The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-23
The Gadsden Purchase and the Policy az che
Spells Cabinet.

The cau'i1 MS language Of the President In his
isst ANIMAL res ge n on subject Of grant,
ing lands for railroad pur ,cses, coupled with
De ~ "dig"'f NJ. Secretary Glthrie as the
banks, il suggestive Of some ulterio motive not
immediately Transparent, but which we hope
will be made so durin the pres fn' session Of
Congress. For the purpose Of aiding In this in
vestieation we propose to enlighten our readers
By a simple satement Of facts, which the ed
minisira,ios viii hardly have the tenerity TO
deny.
Nearly our years ago, Major Steen, of the
United States Dragons, for Sarded to Washing
ton from Fort Fill mo. e-asmali outpost on the
southern confines of Aew Mexican elaborate
report In the silver and copper mines OF Cha
region, anu especially along the mountain
slopes that form the mort era boundary of the
Mesils Valley. This he accompanied with
numerous specimens OF great richness, gathered
not only with his own hanis, but purchased
from the Indians. IL is we'll 20 remember these
facts, since they reveal to US the secret history
of many acts of NJ. Fillmore's administration.
Coupling this evidence Of the mineral riches
Of that country with the dispute then existing
among the Boundary Commissioners as to the
initial point Of the survey, Mr. Webster, as Sc
cretary Of State, predcated the American claim
to the Mesilla Valley, and laid the prelimi-
nary train for the negotiation that has since
resulted in securing to the United States the
tract ceded by the Gadsden treaty. 1t is here,
in fact, that that famous convention had its
origin.
But 30 carefully were the avenues Of intelli-
gence guarded at Washington, that the revela-
tions Of Major Steen (as well as Of those sent out
subsequently to cofroborate his statements),
were transferred from the archives Of the War
Department TO those OF the Presidential man.
sion, where they have since remained, unknown
even to the most confidential clerk in the War
Office. The reasons for this secresy were OBJ
vious:-first because our claim to the territory
was denied by Mexico, whose cupidity it was
not policy to excite; and second, because the
Union was then agitated BY political turmoil
growing out Of the admission of California, that
tasked the energies Of the administration to .
degree that rendered them powerless for the
contamination Of . single measure.
The anomalous history Of the gold regions
ON the Pacifc--the rapidity Of their settlement
their sudden transformation to mighty State,
SO abundant in wealth as to dictate financial
policy to the Union-nay, more than this TIE
very terms upon which alone she would confes
allegiance to the constitution were circumstances
veal calculated to make even man like Daniel
w vx;-lI sns,r hat fhu
North and the South, arising from this sudden
introduction Of a full grown State into the con-
federacy with constitution prohibiting slave
ry, made it the height Of madness to attempt
another blow on the portals of the Union. The
scheme Of amalgamasing politics and minerals
was therefore abandoned, and the feeble ener-
gies Of Mr.. Fillmore's administration were di-
rected to preservation OF its golden secret
and to peaceful adjustment Of our diff
culties with Mexico. Unfortunately, however,
for the consummation of these Objects . stase
Of anarchy prevailed, and SO distracted the
neighboring republic that the browning hopes
Of Mr.. Webster's life persisted in the same grave
with his political aspirations.
It's unnecessary to recapitulate the over
throw of the wing party that almost imme-
diately followed the passage OF the compromise
measures or to refer to the intervening cir
cumstances that protracted 80 long the gather
ing up Of the arteries left united by the outgo
ing administration. Neither is it requisite to
inquire how soon the band Of "spoilsnen,"
whom the new President summoned to his
council board, began 10 ransack the vacated
chambers OF The White House. 1t is sufficient
for us to know that among the earliess acts OF
Gen. Pierce's Cabinet was the re- assertion Of
our claim to the Mesilla, aud the accomplish
ment Of the Gadsden treaty as soon as there
was treaty making power in Mexico.
OF the capacity Of this region to contribute
vast quantities Of the precious metals we are
assured the administration have the most
abnnaant proofs, not only in the smothered re-
ports Of Major Steen, (who asserts that the
outcroppings of silver ore are SO numerous,
and the metal 80 pure, as to be clipped from
the rocks in masses with common sword, }
but from sources equally objectionable.
Independently Of this, however, the mineral
riches Of Northern Mexico are matters Of HE
tory. The Spaniards found it profitable two
hundred PEARS ago to pack the ore on the backs
Of mules and transport it distance Of $500
miles over the wild regions Of chihuahua and
Durango.
The consummation of General Gadsden's
treaty did not, however, wholly ripen the pear.
Other considerations Of magnitude presented
themselves to the mind Of General Pierce and
his coadjutors in this complicated game Of poll
tics and plumber.
Ostensibly, and, in TACT, negotiated for the
purpose of giving southern direction to the
Pacific Railroad, the treaty indistinctly FORE
Swallowed hopes more immediately consonsnt
with the cardinal tenets Of democratic faish-
the ultimate establishment Of . specie currency
in the United States. . measure that is to be
rooched nv Ura toms noe n tim Of tho Onv-