The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-04

bounty land 70 the soldiers of the OF 1872 asfr
widows concerned, who usually sell their lane
rants as they go out West and settle upon them
! 0. And because every acre OF land nov
held by the government in Michigan, Elinois
Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, and other new STATES, ha
the government 81 % cents per acre, when teros
and other expenses added, and If this be doubted 10
the Land Officer be called upon TO report on TINS shect
Under this view OF the subject the Homestead bill Is
absurdty The government at 81 rs per acre,
gives away its land as that sum does not cover all the ex
penses thereon Let friends Of the thu
objections presented in this letter. They are, in my
judgment, enough To scout the bill out Of Congress.
But there sui one more objection to the Homestead
bill and that is the pauper character OF the proposition
should purchase his freehold, and pecial wheI
he get land warrants at eighty cents the acre
which is less than what the land cost the government
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1863.
The Surrey Of Sonora Nearly C0mplesd-Sketch Of Ne I'D
ings of the Commission Erpense-Oposi Of tie Mez
lean Gouernment-Some Account Of the Countrywide OF
preston Of tie People-Emigration TO Arisona-F iendl
| ness 10 Americans, dc.
| The scientific commission organized under Capt Chas
p Stone for the exploration survey and measurement
the public of the State of Sonora in the republ
of Mexico has during the past year, in the face Of tn
most determined opposition the part Of the exsn
State government nearly completed the survey and recon
nosance of the entire coast line of the State with larg
portion of the interior The portion completed include
the greater part Of the valuable lands Of the river
Yaqu, Mayo and Fuere, Tburn Island and all the land
adjacent TO the river Colorado and Pnecate Adair
Bay
The expenses Of the survey paid by per centage
the public lands Of the State coded by the supreme 60
vernment to the house of J. B. Jecker Goa mode
deraying the expenses of public surveys which, is be
leved, will be found much economical than thu
adopted by the United States government. The right
the republic of Mexico to cede It's public lands undo
the constitution acknowledged by the present govemmen
OF the State Of Sonora, is unquestionable void
the right of the United States government to make SINH
lar contract under similar circumstances To dew thi
position would be to question the validity Of every rvat
lands that has originated Mexican indpend
eEce for since that time they have all emanated from ia
supreme government
The commission organized in accordance with the
sons Of said contract celebrated between the
government of Mexico and the house of B. Jecker Co.
commenced It's labors the latter part of the year 1857
shortly after the inhuman massacre Of Crabb aud hi
Inflated party, at time when public scntimen, wa
exceedingly hos. tile to everything American
In spite Of this feeling and Notwithstanding the ncep
OF well authenticated information to the effect that PesV
chera, refusing to obey positive orders received from tn
very government he pretends to uphold had threaene
to welcome the commission with the fate SO treacheDus
awarded Crabb, well armed parties, under INSTITUTION
from the chief of the commission landed at different ont
the coast and wherever practicable penetrated int
the interior The system of surveys used resembles tina
adopted by the United States General Land Office thu
work being connected BY range, township and s.ctios
lines or oourse survey thus made cannot be expected
results equal these attained under the admirable
and extensive system adopted by the United States Coas
Survey; nevertheless OF the most accurate
veys that has been made by actual measurement
has been thus effected by the commission for the slrve
! OF Sonora.
The headquarters of the commission established
from the first at Guaymas where the company's bri
Manuel Payne, with two nine Founders and well
crew, rendered efficient service in preventing threatened
| violence.
fined to the often perous navigation of the Gulf or Sea
| COrtez II was an American commission, and owing u
the buster movements OF Walker and Others aud tn
treatment which Sonorans had received in California;
the people prepared to receive anything American
an uniriendy manner Moreover, all those accused o
being concerned in inviting Crabb TO the country en-
deavored to disseminate the idea that 1t 1hblste
movement and there reason TO believe melted the In
dans TO hostlity-whe another hostile element tn
| frauduency of many Of the land titles.
AS far as these open enemies concerned the
mission, never hoping to gain their friendship cared onl
TO enforce their respect and in this have been completed
successful In instance has any member Of the
sion, officially otherwise received any but the
hosities hourly expected AS regards the feeling
Of the large majority Of the people, such change ha
taken place that to be known as member Of Capt Stone
commission is passport TO friendly treatment in any par
| OF the State.
Up to very late date there was reason to fear FROM
Peschera and his officials the open violence which he la
repeatedly threatened and ordered put
and which would doubtless have been attempted but 70
the Opporune arrival Of the sloopof Marys AM
the determined steps promptly taken by Capt Davis
enforce respect to the American flag and Peschcr
has now lost all of the popularity which he had gained
Indian fighter and most Of his power in Sonora by hi
late ambitious attempt to subjugate the neghborng Stat
OF Snaoa-the withdrawal of his troops having left hi
own State deenceess and open to the ravages Of tn
Apaches
despotsm, and completely the mercy Of the hordes
Apaches who unchecked and almost unresisted range
State from Guaymas to the Gadsden line, waiting
with anxiety the action Of the United States government
| as their last and only hope.
Those who have obtained their information concernin.
the political condition OF Sonora from the official organ
Peschera and place reliance in it, will very naturally
dscredt the above statement, the more 80 because ~
unexpected and unhoped for The writer Of this artc'
has however, Of knowing and proving the certain
ty Of what he states Nor is it at all surprising
recoected that the subject OF the acquisition Of Sonor
by purchase has been under discussion for years
more, and that its ultimate AUGMENTATION in way
| another is regarded everywhere as a certainty.
| Merchants whose business Is at stand STILL land
holders whose ranches are depopuated, stock owners
robbed Of their stock and aborers driven from mining
and other kinds of employ acquainted as they now
are with the practical workings Of our government and
the protection 1t affords to life, property and liberty oil
conscience, all unite desiring American protection. An
were not for the military desposm, in the power OF
which, notwithstanding weakness their lives aud pro-
pery at stake this feeling would long since have beer
| more publicly avowed.
Almost daily Mexcans are leaving Sonora for Arizona and
California simply to place themselves under the American
flag And strange may SEEM before the arrival Of tho
Presidents message, the question openly asked mt
by Mexican gentleman Why does not the United States
government settle this matter at by taking the States
Of Sonora and chihuahua for reprsals with the uuderi
standing that when affairs become settled in Mexico they
should treat with the successful for the pur
chase of said Satesp Why do they wait to throw their
influence In favor Of party who in this State then
enemies2''
Does IL not seem that humanity, and had almost SAID
moral necessity, demands the immediate occupation OF
|
way recommended by the President. Situated as Sonora
now Is, politically poweress the abect prey TO Indian
aggression on the part of savages living in our Territory
and for the time at peace with us-savages who daily
carry of their stock, numbering in cold blood the mel
women and male children, and carrying the female Gull
dreD into captivity; threatened with invasion by in
creasing border population, rapidly collecting in Arizona
whose will be Crabb and Cavorca, in common
humanity II would seem that government Is morally
| and politically bound To grant them protection.
Should they fail to do SO at once, there is little doubt
| that before six months have passed the spectacle