Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1858-01-05
Spirit of yeffecsou,
CHARLEO7OWN N
TGcsIqy Morning, january 5, 1858.
Territory of Arizona.


A Memoir ofthe Proposed Territory of Arizona,
By Sylvester Mowry, U. s. A., delegate elect from
that Territory, has appeared. In pamphlet ofthr
~ pages is contained much valuable aud interesting
information reehectns :s i1aES.s' acquisition TO
the United States. This region is six huadrcd miles
long hy about fifty miles wide and embraces
iofabDut thirty thousand square miles. 1t
quired by the Gadsden treaty. Mt cost of ten mil
liens Of dollars. more southern boundary was
conceded in the original treaty, but the Senate re-
duced; the limits and the amount of the indemnity
The orgna line would have given US the mouth of
the Colorado river, and, probably port the
head Of the GulG at Advise bay. port on the
Gnlfis: as Mr.. MowTy remarks of great and imme-
dute NECESSITY to Pacific POSSESSIONS
The proposed limits of the Territory of Ari-
zoun Hrerhe Gath parallel latitude, with New
Mexico on the north from the lO3d meridian west
to the Colorado; Texas on III cast Texas and the
Mexican provinces of New Nc leo and Sonora on
the south; and California on the west. The new
Tcrriaty would thus contain iihin lis borders the
three largest rivers on the continent west of TIE
Msissppi-the Rio Gr0nde, Gila, and Colorado OF
the ~"st-and embrace 10000 sqaure miles. the
Cindsdcn Purchase is attached, by act Of Congress-
10 the Territory Of New Mexico.
Concerning the carly his,oty of Arizona, and its
condition the time of its ccSsiou to the United
States, we have had little information, except from
the Report of Col. a. B. Gray and the Notes of Ma
jor ENJOY and Mr.. 7. R. Bartlett, and the Appcn-
dix and Wilson's book on "Mexico and lis Ecli-
giOn"
! Mr. Mowry traces the history of the region far
back MS G87 whena Jesuit missionary from the pro-
vince Of Sonora, which, in its southern portion, bore
already the impress of Spanish civilization, a,cend-
ed the lvaey of the Santa Cruz river to the Giln.-
tie established here missions and settlements. In 3
report 10 the Treasury, Mr. Mowry uses the follow
ing prophetic language: "a scientific exploration
ofSonDra with reference to miueralogy, along with
the introduction Of fl2ilies: will lead 10 dscov-
cry gold and silver marvellous, that the result
will lie such as has never been seen in the world.
Al! the moderp explorers, Col A. B. Gray, Col
Emory, Lieut. Mchicr, Lieut. PNrke, and Mr.. Bart
lett the Boundary Commissioners agree IN the state
Iment t;at the Territory has immense resources in
Silver and copper.
The Memoir proceeds to fur. ish, in detail, ample
! vdeuce Of the agricultural and mineral wealth OF
Arizona, and orts capacity to sustain large pPpu-
lation Ii also shows that the region is rapidly FILL
ing up with enterprisine population.
I'm five years" says Mr. Mowry, IA great State
may he built upon this remote frontier and popu-
iution ga,hered such as will, when make further
acquisition of territory, spread at once over it, diff
fusing national sentiment, and extending the area
Of American principles.
"Aside from ;hese considerations, justice and hui
manly imperatively demand that Congress shall
bear ard once the prayer OF the people Of
Arizona for protection. Ifthese considerations fail
then they offer interest for the organization of the
Territory is the guarantee of supply of silver
which will create as great revolution in the COM
rtercal world as has the gold of California. Art-
zbna will be known the silver State, and the pre-
dictiou;o f Humboldt that the balance between gold
and silver, destroyed by the California discoveries
would one day be restored, will be made good, from
the resources. .of the Gadsden purchase"