The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-24

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entire stock of 5000 sheep $50 horses and
mules, and IL oxen. Twenty-eight prisoners
were also taken. Six of his men were killed
and seven missing
Alcalde Pivo complains to the Project Luna
that detachment of United States troops, who
accompanied him in pursuit OF the Apaches
refused TO travel more than five leagues per
day, or even to march at all, unless they could
be assured of abundance of water. Their
conduct he says, exposed him to great danger,
and defeated the object OF the expedition
Suffice it to say" he concludes, " 1T lacked
but little that should 90 to the devil In COM
pany with the Americans"
Subsequent dispatches from Governor Cal
houn up to the latter part of 1851, give IN
! formation of thirteen distinct attacks OF In
dams upon different settlements and pasturing
grounds of the Territory. Several persons
were killed, others made captive, and large
flocks of sheep, and many COWS, horses, and
mules carried off to the Navajo and Apache
country.
In short, judging from the whole tenor of
Governor Calhouns dispatches, it would seem
that cattle-owner in New Mexico held his
rancho and his herds, to say nothing of his
life and liberty, by as frail tenure as the low
land farmers did their dwellings and estates in
the palmy days of the Freebooters and Reevers
of the Highlands whose condition Walter Scott
has so graphically indicated in the language
he ascribes 10 one of the sufferers
"Thsyturned little lonely tower,
The fond receive their souls therefor,
II had not BEEN burned for a year or more"
The depredators do not appear to have been
wantonly cruel in their dealings with the I'M
fortunate dwellers in the valley of the Rio
Grande; they seem to enjoy the excitement OF
their dashing and dangerous forays, quite as
much as the booty which they acquire. The
chiefs of the Navajos and Apaches are quite
as intelligent brave, and chivalrOus, as the
Frasers and Rob Roys of a century ago In
Scotland and their people, if judiciously dealt
with by our Government and instructed in the
arts, and introduced to the comforts OF civil
zation as the reward of industry might be
made respectable portion of the inhabitants
of the Territory-equal in all respects to the
Christian Pueblos or even the Mexicans of
Spanish blood
1t will readily be admitted that, under the
state of things which we have described, no
progress in agriculture or in the comforts and
1uxuries of civilization could be expected on the
part Of the people of New Mexico Whatever
may be the resources of the country, or the
natural capabilities of its inhabitants, con.
ssant exposure to attack and plumber is not
likely to develop the one, or encourage and
stimulate the other, to any considerable exer-
ton beyond mere provision for present neces-
sites
Since the date Of the correspondence we have
quoted affairs in the Territory have taken a
more favorable turn the Indians are compar-
atively quiet, and the people are beginning to
accommodate themselves to their new political
and duties. A letter of re-
cent date, from an intelligent resident at San
ia Fe, alludes to the depressed condition of
trade and agriculture, and pertinently inquiries
how it could be otherwise:
Isolated as we are, says the writer, sur
on every hand by savages who contin-
ually menace our trade, having no great outlet
for what We might produce and consequently
no stimulus for industry and enterprise, and
apparently but little cared for by the General
Government, how could we be prosperous
New Mexico is jeered and housed in the
States, E,s-Ncr mtolence aud misthrift There
is just about much humanity and good sense
in such jeers as there would be in binding
man hand and foot putting him out of the
reach of food, and then haunting him for starv-
ing to death
al honestly believe that New Mexico con-
tains within herself elements of greatness,
muniicence, and comfort, in which she would
have few if any rivals, had she any means of
developing her latent resources. But what are
the richest boons of nature to one who cannot
use them! Give us the great Pacific railroad
through New Mexico, and she would in few
years show those who deride her a spectacle
that would shame and silence them
"Our new Governor William Carr Lane, is
we'll received and generally, perhaps might
say universally esteemed. He is man of great
urbanity of manner, fine personal appearance,
and declares his unalterable determination to
know no party, subserve no interest, but that
of the whole people of New Mexico Should
nc be faithful to these pledges | anticipate
much good from his Administration
"The fever of national politics gets very
much cooled down when it strikes our noun
tain breezes, though at times its local type has
been somewhat violent. One question mainly
enlists our attention in the national strife, and
tLak = NJ, a. Al
toward New Mexicopn
Letters addressed to the Commissioner of
Patents, from intelligent inhabitants of New
Mexico, natives as well as Americans from the
States confirm the above representation. As
wine-growing country, it has scarcely its
equal and the wines of Ell Paso are already
celebrated Its mineral resources are not yet
developed to any great extent. The new sill
yer mine near FL Paso is attracting much at
tention, and is reported TO be of great richness
The gold mines of Tuerto have long been work
ed in a careless way by the natives, but their
yield is said to be little more than fifty cents
per day for the laborers.
In short from all that we can learn, we are
satisfied that with due care and protection
from the General Government, New Mexico
will become ere long valuable member of
the Union and we cannot but suspect that one
great reason for its disparagement in certain
quarters is the belief that negro slavery is ne-
ther adapted to "a, Industrial wants nor to the
feelings and habits of its people. ]. G. w.