Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-07-22
New Mexico.

In a recent number of the New York
Courier d Enquirer, we find a somewhat
detailed description Of the province oil New
Mexico, the conquest Of which appears 10
be contemplated as part of the plan OF
hosthties to be prosecuted by The Govern
ment. New Mexico lies west of the Rio
Grande, aud east of the department Of
Sonora, extending south to Chihuahua.
1t has no navigable streams, the Rio
Grande itself, being, at this part of its
course fordabIe during most Of the year.
The population of this region is princi-
pally confined to the towns and villages,
and altogether did moi exceed 10000 in
lS4l. This estimate is exclusive Of In
dams. The climate is represented as par.
tlcularly healthy, of mild and uniform tenn
perature. The soil Of the values is so
fertile that even with the wrelched hus.
bandry OF the inhabitants abundant corps
of maize and wheat are raised. The up
lands are generally sterile and unproduc-
tive. Cotton is little cultivated; fax in
particular sections is found in abundance;
adapted 10 the culture of tobacco. The
lands are, however, chiefly valuable for
Ibe extensive and excellent pasturage
which they afford giving sustenance to
immense herds OF cattle, sheep, horses and
mules.
The greatest source of The wealth of New
Mexico, and yet the most imperfectIy ex.
plored, is undoubtIy its mines, The most
successful at present known is the gold
mine about 90 miles from Santa Fe. lis
yield is some so, 900 or $4,000 per an
mum, and it could certainly be made inf
niteiy more productive, if worked with
proper efficiency and skill. The ore is
remarkably rich. But for the oppressive
character Of the Mexican government, and
its veXatious policy toward foreigners,
there can be no reason to doubt that cap
ital and enterprise would long since have
extracted the teeming mineral wealth Of
this region.
Vast herds Of sheep, remarks the author.
ity above cited, are raised in New Mexico,
and are found to be exceeding profla-
BILE In past years halfa million have
been known to be driven TO the Southern
market in a single year. The wool pro.
duced is of an inferior quality, but adds
10 the profit Of the business 1t has been
brought in small quantities INTO Missouri,
and sold at fifteen cents per pouud-fiye
times its origna cost in New Mexico
The country could undoubtedly be made
to grow the finest wool in the world, and
in the greatest abundance.
The Inhabitants Of New Mexico are
grossly ignorant, superstiious and blgoted.
Their social condition is rude and print.
live--lheir knowledge Of the mechanical
arts very limred--lhey are, in general,
poor and wret,hed, Under the ryranical
government and shifting rule of the Mex.
lean Government they have experienced
no protection, little safety, and less kind,
ness. The people, consequently, have
no attachment to their rulers, in whom
they see only their oppressors. They
feel the influence oil the Government, only
through its periodically aud arbitrary ex.
actions.
In enumernling The inhabitants of New
Mexico, we must not omit alluson 10 the
Aborigines, who dwell in the widest and
least accessible parts, and ever and anon,
sweep down into the more civilized por.
lion Of country, scattering dismoy and de.
ISOLATION along their paths. The Indians
consist Of several tribes; the Navagoes,
numbering 10000; the Apaches about
$4,000; the Eutaws, l0,000;and Canaan
ches, whose numbers are not well ascer-
tanned. They are constant source Of ter
ror 10 the Mexicans, and have, at va
rious times, committed the most lrighful
rayages.
II The conquest of this extensive re.
gion be determined on, we presume that
almost the sole obstacles to its achievement
will be encountered in the country itself,
with It's immense unwatered uplands, and
its slender resources for the supply Of pro-
visions. Little resistance need be anticl.
pated from the scattered and eneryated
population. We can scarcely imagine
that the United States would seek for the
permanent possession of New Mexico,
since so vast province could hardly be
retained, when subIugated, save by the
constant presence Of military force. II
is more probable that the conquest of New
Mexico is intended as hostage to en-
force acceptable terms from the enemy,
and to guarantee the future observance of
good faith. 1t may, indeed, he stated as u
general principle, that no aggrandlzemenl
of territory is worth having, or can be per-
manently held by this country, save such
as becomes ours by the gradual, bat po-
tent influence Of assimilation. 1t is thus
we have obtained Texas aud so shall we
eventually have California; lorihe latter Is
now almost uninhabited, and when occu.
pied, will be filed almost exclusively by
offshools Of the Anglo. Saxon race. Set.
,l,s.ant ,nu nnturation are thn stircsl