Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-03-06
wAsHMeroN Hxws AND GOSSIP.

wAGHUefoN Hxws AND GOSSIP.
Important and Interesting from New Mex.
ieo.-Hsrewith We present to the Stars road.
ere an exceedingly interesting and important
letter from New Mexico. 1t dsvslopes . po-
litical squabble there between the Gossrnor,
(Col. Merrivsther,) and his friends-Ameri-
cans and Mexicans--and the local opposition,
composed principally Of Americana. To NOR
row We shall publish the proceedings Of a
meeting Of the antics, held at Santa Fe, and
duly dispatched to the Star on the next day.
We lived long in an extensive frontier country,
and know from an experience with such a
community that it is our duty to caution the
public against concluding that the complaints
therein stated are we'll g:ounded because they
are expressed in indignant and earnest Ian.
guage. Wait, We have to say until you hear
the other side. We, however, know many of
the parties whose names will be found fguripg
In the proceedings referred to, to be men of
character, sagacity and energy.
Our only wonder is that Governor Merri.
wether should have been in Office for moro
than year withou. finding powerful and
violent popular organization against him
squabbling being the life and soul of public
affairs in all new (American) countries.
SANTA FE, N. NJ, Jan. 80, 1855.
The Indians are threatening to eat this
country up; but the Legislature having au.
thorEed the raising Of a regiment Of volun-
teers, Gen Garland has acce pied and caused
to be mustered into service Eve companies
which, in the course of a few days, will be in
active service in the field. 1t is the purpose
Of Gen. Garland to carry the war into the
country Of the enemy. They have been long
enough preying upon our people and their
property, and it is now time that they should
be taught that we are in earnest. The Apaches
few days since, came down on q settlement
about twenty-five miles from this city, muir
dersd several men, compelled the women to
dance in state of nudity before them, pc Pc
trated other outrages, and then drove of
large herd of mules to the mount aims They
were pursued with unexampled heetness and
success by Lieut.. Samuel d. S,urgis, in com
mand Of a small detachment of dragons, over.
taken, and, after a severe fight, several Of
their number were killed, several wounded
aud one or two escaped unhurt The com
mand Of Lieut. Sturgis los. one man, and sew.
erai received slight arrow wounds. The poll.
cy heretofore pursued toward the hostile tribes
that surround and infest our country has
tended TO embolden them and make them feel
as if they were invincible.
The Presidents message has been received
with great favor here. The American portion
Of the population of this city regard il as an
able, sound, and truly matt on al and republican
state paper. The administr alton or General
Pierce has the confidence of the people here
in an eminent degree, and L believe that it is
the wish Of every Democrat that he should be
renominated and reelected to the Chief Ma.
gistracy Of the nation.
We are particularly delighted with the
patriotic manner in which the President di'
reefs the attention of Congress 10 the made
quately protected condition Of the frontier
country, and his recommendation that tour
additional regiments be raised. We hope th at
a considerable portion of that force, if raised,
will be sent to this Territory.
A pablo meeting was held few evenings
since. in this city, to take into consideration
the affairs of the Territory, and the course of
Gov Merriwether as executive head of the
Territory and supeIirteI dent cf Indian affairs.
was sew, rely census ed, and resol tons passed
asking for his removal from office.
The meeting was attended by nearly every
American in the city, and few of the most
respectable MexicRDs. Preston Beck, ESQ
one Of the 6rst merchants of the place and
one of the most highly esteemed citizens Of
the Territory, presided on the occasion. He
made a speech on taking the chair, explana.
tory ct the object Of the meeting In which he
set forth that the object was to LOOK after the
Interests Of the Territory, and to take some
step toward calling the attention Of the author.
tiles at Washington, to the misuse or abuse
Of public authority here. The meeting was
conducted in a most temperate and unimpas.
stoned manner md evinced that the Governor
had but little popularity there anon st his
own countrymen. His administration of In.
dian affairs. has certainly not come up to the
public expectation.
If this country could be adequately pro
tected against Indian depredations, it would
be fine theatre for the acquisition of wealth,
from its mineral and pastoral resou -ces 1t is
10 be hoped that the General Government
will como promptly to our aid, by furnishing
US troops sufficient to enable the military de-.
psrtment to subjugate and control the savage
foes by which We are hsrrassed, or make am.
pie appropriation to keep volunteers in the
field Unless such protection soon be given,
We shall have to abandon the country.
The Supreme Court Of the United States for
this Territory is now in session, and has been
for the last month, Judges Davenport, Broo
chus ard Benedict presiding. Some very del.
icate and important questions have been ar.
gued before that tribunal, and all the strength
OF the bar has been brought into requisition
1uo qucstioI VI INC SdllClty OF gratis made
by the political chief OF this province, under
the Supreme al Government of Mexico,
are now beginning to be mooted aud litigated
One Of the causes which have been argued
before the Supreme Court, during the present
term, is Of that Characterize question aris.
ing in an action Of ejectment in the court be-
low, wherein the presiding Judge Davenport,
excluded grant Of that character from the
jury as evidence in support OF the aston of
the plaintiffs
A vast portion Of the real estate possession
Of this Territory is held by that tenure The
court have the question under deliberatiou,
and il Is supposed that the decision will be ad
verse to the verdict OF the grant, even for the
purpose Of recovering possession, until the
right Of the parties shall have been finally de
termined by Congress. The consequence will
be that par les who have held possession IN
der such authori y, for quarter of century,
will be intruded upon and over run by tres
passers
The Surveyor General, Pelham, has arrived
here. openeu his ofice, and announced his