The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-27
FROM NEW MEXICO.


SANTA FIR, January "a, 1851.
To The Editor Of the National Era:
DER SR The weather here during almost
the whole Of the present month has been most
ds'ightfol, resembling more the April than the
January Of the Northern and Middle States
The days have been serene and cloudless, and
the nights - exceedingly dangerous to ro-
mantle lovers To me it seems very anomalous
to look at our streets, and see them already be-
coming pulvcrous, TO look at my thermometer and
find it at SO or $40 and then to turn and look
at our lofty mountains, whose bases appear to
come almost to the city, and see them maniled
with snow perhaps eight or ten feet deep Butwe
hardly dare hope that winter is over yet. If the
old frost-king has laid down his sceptre after a
reign of only one short month, it is certainly
very unusual freak The probability is that he
has only "let 90 TO spit on his hands, and grasp
il az ain more tightly.
y ~ will Scarcely believe uf6 r8en tel Sof
that | have not witnessed n rain shower since
about the 10th of last September, and yet it is
true. left Independence on the 10th Of Sep
TENDER, and we had pretty heavy rain a few
days before left. That was the last "sboweyp
| have seen from that time TO this a period Of
great appearance of rain while crossing the plains,
and doubtless it did ram, bat it never favored US
with more than light sprnkling hut once suff-
cient to lay the dust which was at times binding
and almost sufocating when added to the intense
heat.
THE soCoRo EXPEDITION
The Socoro expedition against the Navajoes
(Navahoes) returned a few days since. They
overlook the enemy, and retook part of their
stock, with loss of life variously estimated at
from ten to twenty men. The Navajoes followed
them back, retakmg q part Of the retdksa stock.
They then made swoop upon the little pueblo
Of Corrales, but few miles from Albuquerque,
almost in the very teeth Of our redoubtable
standing army, portion of which is CHARTERED
at the latter place. and carried off their spoil
with impunity, With regard to the engagement
between the Socorians and the Navajoes and
the number of Mexicans killed, there is no GER
tainty, and probably will not be. suppose an
engagement took place, and that lives were lost
perhaps on both sides, but, as Madam Rumor Is
very contradictory in that part of her testimony
which relates to the number, | think we shall
have to rule ii out
THE ARMY.
As am "peace man." opposed to call the
spirit aud all tho manifestations Of WARP il will
probably be decided that | am not competent to
a;t IL, i,Ir naptu hat
ton " Should n nation keep up a standing ar
my ~ r. however, the doctors Of law and the
doctors Of divinity some of whom have manifest
ed great acumen in this matter) should meet in
general council and decide under dnaihend that
the affirmative of the proposition is true-that it
is most necessary and godly institution, and
that he who teaches otherwise shall be accursed-
IT, say, such decision of the question is made,
then claim for our Territory the benefit of the
decision. If such an institution is necessary, it
is necessary here We are girded about upon
every side, and hemmed in by hordes Of savage
and predatory tribes, who are constantly making
descents upon our puebos, driving off the stock
of our peaceable citizens by thousands, and some
times numbering In cold blood whole parties cross
ing the plains. Well we have a standing army,
there Is more trah than poetry" in thatJ and
perhaps we ought to be duly devout and thankful
for the favor but, alas for the perversity of hui
man nature. in spite Of all Scrptural sdmonitions
to the contrary, men will persist In walking by
sight rather than by faah, Judging Of our army by
what they have done or failed to do rather than
by what they intend to do. And though they lit
orally obey the Scriptural injunction to "aand
fast, having their loins grit about" yet still
some "lewd fellows of the baser sort will obsti-
nately persist that they are not the Lords
hostD leave 30 delicate question Of cssuistry
for the doctors to decide upon. This much, how
ever, ! will venture to say, in all Difference to
4" the powers to be-" that however much gold the
army here may be winning or losing, they are not
winning many golden opinions from the citi-
zens but one in certain place spake M beautifully
as dramatically when he said, Republics is I'M
grateful
The fact is, the whole policy Of keeping up q
standing force Of infantry in this Territory seems
to me perfectly farcical Our only enemies are
the rowing tribes of Indians on our borders, and
their mode of warfare is such as to make the idea
Of reaching them with an infantry force perfectly
preposterous They are always mounted when
they mako their predatory excursions; their
movements are cautious, secret sudden. As I'M
expectedly as the avalanche or the eagle swoop-
Ing from his eyry, they oftentimes pour from
their mountain Businesses upon our pueblos and
rancherias, swoop up their prey, and are of again
lust as suddenly. Ii n resort to the sword" be
the most effective and Chriaian mode Of settling
difficulties In any case, will venture to say that
two or three companies Of mounted horsemen are
worth more here than all the infantry you can
quarter upon the Territory But let the Govern
inent appropriate to the Territory the amount Of
money 1t costs to keep up her standing forces
here, to be expended as the citizens here may
think best for their own protection and improve
ment, and she might call home all her forces
foot, horse, and drsgoono have no fears but
We should find ample means Of defence, and be
left TO breathe In much purer atmosphere.
The court. martial has been in session at Al
buQuerque for some days past, and has not yet
closed | do not know what important questions
they have to settle perhaps 1t s
"wto killed cock robnP'
Ia the region Of Albuquerque, and southwark,
the horticul,urists are beginning to clear off and
break up their gardens for cultivation. This Is
somewhat new to an Ohioan.
Private letters from ST. Louis state that George
J. McGunnegle, Of that place, has been appointed
Governor OF this Territory, and J. J. Anderson
the name Is oil We know Of HIM Secretary Of
State. We have nothing official, however. The
news, II confirmed, will disappoint not only many
aspiyams, but will certainly disappoint the eX-
pectatons Of perhaps all the citizens OF the Terri
tory, who were expecting that at least soms one
resident In the Territory, who knew something
OF It's wants and the habits Of it's people, would bs
appointed.
A note received per mail from Independence
states that news had arrived there from Wash
ington city Of the death Of President Fillmore
AZ the note was from a gentleman OF undoubted
vsracity, We suppose there Was such rnmor, but
will not be much concerned about 1t till we hear
further.
Below give you the Wholesale prices Of o few
articles, M they are now rating here
Sugar 80 cents per pound conee, 40 hour,
10 cts per pound; candles, star an inferior art-
cieI so cents per pound lard, 90 a rs cents per
pound; butter, liz kegs rs q s7H cents per
pound lard OIL s. per gallon molsssss, common
nrIsansl al per gallon dried apples, As cents