The Washington union., 1857-09-16
ARIzoNA

We indebted TO Lieut. Mowry for the following ex-
tracts c letter describing the condition Of affairs in
the Gadsden purchase The writer is one Of the Oldest
residents OF that region, and intelligent and reliable
man. Lieut. Mowry has letters from other parties to the
same general effect He has already presented mass Of
evidence to the Secretary Of State upon the subject of his
mission and is full of confidence that Congress win or
ganize territorial government OVER that country
GADsDES PURonAsE July 20, 1857
The condition of the Purchase has been extremely bad
since the unfortunate and njudcous expedition of Crabbe
noo sonora and at the present time is but little better
than held OF guerilla warfare robbery and plunder
The exasperaed state of feeling between the Mexcans
and Americas prevents intercourse and commerce upon
which the Territory is entirely dependent Americans
are afraid TO venture into Sonora Tor supplies and Mexi
cans AFRAID 10 venture the line .at
Americans who had nothing To do with the flbister-
ing invasion have been treated badly in Sonora and
driven out Of The country and Mexcans coming into the
purchase with supplies and animals have been robbed and
piundered by the returned fillibusters
The Americans in the Territory are by no means har-
monious ON these subjects in favor of buster-
ing, and others opposed to ii in favor OF murder
ing and robbing Mexicans wherever found and others
opposed to It, 1t results that In state of
ohy there is government; protection to life proper
IT, or business law, and lfrespect morality
among the people We are living in perfect state of
nature without the restraining influence of civil on mill
ary law, or the ameioration OF society.
There have not been many conflicts and murders be-
cause every goes armed to the teeth and difficulty
is always fatal side the other.
In the midst of all this the government has blessed us
with custom house at Caabazas to collect duties upon
the necessares of life, which by chance and running
the gauntlet, may get from Sonora God send
that we had been left alone with the Apaches we
should have been thousand times better off In every
respect
In this state of affairs 1t is scarcely to be expected that
the people will meet together in a convention There
was no arrangement for that purpose up to the time
OF my leaving and none could be made. We have
never had any orders of election from Santa Fe nor
heard of any convention We are as far removed
from the Rio Grande from the Atlantic in communic
ton
If --- - drew the bill introduced into the
Senate last Congress- he is an unfit representative Of
interests That b would not give satisfaction to any
interest.
Settlers want Spanish grants confirmed so they can buy
piece of land and hold it-not to be encouraged to squat
upon grants, then finally be elected as in California
The treaty guarantees the validity of Mexican grants
Miners want the privilege of preemption mines aba
doned otherwise to the extent of 800 yards tho
vein for each manthe mother vein to hold the branches
by owners paying $50 for every 800 yards
BE assured that you will receive the cordial support of
myself and my friends.
Yours, very truly,
CHARLES d. POSITION.
Lieut.. SYLVESTER MowRY United States Army Washing
ton, ID. G.
Other advices speak of the rapidly increasing popula
southwestern States and the earnest prayer of the people
that Congress will take early steps to organize and pro-
tect the Territory.