New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-25
BY THE MIDNIGHT SOUTHERN NAIL.
The Pspa,srisa Of N.v.w.,,.

r,s;,.,. =, a. 49,, w.sHissros, June "a r.e
GksrLkMEs-l desire % correct .ha ,.,....
winch some honorable gentlemen have mad. h, -
gard TO the number and character Of the inh.,,,
ants o' New Mexico. The number has been wi
ously stated IN the Congressional debates a, g.
io'OOO 10 20 600 and generally one half aud some.
umes all OF them, are said 10 be Ind ans TIN, \.
great error we have q population of At Iesxt
80 600, II whom from 10 600 To IL COS only AZ, D.
ebo lndlans, and We do not estimate in our p,na
alton any other kind Of Indians excep, the Pa,
They are q quiet, inotFensive honest and ios
Gus people, they own the best farming lam, >,
the Territory, sud are engaged entirely la AZ
tura pursuits and, 50 tax paying ludisns.
be entitled 10 the privileges Of citizsas
elective franchise in Texss
The census taken in Ncw-Mexico
fore the entrance Of Gen. Kearny inn .,..
tory, showed the poPulssion 10 Dc on 3 %r-A
thousand, and two or three hundred over. aur--...
not have been taken with great accuracy. b.. .hs
best informed persons and those who have lived
there longest agree with me that We have not less
than ninety thousand. DR.. WishzeRus, VINO 10 geo
orally correct in his accounts Of trsvel, and who is
relied upon as good authority, in bis statistics Of
that country, is certainly mistaken in saying that
ten-twentieths, or one-half OF the population.
Pueblo Indians. have travelled thredgh she set
tied parts OF that country TWO or three tmes year
for the last three years, aud know that not nth
or even onesizth are Indians. In the seme nara
tive OF DIR. Wlslizenus be says, in ano her place,
speaking of those Pueblo Indians. THEY live al
ways isolated in their villages cultivate the soil and
raise some stock, and are generally peer, frugal
and sober. Their different tribes, Of whish about
twe9ty yet exist are reduced to about tes thou
There are in New Mexico from twelve 70 Steen
hundred resident American voters, emigrants fcom
the different States, principally from the Stale Of
Missouri; the rest OF the population are Mexicsns
and Spaniards.
The people Of that Territory will be surprised %
hear that they are considered clamorous for their
rights, and still more surprised TO hear that they
nave no rights. They have been taught to believe
that all citizens of the United States being within
It's Jurisdiction, have rights and that their rights
are guaranteed to them by the constitution and
treaty OF cessloni they have asked no greater
rights, they expect no less.
We make no potential demand for anv mar
tcular extent Of territory. While we believe mat
Texas has no right or just claim to what was New.
Mexico, We know that Congress can give il entire
ly TO her on both banks of the Rio Grande, and If
Congress were to do so, | have no doubt the poo.
pie would quietly and peaceably submit. But uu-
I'll Congress so eDacts, We must be permitted to
have our opinions about the propriety of its doing
So and shall certainly take the liberty Of express
ing my own whenever deem il proper.
agree that ait is for Congress TO shape the des.
tiny OF future States" and we will submiFto what
ever destiny Congress may shape for US. But
WINE tiis uestiny IS oelDS SNAPPED, and Senators,
Members of Congress, and ex.Members, ard ali
others residing here, advising the People Cd ere
what to do, |, who have been selected by them az
their DELICATE, though still self accredited" will
continue to give them my opinion of what course
they should pursue.
As for the adventurous politicians who are ac-
cused OF clarnoring for the rights Of the People to
subserve their own ends, believe that we have az
few political aspirants in that country as in any
other. We asked for a Territorial Government I'M
der which all the officers would be appointed here,
and we have applied for no Offices. IL we had de-
sired political preferment, we would either have
joined ourselves to Texas, or have formed a sepa-
rate State Government in the first instance. As il
will perhaps be q satisfaction to some gentlemen,
who seem disturbed about my clamors, | will re.
mark that have some time since declined being q
candidate being selected for any office whatever,
under any kind Of Government that the people Of
NewMexico may make for themselves, or that
Congress may here make for them. But 90 long az
l am here the delegate from N ". Mexico, viii use
all nay exertions to secure the people Of that Ter
ritory all their rights and protect them from all ag-
gressons being perfectly Indifferent to the sneers,
taunts, or threats with which any Southern gentle
man may choose 10 amuse themselves
HUGH NJ SMITH.