congress of the United States. to the enjoyment of all the rights of citizenship according to the principles of the Constitution.