Daily national Democrat., 1859-01-12
The President Policy.

The Washington Union thus remarks on
the Presidents proposed protectorate over
Sonora and chihuahua
"The recommendation in the message Of the
President that the Uuited States should as
sumo temporary protectorate over Sonora
and chihuahua is founded not only in Just
right of reprisal for aggravated and long
continued outrages upon American citizens.
bat upon principles of self preservation, and
upon humanity for the people Of these from
tier States. The condition of these States.
although similar in point of misgovernment
and oppression is not the same in degree
Sonora contains fifteen millions Of acres of
land and population of about l20, 900 souls.
including Indians OF this number, a relia.
ble authority estimates only five per cent. rs
being able to read and write. The number
of inhabitants who call themselves ,chite-
"gente de razon"-does not probably exceed
10000.
Sonora is, beyond all doubt, the richest
mineral region in the known world, blessed
with fine climate and in the valleys the
richest soil. Sugar, cotton, wheat, corn, peas,
beans, all the fruits grow in a luxuriousness
and profusiOn unknown even to our southern
possessions The people are naturally docile,
and accustomed to labor, caring only to be
let alone to make the State rich and prosper.
! Gus 10y their quiet toll With all these ad-
vantages, Sonora is to-day in the most mise
rUle condition. The whole State is the
prey of the Apacha Indians. All cultivation
except i'll the immediate vicinity of the tow
is abandoned. The high roads are daily
stained with the blood of the people The
whole mining region of the northern portion
OF the State is abandoned and the CONNER
cial world is deprived of the silver which il
So much needs. From researches which will
shortly be made public through the Indian
Department, 1t is ascertained that more than
one fourth of the ella Apachas are Mexican
children who have been carried into captivi-
ty and have grown up savage. Annually
hundreds of both sexes are captured They
never return except when familiarized with
the Indian life What is this to the United
States And when is our authority to avengo
the wrongs of assassins inflicted upon a for
eign population? The answer is plain
These have their haunts in the United States
north of the ella river From the valleys OF
ITS northern branches they descend into So
nora and Chihuahua; plunder, murder, and
take prisoners, and return with their i'll got
ten booty to their homes, where they remain
''''i' N'H' VI AhNlAhltlpu dRdlu AtlOs InClll
forth. Secure in their retreat, when they
have crossed our boundary line-which the
Mexican dare not cross-they pursue their
way leisurely back. We, in effect give shel.
ter to these predatory bands, and become
pdrtlcepS crimin,is in the despoiling of the
tairest province upon which the sun ever
shone More than this: Arizona, which has
been gradually growing in Importance since
its acquisition, is made the high road of the
despoilers; and its development which pro-
misses to augment in so great a degree the
wealth of the world is checked our people
the sturdy pioneers of civilization, are rob.
bed our only communication overland to the
Pacific throughout the year liable to be
stopped and we have no redress This willy
savage, the Apacha, after severe outrage
upon our side of the line, retreats into Mexi-
co, where we cannot follow him, makes a
temporary peace with the nearest Mexican
authority, and remains until a greater temp
tation offers. The Mexican government af-
lords neither protection nor redress. Our
readers will observe that we have touched
only one phase of this question. This alone
would have justified us long since in estab-
fishing military posts in Sonora and Chihua-
hua. We are assured upon competent au-
thority that protection by the United States
from the Apachas will be received by the
people with gratitude which no words can
express"