The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-10
THE REpU BL1C.


The Now York CSeyisr dss EIals Uni states
that II bas received Information which confirms
the Views heretofore expressed by that journal in
reference to the French expedition to Sonora from
California namely, that it 10 not in any respect an
invasion, or an expedition for conquest N. de
Raousset Boulbon, the leader of the project. has.
as before stated, associated with him about l 900
men, his intention being to go to Sonora and OBJ
tain permission ofthe Governor thereof to explore
and work certain mines, upon the frontiers of the
State, which have long been unoccupied. The
company has military organization only for the
purpose of securing better discipline. 1t isdvided
into three distinct parties, all subject 10 com
mander-in chief and to a code OF laws formed for
the common good. The three divisions are com.
posed severally of miners, farmers, and artisans.
They are TO be extended along the frontiers. and to
o,cupy the rich ranches Of Barbacorpori and Sen
Bernardino.
San Bernardino was formerly flourishing town.
and is situated upon arm of the river Yunterna.
about sixty miles from the town of that name. II
was abandoned about eighty years ago, the inbab.
ilanis having been driven from their dwellings, bv
the Apache Indians. Several attempts have heen
made to re-establish the town. but they have heen
unsuccessful The country is an exceedingly rich
and fertile plain, we'll watered, and admirably
| adapted TO agriculture. When it was abandoned
the inhabitants possessed large herds of cattle
which they were obliged to leave: 40 that the
country is now filled with wild cattle for an extent
| OF hu ndred miles.
The rancho of Barbacornori ia nnon ono ~ N.
branches Of the river San Pedro and resembles in
| oil respects that of San Bernardino II ;s ahont
| ninety miles from the town of Santa Cruz And
was also abandoned about eighty years ago.
Many other beautiful and rich locations 20 c,sS
upon the frontier of Sonora, which were formerly
| settled, but having long been Abandoned and in
| the immedi te neighborhood of which are rich
silver mines. The lands can be bought Of the
Proprleiors az excessively low prices; and if the
mission to enter the country, it will at once revive
under the industry and enterprise of the new set
! tiers. The advantages OF the colonization will be
inaPpreciaoie 70 sonora; Tor the new explorers
will constitute more efficient protective force
| than Mexican army. The present inhabitants
would then be able to work the numerous mines of
the interior, and to cultivate their lands without
| fear Of the incursons Of Indians who now desoate
| the country, and carry away the women and chill
| dren well as the cattle.
Thus fr we translate from the Courier des Etnfs
Unis, From late California papers we learn some
interesting facs IN regard to the mineral resources
Of sonora There is scarcely hill or sierra, it is
said, that does not contain rich deposits of silver
| The following examples are given:
"ln the mine of La Purissima Conception, near
the town OF huepaca, one Of the pillars of the mine
which is twelve yards square and fourteen feet
| high, is estimated to be worth $50, 600 The mine
| OF Nuestra Sonora de Guadalupe was Welding i'm
Uense masses of pure silver, and it was what is
styled putin bonanza when it became flooded and
was abandoned. The mine of Ell Chino contains
such QUANTITIES of silver, that on entering it with
torches it's gltering resembles come fairy palace.
and realizes the tales of the Arabian Nights. The
| mines OF Alamos have been long celebrated and
| have enriched the Inhabitants of that town to a
level with European princes. The whole State. in
fine, s teeming with wealth. In front of the cities
OF Ures and Arspe, rich and extensive silver mines
are known to exist"
N,f ,x,lx Ill.
from working these mines by constant fear of In
dian incursions, but the State is continually dis
| trac,ed by political and civil dissepsions which
render life and property insecure. The old Span
ISM laws, under which the mines must be worked,
are moreover unfavorable TO effective operations
Besides this the people perfectly priest ridden.
and the little which the masses possess ia taken
from them by the padres, under some excuse or
other. The present government, such as it is is
usurpedb Manuel Gandara, who is rich, sbrewd
and energetic man. and it is hardly probable, SUD.
posing the designs of Count Boulbon to be- as thew
are represented to be, merely commercial and
peaceful-and it is difficult to conceive how, if he
be sane man, he can entertain any other idea =
that permission will be granted for any body of
men, under military organization, to enter, I'M
der any pretence whatever, into country which
is already torn by internal commoton, civil lea
lousies, and discord
The following description of Count Boubon will
not be uninteresting in this con xion:
Count de Raoueset Boulbon is O young man of
about thirty-three years of age, and is descended
from one of the Oldest and most dsting ushed fam
iii Of Avignon, in the south of France; and the
porters OF Ayignon, rema rkable for feats of
personal strength and the enormous burdens they
carry have ever cherished with pride the recoIlec
tions of his herculean strength. During the war
with Algiers he joined the army as a volunteer
and soon became the bosom friend of the Due
D'Aumale, the son of Louis Philippe and was
appointed on his personal staff. There he served
with great credit and distinction. At the time of
the revolution he left Algiers, and took to stump.
ing it through the southern provinces, Offering
himself candidate for the National Assembly
He is first rate stump orator, his speeches always
extempore, and remarkable for warmth, brillian-
CO, and capacity of delivery Sometimes in the
republican public houses, which the political ma
ture OF the times induced him to visit, he would
enforce his arguments with tremendous rap on
the table, shivering it to atoms, wrench out
marble chimney-pece, and throw it on the floor
to cut short discussion He was the idol of the
poPulace, the Avignon porters in particular, who
nicknamed him Count Short but the revolution
followed its course, and Count de Raousset Boul
bon came to this country. He is an exceedingly
good looking man. about five feet ten inches high
we'll built, and an air of command and self-confi
dence, which long habit and a reliance on his ow
resources have conferred upon him.