The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-05
New Mexico.
The New York Express publishes the follow

which is one of profound interest to philosophers.
New Mexico.
The New York Express publishes the follow
ing letter from :" A Lady in New Mexico"
New MEXICO, Dec. 90, 1850.
Can there be in Congress ten men 70 pro-
foundly ignorant Of the condition-moral and
physical-of New Mexico, or 80 careless of their
high responsibility to her and to the Union, as
TO propose her immediate Investment with the
unlimited powers of State sovereignty? As
well might they place the bridal ring on the
fingers of a babe, and bid the helpless thing
leave its mothers arms and enter on the duties
OF womanhood First, make a pathway for her
into The family circle, and when she has learned
the tongue and habits Of her new kindred, and
can begin to comprehend them and their destiny,
you may take New Mexico from her mountain
cradle, and lead her tottering steps to an intro
ducton that will not shame her aud embarrass
the Union. You do not know her features vet
you are stranger still t. the faults of her green
Infancy; faults only to be cured by the guardian
reliance OF her elder sisters during her terri O.
rial education. You have to remove the cancer
of peon slavery, which now deforms her beauty
and cripPles her energies An eruption of some
fifty thousand ragged, half-starved, unproductive
beings, ensaved for debt, covers her face as with
Il black veil, and that must be torn away that
the roses of free and enterprising industry may
take their place. This can be done by the pro-
vision Of Congress; the diseased, and constitu-
tonaly infrm, body polite, cannot, or will not
cure itself, unless it is aided and urged from
without.
Neither are the wealth and resources Of our
future sister half understood nor the first neces-
sity OF her position half regarded, although the
interest of the entire Union is deeply concerned
IN their Development. Entire New Mexico is
inlaid with silver and other valuable ores. If
she is permitted-as Deseret was MOTTO choose
her own name she should east off that school
boy prefix OF "New," common to a shoal of
States and assume the just and significant name
OF Argenta, for she is to be our sill, er State
There is room in her countless mines to employ
at fr IN ten to thirty per cent advantage, mil
lions OF capital, that in Europe is thought well
employed at five, and even magnificenlly invested
at six or seven per cent. There, too may be the
most repaying vineyards of the earth, for men OF
science, that are sound enough to be practical
and mechanics who are skilfuI enough 10 con-
struct and manage whatever machinery this
science asks for at their hands When this vast
land OF ore comes under the dominion of that
rcsstess trinity of civilization, capital, science
and industry, il will be the second of the great
family Of mining States whose sudden birth has
marked in shining characters the middle of
this eventfu century, and given mighty ''fourth
Interest TO the Union, mining will stand in the
midst OF her noble sisters, commerce, manufac-
turing aud agriculture, their equal in powe' -
The fourth, and not the least in value, of the
four sides Of our completed altar of national
greatness. In this splendid array New Mexico
will not rank below the second place !; hut to
c III to her the force necessary to unlock her
treasure cav erns, it is an essential prerequisite
that their hiding places should be known, and
to know them there must be a way of approach
This highway of communication and acquaint-
arce with her neghbors and future kindred is
OF more Importance to unhedged New Mexico
thar admission to responsibilities that her mex
perience cannot comprehend and powers that
her unpractised strength cannot WELD Like
the nesting eagle she must be content to wait
Tor her plumes to grow before she scars on her
highest flight. But while she is waiting, the
parent bird should be dgent on her behalf.
Congress should not rise from this sitting with
out opening her prison doors, by ordering high
ways of outlet and inlet to be surveyed to the
Gulf Of Mexico, to the Pacific and to the lower
or central valley of the Mississippi by the navi-
Sdoio HcauS OI tne AFkanSHS ana fteu rivers.
The cost would not be terrific, and there are
vacant mineral lands within her limits to repay
1t ten fold. Those rugged sierras that now hem
her up in isolation and uselessness, and shut
her inhospitably from the busy world are maya
zines of wealth. A geological survey would
starte many capitalist from his idle SAUNDERS
with its unexpected revelations oil their fortune
creating resources, and an army of enterprsing
men would follow up the first open rond to reap
the gttering harvest. Ttis'road does not as
yet exist, and of herself New Mexico will be
slow to find her way to the sea and open her
arms to our commerce and manufactures Il is
mischevous gift, nm injurious temptation, to
oBer her State sovereignty and impose upon her
the burden of self-support, before We have linked
her to the Union by single avenue of common
thought and common interest. The trail of
Missouri but makes hcra distant suburb of that
State. That is q step towards famiy intimacy,
but It is only single step, As our bounds run,
the main arteries OF transit across the continent,
from the Gulf, from the Lakes, from the Atlantic
and the Pacific centre there, as in the heart of
oar giant republic, and if these are defined,
guarded and kept In healthy circulation, such
hcrid humors as Indian dep editions md emf
grant disasters would be Infinitely abatcd, and
all the extremities feel general Improvement.
Two neglected duties lay at the door of Con-
gress, and either Of them are of more account TO