The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-06
The Mesilla Valley.

1NCW AAuinpSuuC.
The Mesilla Valley.
The Providence (R. ~ Journal publishes the
following description of this valley, prepared at itl
request by Mr.. Bartlett. the late Commissioner Of
the Boundary Survey:
''Some surprise has naturally been expressed by
those who feel an interest in the movements 81
Governor Lane in not finding the name Of Mesilla
on the maps of New Mexico, Texas, or the adioin.
ing Mexican States. brief history of this place
may therefore possess an interest at this Time
"Mesilla ia the diminutive of the Spanish word
mesa, table, /. table land plateau; and is ap-
piled to lesser plateau in the valley Of the Rio
Grande, beneath that of the great mesa plateau or
table land which extends for several hundred miles
in all directions from the Rio Grande. 1t means,
therefore, little plateau, or little table land.
cit 10 situated on the western side of the Rio
Grande, about nifty miles above Ell Paso, in lati.
tude about 32o lS north; and until the year 1850
it was without an inhabitant
sImmediately preceding, and after the war with
Mexico, the Mexican population occupying the
eastern bank of the Rio Grande in Texas and New
Mexico were greatly annoyed by the encroach-
ments OF the Americans, and by their determined
This was done by the latter either settling among
them, or, in some instances, forcibly occupying
their dwellings and cultivated spots. In most
cases, however, it wac done By putting 'Ieras
grants issued by the State of Texas, gener-
ally for six hundred and forty acres, or a mile
square, though they sometimes covered very large
tracts. They were issued to persons who had
land warrants, or to original settlers. These GER.
tfcates or 'head-rights' still bought and cold
in that State. The owner of them may locate his
land where he pleases, unless previously occupied,
or in lawful possession of another. z
"With these land certificates or shead rights
many Americans focked to the valley of the Rio
Grande, and located them in many instances on
property which, for century, had been in the
Spanish coonists The latter, to avoid litigation
and sometimes standing in fear oftheir lives, aban
doned their homes and sought a refuge on the
Mexican side OF the river. Dona Ana, modern
town on the eastern bank of the Rio Grande, IS
miles above Ell Paso, and near the initial point,
being well-located and desirable place, and
moreover selected by the United States for one of
lts military posts. became attractive point
pounc ID upon by them and covered by the TEXAN
head rights'-or land warrants. Whether the
Mexican occupants of the town and lands adjacent
were the lawful owners not, it is needless to
In undisturbed possession. They now became
alarmed. Litigations commenced Some applied
to the authorities of New Mexico, Texas, or the
United States for protection. Failing to obtain it,
in despair, several hundred abandoned their pro-
perty and homes, determined to seek an asylum
within the territory of Mexico, preerring the very
uncertain protection they could obtain there, to
remaining as citizens of the United States.
w III tuio TesOutlOn,a spot was selected on the
opposite or western side of he river, eight or ten
miles below Dona Ana, which. it was believed,
would be within the limits Of Mexico In the
month of May, 1850, this prosecuted people estab-
iished themselves there and named the place La
Mesilia,'i. e., the little table. TO increase the
colony, the government of Mexico offered to give
lands to other actual settlers which offer induced
large numbers of dissatisfied Mexicans living in
New Mexico and in the small settlements along
the Rio Grande, in Texas, to remove there. More
than half the population of Dona Ana removed to
Mesilla within year.
When the boundary line agreed upon in
December, 1850, and it became certain that La
Mesllla was south of it, according to the treaty
map, day was set apart for public rejoicing, for
the astronomers had been observing near them,
and led them t. doubt which side of the line
their valley would fall. The day came, and the
event was celebrated by firing Of cannon and
grand ball, which many from FL Paso attended.
Alter this, the population increased much on &C.
count OF the inducements offered, and in October,
1852, the project Of Ell Paso stated that the popu
lation numbered 900 souls.
every few Americans ever settled there, in fact
none but traders; and it is probable that there
never were twenty altogether.
Last summer some Mexican spectators at
tempted to practice the same impostions upon
them as were practiced when they were citizens of
New Mexico, by claiming their lands: This Gre
ated great dissatisfaction, and they then threat
ened to abancon their lands and again become
citizens of the United States. At this time some
miechlesous persons put an idea into their heads
to deny the jurisdiction of Mexico. and thus save
tner property; and this is doubtless the fouuda-
ton OF Governor Lanes assertion, that they de.
cir to be reannsred to New Mexico"
lLLITERACY IN ENaLAND-The following state
ment of the extraordinary degree of ignorance
prevailing in England is made in Dickens's" House
hold Words" 1t is observed that it might we'll
challenge belief we've it not founded on official
and authentic sources: 80
III h., boo.>
and Wales 900, 900 persons who can neither read
nor write-that is to say, about one third of the
population, including of course infants; but of all
the children between five and fourteen, more than
These acknowledgement by Mr.. Kay from off.
cial and other authentic sources for his work on
the social condition and education of the poor in
England and Eorope-would be hard to believe if
grees of lliteracy which would be startling if we
were not thoroughly used to it. Wherever we turn,
Ignorance, not always allied to poverty, stares US
In the face 1t we look in the Gazette at the list
some unhappy man, rolling perhaps in wealth,
but wallowing in ignorance, is put to the expert \
naentum crucis of bis mark The number of petty
jurors. in rural districts especially. who can only
to see parish documents of great local importance
defsced with the same humiliating symbol by per.
sons whose Office not only shows them to be 'men
OF mark, but men of substance, We have printed
passes under the pen OF the post Office authorities,
and we may venture to assert that such specimens OF
penmanship and photography are not to be match
ed In any other country in Europe housewife
in humble life need only turn to the file of her
husbands bills to discover hierogiyphics which
render them 30 many arithmetical puzzles, In
short, the practical evidences of the low ebb to
which the planest rudiments of education in this
country has fallen are too common to bear repeti
ton. We cannot pass through the streets, we can.
not enter place Of public assembly, or rambie in
the fields, without the gloomy shadow ofignorance
sweeping over us. The rural population is indeed
IN worse plight than the other classes.'
The CRops,-With few local exceptions, the
papers throughout the Great West speak Of the
growing grain crops being in the most promis-
ing condition. and giving token Of an abundant
harvest. We have never seen or heard OF fewer
complaints, on this score, in any previous season,
The Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin
papers all concur in saying that present indica-
tons warrant high expectations Of the coming
crop. From Illinois we have some complaints,
but not more than at this time last year
The New York Zipses states that the calebrated
singers, Mario and q risi. will visit that city dur
Ing next autumn In season tc open the new Opera
house, t d3&Md