The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-07-17
NEW MEuEAS CORRESPONDENTS.
'SANrA ~, &Gy2S, 1851.
To Le Editor Of m. NofioaaLESa


ed up " in the affairs Of New Mexico for the cur
rent month, have very little left Of interest to
write about. Indeed, taking all things into con-
as you will hereafter receive the Ga
zaie regularly, certainly more general news than
! could give you in letter, II will he scarcely
worth while for me TO tax you with the expense
Of my correspondence, unlsss i should be on some
special matters not given in the columns Of the
Gazette IT, then, you shUuldr hereafter miss my
periodical letters from your table, this, in con-
nection with other matters with which you are
already made acquainted, If you have received
all my letters,) will account for it. shall still
speak to you il cannot to ,ae readers Of the Era,
through the columns Of the G0zats
You will see by the Gazette that the rejection
Of Hugh N. Smith, by the Senate Of the United
States, has walked up response from his fellow
citizens here. public meeting was called as
soon as the news Of his rejection was received
here, the resolutions and proceedings of which
you will find in the Gazette. Smith, as you will
see, was Immediately put in nomination for the
Territorial Senate, and his friends went vigorous
ly to work to secure for him q triumphant MAORI
ty. Never did man take the field with dark
err prospect apparently before him. The Gov
ernor, with all his official patronage and inlu-
ence, had formed an alliance with the VIcario,
whose influence with the Catholic population is
almost unbounded. To this add the influence
of the minor priesthood, with that of several
Mexican RcOS, and you will at once perceive
enough you can have no conception of the power
of those influences as we have here) that, to all
human calculation, his election was scarcely with
in the range Of possibility Nothing but the
unbounded confidence of Smiths friends in his
popularity with the people could have induced
them to enter such hazardous campaign and
nothing but the strenuous efforts of his friends
could overcome his reluctance to accept their
nomination, In enumerating the discourage
ments, ! should not have omitted TO say that, in
the election which resulted in sending Smith as
a delegate TO Congress in 49, this county (which,
with San Miguel, comprises the Senatorial dis
trict for which he was put in nomination. was
the only one in the whole Territory that gave a
majority against him.
Rot IN despite Of all the opposition, fearful as
il was, and contrary 10 an expectation Smir9 *
ceived in this county majority Of over 500 votes
j. San Mi0uel county he would doubtless have
received majofIty aloO, oSS -SCT :SS oYFcScasst5
the Governor in that county during the election,
and the base treachery Of the priest who up to
the time Of the Governors arrival was the warm
friend Of Smith. Even after the apostacy Of the
priest, (which took place Just on the eve Of the
election, when no measures could be taken to
counterfeit the movement, the vote was very close,
the real majority Of his opponent not exceeding
perhaps $50 votes But, to the surprise Of all
Smiths friends some Of whom had remained in
San Miguel till they thought they had .ascer-
tanned pretty definitely what the result was, the
poll books were sent in few days after, giving a
mai GRITTY of $50 against hml The poll-boOks OF
the different precincts were examined by Smiths
friends, in cases where they had seen them count
ed out and footed up before leaving, and in every
instance, believe, where they so examined there
had been alterations made in favor Of Alvarez
and against Smith.
have written thus much upon this subject be-
cause some of Smiths friends believe that efforts
had been made at Washington to produce the
impression that he Is unpopular here. The facts
as | have given them above and have, 80 far as
| know, given only the facts, will be most album
dant REPUTATION of such an insnuaton. ! believe
that no man in the Territory can hold any COM
parison with Smith in point of popularity, if all
ertraHeoas influences are kept out Of the canvass
and, thTOwhg these ia, | believe he will distance
any other man for any Office in the gift of the
people.
I" Eagle Feathers" the principal chief of the
Camanches, accompanied by some six or eight
warriors and few squaws, made visit to the
white ohiefn during this week Fou win sec
notice of their visit in the Gdzette extra Eagle
Feathers is in again to-day, TO explain the cause
of their sudden and mysterious stampede on nigh
before last. He says they were frightened, sup
posing from the numbers that crowded around
them that mischief was intended them This ap
pears very natural TO me, but still there may have
been something more under it, Our Indian af
fairs are in quite q precarious condition just at
present, and that part of Governor Calhoun's
message which relates TO the Pueblos is In no
wise calculated TO lessen our embarrassment. In.
deed, as the message is printed in Spanish, (which
very many Of the Pueblos read very WELL and
will be widely circulated in the Territory, 1t
would not be at all strange If they should at once
enter into an alliance with the other tribes for
mutual protection, If not a revengeful aggression
Speaking of the Governors message, which you
will receive with the Gazate extra, have no
doubt but the Northern States Indiana excepted)
will receive mem lgh when they learn from our
Governor that their society +" as moss dsgrGded ~
Happy Indiana the calls | used TO see 80 FIRE.
dark places have not been in vain. Ho0sierdom
is redeemed--her society is no longer degraded
she no longer tolerates 7" free negroes New
Mexico is looming up through the mist and IL
the wishes of the magnanimOus Executive could
find hearty response from either the humanity
or good sense Of the people, we should doubtless
soon be "cheek-by- jowlp with Indiana in the
great race for the goal Of baYbarism But think
that notwithstanding the commendable zeal Of
our Governor, our people are yet entirely too
modest TO enter the course In conpetition with
those whO enjoy such superior advantages as would
render defeat certain.
| am happy in having no murders 10 oommuni-
cate in this letter. Even our election, though
there were some things connected with il greatly
calculated 10 exasperate, passed of in compare
tive quietness. Though there was much drunk
enness, and disgusting exhibition Of profanity
and obscenity everywhere visible, yet heard Of
but one fight during the day. Last year, ! am
informed, the military had to be ordered out with
charged cannon 10 keep down the rioters. think
we may safely cay that society Is gradually i'm
proving in Santa Fe, and, though still bad enough
in all conscience, IL Is far better than II was
year since, while the relations which have heard
Of the state Of things here three years since is
positively almost incredible. But IL may have
been because the people tolerated free negroes
In the editorial Of the Gdzeus extra, headed
" Injustice 10 the military officers Of New Mexi.
co., there Ia a very important mistake and a very
important omission. The mistake consists Ia
saying that the supplies fog the officers Of New
Mexico, under the present order Of the Depart
ment will cost about Ten PEI. c>m more than the
same articles will cost the officers Of California or
Oregon. IL should have read ten cents per pound
which, you sec, would make q very material al
teration OF the sense, as mere difference Of ten
per cent would be matter Of little consideration,
bat difference Of ten cents per pound Is griev-
ously oppressive The OMISSION lie failure to
notice that the officers OF California, In view Of
the supposed high prices, receive an extra allow
snce Of fwo dollars per dag each, over and above
their regular salaries, while the officers here re.
ceive nothing extra II you publish the article
in the Gazafe, hope you will make this cOrrec
ton in IT,