The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-13
ne.loan Capt,v,s ~ New Ms.lco.


evening of the 9th of June last, party o.
New Mexicans came to the headquarters of the
United States Mexican Boundary Commission,
on the Santa Rita de Cobre, for the purpose OF
procuring provisions, Sc. They had with
them young female and number of horses
and mules. BY what dropped from them in
the course of conversation it was ascerlained
that the female and animals were purchased
by them from Indians. Mr.. BARTLETT, the
Commissioner, we are informed, deemed IT To
be his duty as the nearest and highest repre-
sentative of the Government of the United
States in that region, TO cause them TO be de-
tanned for examination; and, in consequence,
he addressed a note TO Brevet Lieutenant Co
lionel CRAIG, commander of the escort, request
ing him TO demand the delivery up of the ie
male, and to prohibit the men, who intended
departing at early dawn, from leaving their
encampment until further orders. This re-
quest was complied with under the immediate
direction Of Lieutenant d. G.. GREEN.
1t may be necessary TO state that, by the Sc
cond and third sections of the treaty of Guada-
|
of the United States to purchase or acquire
any Mexican OF foreigner residing in Mexico,
who may have been captured by Indians in
habiting the territory of either of the republics,
nor to purchase or acquire horses, mules, cat
| tie, or property of any kind, stolen in the Mex
lean territory by such Indians; and the Gov
eminent of the United States is bound in the
most solemn manner, so soon as it shall know
of such captives being within its territory, and
shall be able to do so, through the faithful ex-
ercise of its influence and power, to rescue
them and return them TO their country, or to
deliver them to the agent or representative OF
| the Mexican government.
But to resume. The day after the party of
New Mexcans came to the headquarters of the
Commissioner, the three principal traders were
examined with reference to the manner in which
they had obtained and the right they had to
the captive and animals Their evidence was
somewhat contradictory and conflicting, more
particularly relative to the female. 1t would
| seem that there was party Of about fifty who
have been trading with the Indians, north of
there, while another portion, about twenty,
were on their return to Santa Fe. The whole
have been trading under one and the same Ii
cense. This license was called for, but was
not produced. They considered themselves
fully authorized by virtue of the license to pur-
chase any species Of property held by the In
dians, and this without regard to the manner in
which the Indians obtained it.
With respect to the female, who, it was ac-
knowledged, was bought of the Pinol Indians: :
Placing their conduct in the most favorable
light, it was quite apparent that she was pur-
chased, " like any other article Of merchandise,
as Il matter Of speculation" and it was to be
feared she would have been disposed of in such
a manner as might be most for the pecunary in
terest of those holding her. According to a
part of the testimony, the expedition was fitted
out for the express purpose of buying her, it be-
ing understood that she was of an excellent
family, who would pay large sum for her re-
demption. On the other hand it was declared
that they did not go with this intent, but that
the purchase was an Incidental matter. One
answer given for not carrying her home was
that they didn't because they didn'n Another,
that they did not know the route; another, that
they had not the means to do it, and must,
therefore, first go home. The distance from
the place of purchase to their home was from
twenty to twenty five days journey; to her
home about ten days.
This female was quite young, artless, inter
esting in appearance, prepossesslng in manners,
and, by her bearing and department, gave evl
dencc that she must have belonged to family
well circumstanced in life. The purchaser
belonged to people with whom the system-of
peouage prevails, and among whom, as gen
eral thing, females are not estimated 50 highly
as with us, especially in a moral point of view.
Under these circumstances, the reflection forces
itself upon the mind, that she was mourning a
great risk, instead of being restored to her pa
rents, of being doomed to lasting vassalage, and
the loss Of her virtue, for the purpose Of adding
TO the pecuniary means of Speculation, and to
crafty the base appetite Of some heartless
wretch, who would not hesitate to sacrifice
virtue and innocence. However apart from
this, the treaty prohibits purchases of this kind,
''under any preteXt whatever" The Com
missioner, therefore, deemed it to be his duty
and pleasant one it certainly must have been
acting in behalf of this Government, which he
was representing extend the protection Of
the laws of the United States over her, and to
see. until such time that she could be deliv-
cred TO her parents, that she "be treated with
the utmost hospitality by She American author
ties of the place" where she then happened to
be.
The young captive stated that her name was
INEz GONZALES, daughter of merchant of
Santa Cruz, in the State of Sonora. She was
in her fifteenth year. In September last she
left home in company with her uncle, LEoNcIs
ALDECoA, her aunt, and another female, on
visit to the great fair of San juan requiring
journey Of about eight days With them for
protection was guard of ten soldiers, under
the command of all ensign When one days