The Washington union., 1857-12-06


for this Territory returned few days since from the
Navaioe countryabout ESQ miles west of this place
where he had gone be present tho occasion of the
distribution of the annuity goods to those Indians he
reports that there about 500 of the tribe present
including men. women, and children They accepted
their gifts very cheerfuly, and seemed much pleased
They also manifested the utmost kindness towards their
new agent Col f. X Harley and expressed pleasure at
hgving among them again taa" There has been no
agent these Indians since the death of Captain IL L.
Dodge, until the arrival of Col. Harley.
The Navsjoe the largest and most powerful tribe OF
Indians in New Mexico and at any time call to the
field 900 warriors They have been terms OF friend
ship with the Americans and Mexicans for some tme and
give no indication of dissatisfied OF hostile spirit They
believe they the greatest people living This arises
from the fact that they have never seen any array oi
forces here equal their Could few OF the prin-
cpal men of the nation visit the States this
idea would be disspated They would thus be ena-
bed form estimate Of the power and wealth Of our
country and learn to respect the rights of people
Pors Is the only thing Indian will respect,
This tribe OF Indians raise great number OF sheep and
horses and manufacture good article of blanket They
also produce considerable and wheat more than Is
necessary for their consumption Their corn crop
this year. however il almost failure They differ very
much in their customs from the most of Indians Their
females arc respected than with any other tribe,
woman rights Is practically adopted among them.
Frequently the females have much authority in the af
fairs of government the males. Authority is vested
according to the value of property possessed something
after the of England after William the conqueror
with the exception that the women arc here allowed
voice in the councils They have their own property,
over which the husband has control.
While authority follows the possession of property and
particpancy In legislation is limited to property hold
es yet the privileged classes very cautious in their
action. Indeed, they perfect slaves, inasmuch
they dare not invade the rights of the In this
there could not be purer democracy Any law that does
not practically respect the rights of all is ebelled
against and totally dsregarded So that, while the
property privileged to exercise authority it
has to be done precisely the poorer class desire it
amounts to nothing
The policy of the government with the Navajoes, as
well the other wild tribes of New Mexico is to locate
them reserves build good agencies and require the
agent to be stationed there to exercise constant watch
them In this way they could be made to support
themselves in very short time, and changed from their
habits of plumber and robbery to those of peace and in
dustry This is, indeed matter which the government
should seriously consider it intimately affects the in
terests of 10000 citizens of this Territory.
learn from very reliable authority that Lieutenant
Beale operating under law of Congress authorizing
the construction of wagon road from Fort Defiance to
Yuma will report very favoraby to the route Indeed
developments which daily being made must speedily
bring the public mind of the United States to the convc
tion that the central route that surveyed by euen-
ant Whipple is the most feasible for communication be-
tween the Pacific and Atlantic seaboards If you will
notice the map and trace the Marcy and Emory routes
you viii observe that they Immediately the di
reotion of the streams while that of Whppe para
lei with them. The advantages arising from this are
familiar to any Mt all acquainted with railroad build
ing, and the necessity of favorable chorography the
construction of cheap roads After passing Ator Chico
and bearing little north this route would strike mag
ncent body of country at Laguna and running due
to the Punta il would continue this place, by bear
ing slightly to the south from the Puna until it reached
the Little Colorado, about the 35th parallel over 800
miles. Over this entire distance it would not be neces
sary hardly to stick spade the lands almost
perfect level This fact is not presented to the observer
10y examination Of Marks map, which jumps at
conclusions with nothing to sustain them For instance
the route, asserted by the friends of the central ne
leads through place called Campbells Pass the Zun
mountains Fort Defiance, when there is no such
pass, nor do the mountains laid down on that
map The valley have above noticed begins at Laguna
and finds no impediment for 800 miles. 1t is over this
country Lieut.. Beale has gone He will extend his in
vestgatons further than the limit here indicated will
furnish information OF the advantages possessed by this
route that has yet been presented to the public
Various newspaper articles which manifested more zeal
than Judgment in the discussion of Pacific railroad have
charged upon the central route nsrmountable impedi-
ments from snow-storms in the winter There is not a
railroad in the State OF Virginia Maryland that does
not experience obstruction from this source than
could possibly embars road the continent keep
ing as near the S5th parallel practicable The only
difficulty that presents itself to my mind is the scarcity of
water and the experiments of Capt Popcs expedition
prove successful this will be entirely obvated Snow
scarcely ever lies longer the ground than "a hours
in this latitude, and the proposed would run
nearly 100 miles south Of Santa Fe with an altitude of
between 1000 and 600 feet below that of this place
FERROUS objection to the reports which have
been given TO the public of surveys &c. of the
Pacific passing in this region Is that sufficient explicit
ness is not used in stating the elevations 1t stated that
we here 5000 900 feet above the level of the sea-
and some 1000 or 5000 feet higher than the starting
point of road assuming that to be st. Louis Memphis
or Vicksbrg This vast difference in attitudes naturally
associates the idea of huge hills and towering mountains
presenting almost impossible difficulties, when in fact
there is such thing but extended plain gently and
imperceptiby rising to this elevation with grade from
five to ten feet to the mile indeed when closely nyest
gated the alleged natural obstacles to railroad
TO the Pacific vanish into thin air Whether such road
will ever be built or, If constructed when are auee
tions do not presume to discuss but to any one who
has travelled the plains and who feels the great
isolation of country like this with its present facilities
OF communication there cannot be rational doubt either