Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-22


this respect, is equally the duty of the South All
sides are called exercise far greater degree Of
forbearance and moderation, if we mean to transmit
to the next generation the blessings enjoyed by this
shall do all can TO warn the country against the
dangers of this intestine strife to call both the South
and the North back TO a OF their true duties and
their true interests. And if cannot alay the evil,
shall at least do nothing to promote It, shall do
nothing TO cause jealousy, heart-burnlng and ami
mostly among those whose country one, whose IN
terests are one and whose destiny, whatever any OF
them may think OF it, is, IN my opinion, one; one
now. and one hereafter.
Gentlemen one of the exciting questions of the pre-
moment respects the necessity OF excluding slave
ry, by law from the Territories lately acquired from
Mexico If | believed in any such necessity should,
of course support such law. could not do other
wise, consistently with opinions very many times ex-
pressed. and which opinions have no inclination to
change, and shall not change. But 40 not believe
in any such necessity. have studied the geography
of New Mexico diligently, having read all that
could find in print and inquired OF many intelligent
persons who have been in the country, trayersed it,
and become familiar with it.
! New Mexico may be considered as divided into
two parts, one lying the east side of the Rio
Grande, below the Paso del Norte; this is claim
ed by Texas the other extends along the river
| on both sides, from Paso del Norte to the forty
second degree of north latitude, or he boundary
of Oregon. Of this part, also, that which lies on
the eastern side Of the river, is claimed by Texas.
The whole of both parts hardly be less than
thousand miles, and by the wlndngs OF the river,
much more. The southern part is far less noun
famous than the northern it has, nevertheless noun
tain peaks and mountain ridges From San Antonio
de Bexar, which is hundred miles north of the
Gulf of Mexico, and the western line OF the
actual settlements in Texas II is five hundred and
seventy miles to Paso del Norte, by track or road,
recently explored keeping east of the Rio del Norte,
and south of the Guadalupe mountains; the general
ldirection of which road is west by north. This
whole country is of very little value. The noun
ains are barren and great portion Of the more level
country is a mere desert of rocks and sand. Some
times praires are met with, producing grass IN more
or less abundance but the decisive and fatal charac-
terisc of the country is the want OF water. In ira
versing this region travellers not unfrequently lind
themselves without water for twenty or thirty miles
and sometimes even for longer distances. think
an exploring expedition, which within the last year
passed along this route. found water tor seventy
miles 1t may be truly said, that here is country OF
six hundred miles in extent which, In Its general
character must be described barren desert.
agree that considerable part of this DESERT Atri-
can slave labor not necessarily excluded by the law
of climate; the climate is mild enough but then du
labor free or slave, all cultivation whatever, IS
excluded for all time, by the Sterlllty OF the SOIL
throughout this vast arid region There may be trl-
fling exceptions here and there on the banks OF some
of the streams; but the general character, without
doubt or question, is such as | have represented it.
Major Gaines. very intelligent gentleman, lately
member of Congress- and now Governor OF Oregon
a
war. and this is his description of it:
The country from the Nueces the valley of the Rio
Grande poor sterile sandy, and barren with sin
gle of any size value whole The only
which the musqut tree, and very few OF
these. The musquit is small tree, resembling old and
decayed peach The whole country may be truly
called a perfect waste, unnhabited and uninhabable
There not drop of running water between the two
rivers except in the small streams of San Salvador and
Santa Garudus and these only contain in the rainy
Npithp loft harn had I,apY
passed them. The chaparra commences within forty
fifty miles of the Rio Grande. This poor rocky, and
sandy; covered with prcky pear thes and almost every
sticking thngconstuting thick and perfectly impene
trable underground For any useful agricultural pur
pose the country is not worth sous
$50 far able to form any opinion of this de-
sert upon the other routes which had been travelled its
character every where between the two rivers pretty
much the We learned that the routes pursued by
General Taylor south of through country SINH
lar to that through which passed. also that ira
yelled by General Wool from San Antonio to Presido
the Rio Grande From what we both and heard, the
whole command to the conclusion which have al
ready eXpressed-that it worth nothing. have
hesitation saying, that would not hazard the life of
valuable and useful man for every foot of land between San
Patricio and the valley of the Rio Gande The country is
not now and can never be Of the slightest raiue."
That most lamented and distinguished gentleman
and officer, the late Colonel Hardin of Illinois, entire
ly concurs with Major Gaines. Here is his account
lite phoke country is miserabiy aratered. Large dis
cts hare ,cater at aH The streams small and at
gredt distances apart One day marched the road
from Monclova to Paras, Mtyfre miles, Uthout aoater
| pretty severe days march for infantry. .s.
Grass very scarce, and indeed there all in
many regions for miles square. Its place supplied with
pnckly pear and thomy bushes There is in
two hundred, probably not in five hundred of all
the land have in Mexico which be cult
waited the greater part of the dcsoate region
could have imagined The pure granite hills of New
England paradise to it, for they without the thorny
brars and reptiles which nest the barbed barren
of Mexico. The good land and cultivated spots in
Mexico but dots the map. Were it not that it takes
very little support Mexican and that the land which
is cultivated yields its produce with little labor it would be
surprising how its sparse population is sustained All the
towns have visited with perhaps the exception Paras
are depopuating, as is also the whole country
The country higher up, that is along the Rio del
Norte from Paso del Nore to Santa Fe and Taos is diff
ferent in this respect Through this part of New Mex
leo the river runs between immense mountains with
strips or ribands of land along its banks not always
continuous, but which cultivated with grains !;
but only by means of irrigation. Allow me, gentle
} men: to lay before you the credtable the exact,
the authoritative description given by Mr. Smith
the Delegate from New Mexico:
"New Mexico is exceedingly mountainous country
Sante Fe itself being twice high the highest point of
the Aeghanes and nearly all the land capable of cutva-
ton is Of equal height though of the valleys have less
altitude above the The country is cold Its general
agricultural products wheat and conn., and such vegeta
bles grow in the Northern States of this Union 1t is
entirely unsued for slave labor Labor exceedingly
abundant and cheap may be hired for three or four dol
lars per month"; in quantity quite sufficient for carrying
the agriculture of the Territory There is cultivation
except by irrigation, and there not suciency of water
to irrigate all the land. '.".,
AS the existence present of slavery New Mex
co the general understanding that it has been aoge-
al. alzll ~ IS Mnx..n L,,.,