Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-01-23
SANTA FIR Nov A. 10

town, where they are ranged across the
middle OF the square, by the foot Of the tall
fag.staf, apparently a sufficient protection
Of themselves Tor the stars and stripes which
are hoisted on the pole at sunrise, and low.
cred at sunset, every day. The caissons
are in the rear Of the guns, along the side
Of the ploza-the whole guarded from ap
proach by four sentinels. There being pas
sage.ways, wide enough for the public on
all sides OF the square, none but commiss.
Toned officers OF the army are permitted to
pass through the plaza. Even Gov. Burr
was stopped this morning by faithful sen
,ine', who did not know his exceency, and
forced him to turn back.
The park Of artillery, has really form
dable appearance. 1t consists Of twenty
nine pieces in all, as follows:
Two twen.y.tour pound howi,zers; 1o|
twelve FOUNDERS; six FOUNDER csnnons.
-four iron and four brass.)
These are American pieces. In addition.
there are those taken from the Mexicans.
viz:
One six FOUNDER cannon; 2 five Founders,
do; three Founders, do; swivel; I NOR.
tar-all brass pieces.
The six FOUNDER is the one taken from
the Texan expedition Of le4I, by Armijo
II is beautiful piece, manufactured at
Philadelphia, and has the "Lone Star" and
the name of NJ. B. Lamar engraved on it.
1t is well mounted, and can certainly boas,
Of some vicissitudes, as it has been twice cap.
tured within five years, and is now used TO
fire all the signals for the American army
here! At 10 O'Clock at night it is fired, az
ter which the Mexicans, whose Governor
took it from the Texans, are not permitted
TO pass the chain of American sen,ines.
without the countersign--which they new.
er have. The four Founders, are queer
looking little peices, and are named WaM.
eur, Marx, Luke, and John. These names
are engraved on the pieces, and show that
even religious feeling has been resorted to
here, to infuse military ardor into the Mex.
lean troops-though the custom Of naming
guns is an old one in Europe. The two S
Founders are very pretty, serviceable guns,
in good order, and much better in our hands
than in those of the enemy. They, with
the swivel, were found by Capt. Fisher, a,
Galistoe, when they went out to grozing
camp on the l9:h of August, having been
left there by Armjo, in his flight. In add
ton to these guns, considerable quantity
Of Mexican ammunition, taken after the en-
trance Of the army is now in our possession.
The following is the civil organization Of
this territory, viz:
| CIRCUIT CLERKS:
James M. Gddings, Circuit Court, Cen.
trail District.
Robert Carey, Circuit Court, Northern
District.
VIM. Curtis Skinner, Circui. Court,
South, eastern District.
CIRCUIT ATTORNEYS:
Hugh N. Smith, Circuit Atty, Contra,
District.
JAS White Leal, Circuit Atty, Northern
District.
JAS NJ. Quinn, Circuit Court, South east.
ern District.
q. J. Vaughan, Sheriff, Central District.
No app't Sheriff, Northern District.
p. Il. Pratte, Sheriff, Southeastern Dis
trict.
Under the new regime which we have e.
tablshed here, the laws Of descent remain
the same that they were under the Mexican
rule. A code of laws have been compiled
for the territory, embracing as understand
the laws Of Missouri for the collection o!
debts, and Of Louisiana on the subject OF
crimes and punishments. These laws are
= now in the course oil publication in the prin.
ting Office here, and it is expected that the
first courts will be held some time soon.
BY the way, the printing Office was no,
brought out by the General, as stated IN
one of my former letters, under wrong
j, impression in regard to it. 1t belonged to
the Mexican Government, and is none oil
our rophes-though rather an Indifferent
concern. Still j, answers quite useful pur.
pose 10 printing notices and blanks for the
Commissioner and Q uar,ermas,er's De pots
and for the publication of the laws.
Speaking OF printing, reminds me OF the
deplorable condition OF ignorance, in which
we find the Mexican population generally.
Very few OF the males can write, and only
two or three in hundred females, can even
read. Nor are their limited requirements
of much service to them in accommodating in
formation, as books except a few on rei
gious subjects, are almost entirely unknown
This ignorance, embracing as it does both
rich and poor, in some measure accounts
for the little progress made by this peopl,
in the useful arts. Shut in by natural boun
daries from the rest Of the world, there il
, no stimulus to improvement from without
and no self acting principle of improvement
exists within.
, The limited resources OF the country, anc
the consequent general poverty of the PEG
, pie, afford, no doubt, another reason To-
their stationary, if not retogade condition
/, Many parts of the province will only sub
sst sheep, goats, mules ard ca'tle--attord