Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-14
FROM NEW MEXICO.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MISSOURI REPUBLICAN
SANTA Fr DrcEMRpR 81 1875

CORRESPONDENCE OF MISSOURI REPUBLICAN,.
SANTA FE, DECEMBER 81, 1851
Within the last month the Apaches in the southern part
of the Territory have feared they might broken out
at all points in the most violent and deadly hostility 1t
is many years since they have been excited and furious
as they now
Among the assigned for these outbreaks are the
murders Of Apaches of which gave you some account
ut san Antonio, about month ago. As have already
suggested the conduct of the Mexicans towards the In
di2ns is such to just such hostties as these
The Mexcans are mprdent and rash enough provoke
these sayages without having the power efectually to
punish them. The contempt which the Indians feel
the Mexicans with the temptations easy plumber which
their property offers Them will easily account for the
Indian depredaons and outrages in New Mexico,
without any provocations the part OF the Mexcans
1t viii be observed that in the depredaons
lately there has not been great amount Of stock stolen
The explanation Of this is that there is but little stock
left in that part of the country be stolen. The only
section Of the country that for year past has been
sidered offering any toerabe security for stock has
been the vicinity Of the Pecos river.
For the last four years the Americans have had control
of New Mexico. They have had stationed in it thousands
OF soldiers, and have spent upon it millions Of money
They have made treaties with several Of the tribes
parties who put forth and supposed be their rep
resentayes Nevertheless during all that time the In
dams have been pundering and murderng-now in one
direction and then IN another and sometimes in ALL The
Nayajoes have treated their compact with in
which casts utter rdicule and contempt every such
dealing with these Indians What the Utahs and Jca
them, remains to be The prospect is not
raging.
From all this Of two things is certain either that
our regular troops not sufficient for suppressng these
Indians, their movements have been miseraby mis-
directed. Colonel Sumner out understand, to
show that the fault is much in the character of the
troops as In the way in which they have been managed
lie has certainly made reforms highly necessary in
the Quartermasters Department. but has gone to some
extremes here His animals are now in very bad
condition. the effects Of tnng them too much in their
forage But ne j. doing what ought to have been done
years agoi planting posts In the enemys country, and
employing his out of the immediate settlements and
IN the held These posts make the Indians feel that
are IN earnest that in sort in possession Of
their country and within easier striking distance Of them
Nothing has troubled the Navaoes so much as the
establishment Of Fort Defiance These forts would too
subserye the useful purpose Of posts which volunteer
forces and the militia Of the country could rally, and
ON which they could fall back in Of their being
called into service against the Indians And IL is very
questionable whether any thing eectua and final be
fone until the cooperation Of such force is permitted
dor II very doubtful whether the country be saved
from the Of Indian outbreak robbery, and
murder by the existence of treaties backed even by pre-
scnts and by all the that be infused them by
any demonstrations which the regular army capable
making Parties Of rangers-made up Of used to q
mountain life and Indian warfare-will probably be
necessary Some sharp, dealing with the Indians
viii be necessary for probably that only will suffice
mt last TO convince them that and will punish
them IL is TO be hoped that Colonel Sumner will take
such view Of the case, in time to prevent much
longer continuance Of these depredaon which harass
ing the people and eating the substance Of this
bic Territory.
Col SUMNER, who is now here informs me that he has
established fort at the Copper Nine TO be called Fort
Webster II will be garrisoned Immediately Albuquerque
IL the be made viii be selected as head
quarters in place Of Fort Union Albuquerque is from
majority Of points, rather easier of than Santa
Fe but from certain local considerations is not at this
time entitled TO special preference over it,
The silver mine Taos, mentioned in my former let
ters still looks fattering trial Of one hundred
pounds Of the produced weight Of pure silver worth
about nine dollars Such proportion is prodigously
large and only shows that the particular deposite from
which this ore was taken is Of extraordinary richness
Taken il from the surface ii is, however
enough excite very strong expectations that the Taos
mine may yield largely any silver mine dis
covered
The ella gold dggings continue attractive ever
There are now some fifty at work there but thu
Apaches by troublesome Besides the discoveries
| have mentioned already, there is according to repor
in which place confidence, abundance Of gold thu
San Francisco branch Of the Gila very considerable,
west Of the Copper Mine party from the middle
Elements Of the Del Nore is about ready TO 70
| that river
belief that the price Of beaver fur is advancing
begun to make stir among the trnppers II is som
eight or ten years that the beaver has had Durn
this time the breed has multiplied astonshngly Tn
head Of oil the creeks putting into the Del Mort
near I'll Paso working away, in the Azequia which
through that settlement not three hundred yards from III
main plaza.