The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1853-09-14
From Santa Fe.
SANTA FE, New MExIco, Aug. 1st1853.
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Once moreAsck in the land of wretch
edness and depsavity; the land that was
made from the dross of all the remainder
of Creation.
This year is much drier than the last,
and a failure of the corn crop, and others
that ripen late, is to be feared.
It's impossible for the territory of New
Mexico to ever become thickly settled, on
account of the wantofwater. Dews never
fall here, and it is necessary to irrigate in
order to raise crop of any kind. We of
ten hear il said "what fine grazing coun-
try it's" There are counties in Ohio, a
single one of which will produce more
grain-support more stock, except sheep
probably, year after year, than the whole
territory of New Mexico. Speaking of the
sheep of this territory, they are very in
different and the fattest, when killed, will
notweigh overthirty pounds-the greater
portion ofthem, in the States, would becon-
SluCTeu 100 lean IOr market.
The most of oar letter-writers from this
section, nearly all of whom are out here for
the purpose ofspeculating, would have the
people in States believe that this is fine
country, and second to none as regards
grazing,if protection against Indian depre-
dations was given by the general govern
ment. THERE'S not one acre in every twen-
ty thousand. averaging the whole territory;
from which you can raise crop of any
description, and there is not one thonsandth
part.of it that is fit for wool-growing, that
is, raising sheep; for, where water can not
be found and dew never falls, it is foolish
to say that sheep can live and flourish
In the course of time there will, undoub-
tedly, be many claims before Congress for
stock lost in this Territory-ran off by In
dians;-and you will find some men at
Washingtonwith very plausible exterious,
advocating them.ss Now, we do not pretend
to say that Indians have not rnn off stock
in this Territory, but we dobelieve thatfor
many of the claims that will be presented
to Congress, there will not be shadow of
truth.
Much complaint is made against Col.
Sumner, our military commandant for the
last two years in this Department. Col.
Sumner was selected by the Secretary of
War in April, 1851, to take command of
the Ninth Military, receiving the mostliber-
al order that any officer could have desir-
ed. He entered this territory aboutthe mid
dleof July and commenced his operations,
without first relieving, or, as it is believed,
even asking the opinion of the officer then
in command, Col. Munroe, in referenscn
to single thing, an officer noted for his
ability and judgment, and who had been
specially selected by Gen. Taylor after the
war to take charge of affairs in this terri
tory. The first move of Col. S. was to
move headquarters from Santa Fe out in
to the plains and establish post called
Fort Union, point that has nothing to
recommend it in military view, and on
land claimed by private individuals, and
for which there are suits pending at the
present time.
Thepublic stores were takenfr nfromhouses
belonging to Government and thrown down
ON the plains and wasted; contracts were
violated or broken, and it would appear all
for reputation n--for the Secretary's order
of April, 81, contains no such instruction.
COL Summers next move was to make a
campaign against the Navajo Indians,
which resulted in most signal failure, and
were it not for the reputation that the Col.
obtainedin Mexico, we should say his con-
duct was cowardly, especially his famous
retreat from the common of Chile. His
whole course has been scarcely anything
else but one calculated to bring the army
into disrepute, particularly the Quarter
Masters department, for this department
is without funds or transportation. Col
s. succeeded in reducing this territory by
the most unjustifable destruction of pub
lie properto. Ifhis objectwas to leave the
department destitute and completely par
allied for his succussor, we cannot conceive
how he could have effected his end better
in two years. He retired from the scene
of action by declaring war against the
Navajo Indians, issuing a flaming orderfol
operation, then starting for the States. Oh
oursehehas done Government more harm
with the Indians than it will be able to re-
pair in the next five years to come. &
Gen. Garland is to assume command in
a few days, according to report, and he
will have anything but a desirable or pleas
ant task before him.
There issome excitement here as to who
shall be our next Delegate. No relgual
nomination has as yet been made. The
prominent candidates on the Whig side are
Gov. Lane and Weighiman; on the Dem
ocratic side, Baird and Kerr. Baird wa
an Indian agent tunder the late administra
ton.
Some ofP President Pierce's appointment
in this Territory give great dissatisfaction
viz; that of the Secretary and Marshal G