The New York herald., 1861-12-31
News from New Mexico.


News from New Mexico.
KANSAS Cny, Dec. 80, 1861.
Tho Santa Fe mail, with dates to the 14th inst, has
rived The reported OF twenty men by the In
dians at Fort Stanton proved 10 be incorrect.
Memorials have been passed by the Territorial Iepisa
ture petoning Congress enact laws aud make such
appropriations we'll authorize the Indian Depart
en to select suitable lands for Indian reservations also
that New Mexico be relieved Of the payment Of the
Of tax assigned to her by the late law Of Compress The
law for the protection Of slave property New Mexico
was repealed by an almost unanimous vote in bott
Houses.
Appleton Onksmith, tho Alleged SLAYER
Before the United states District Court.
HE IS CHARGED WITH BcING THE HEAD OF A
WEALTHY GANG or NEW YORK SLAVE TRADERS
HE DECLARES THAT HE Is INNOCENT AND POOR
HIS BAIL FIXED At IS 900.
From the Boston Herald, Dec. 30l
Appleton Oaksmith, Of New York, whose ap
psared prominently in the testimony in the skinner trial
for hitting out the Margaret Scott New Bedford haer
as slave ship, brought before the United States Dis
trct Courton Saturday. will DO remembered that he
was incarcerated In Fort Lafayette suspicion Of being
engaged In hitting out the SLAYER Augusta and about
week since transferred Fort Warren He was
leased from there Friday by orders from Washington
and was at once arrested United States Marshal Kyc
an indictment having been found against him by the
Grand Jury for having owner fitted out the Margaret
Scott as SLAYER, Samuel Skinner OF New Bedford
ing been convicted Of committing the offence
agent.
He was committed to jail Friday night and was brought
before Judge sprague Saturday, to have the amount
his bail fixed.
He is man apparently about 36 10 40 years Of age
nearly SIX fest high, rather eshy and OF very fine gen
ers appearance He has fun beard dark and very long
exhibiting great coolness, caution and intelligence. Al
these qualities were exhibited the discussion which
followed relative TO the amount Of the bail.
When asked II he had counsel, was provided with
bOndemen, he replied that he wa not
District Attorney Dana then made statement Of his
view OF the case 70 the Court the prisoner listening very
meeky the while He alluded to the skinner trial and
spoke Of him as poor man, the tool o. immense
ganization in New York, Of which Mr. Oaksnth the
recognized head and agent Skinner had been convicted
and the verdict had met with the full appreciation Of the
Judge who presided during the trial He had been
fenced 70 imprisonment for term Of years, and q
pay nne Of $1,000 The New York ffaternit,
seemed to have no objection to his conviction
since they seem to have been able 70 rely on his
silence He mad kept his faith with them thus far
ing made no disclosures about their operations But
some deveopcmenfs were made during the trial which
implicated Captain Oaksmith the leader Of the orgpn
zaton Thcy cannot afford to have him convicted II it is
possible 10 prevent snch result lie has been main
actor in fitting out slave Ships aud vast amounts OF
money have slipped through his hands The shaving
business requires large capital 1t is very profitable
slaves sometimes being bought for ten twelve dollars
head and selling for twelve fifteen hundred dollars
each. THEY great risks, but they arc always pro
viled with gold It has been suspected that in almost
every department OF the government this gold has been
used to prevent the triumph OF justice.
twas found almost impossible to got this Oaksmth
here and his arrest at last was due to accident He
transferred Fort Warren from Fort Lafayette about
week since, and, having been indicted, the facts
represented TO the Secretary Of State Washington who
ordered his release in order that he might be tried
this charge He bad been indicted in New York
fitting out SLAYER.
Mr. Oaksmth--No, sir; that is not 30. was never
indicted in my life before.
Ar. Dana-I think am right. think there islan in.
dictment against him III New York. Mr.. u. thought
small amount Of bail would be useless He regarded the
k1,o xasaIx.xr
business and represented that he must have great
amount of capital at his comDand: He had been asked
TO employ COUNSEL and afforded every opportunity to do
He had also been told that $50 600 bonds would be
asked for He closed by asking that what they be-
sved be the Of tho slave trading operations
had bsen reached there might be no escape from Justice
by means of straw bail or low hail.
Mr.. Oaksmith sad-K your Honor please, this is the
first time have been before court in this capa-
time, but ~ God Almighty Is my Judge, never in any
way shape manner have been Interested in the slave
trafnc. II any circumstances Of my life have given the
District Attorney good 10 think guilty az he
says. 10 my misfortune He has stated many circum-
stances never heard Of before. Among other things
he states that the very man who has been sem
fenced for this offence he believes 10 be
The time may come when he may think fully inno-
cent He says have had every opportunity TO send for
3D. was arrested yesterday locked up in Jail last night
and only brought here at eleven O'Clock day II my
desire, your Honor. and it is my purpose, undergo
strenuously made for IT, II there should be any crcun.
stances brought 10 light at this trial which show
me TO be the victim Of persecution sincerely hope the
District Attorney will cease his efforts against me.
clear ly victim Of persecution II am be torn
from home and thrown into dungeon; removed from
there without warrant, and carried on shipboard my
person searched and papers Of valuce to the 60
vernment taken from me- thrown into another dungeon:
then released again arrested as soon as am at
liberty and then brought here to answer 10 an indictment
got up during my confinement it seems to useless to
employ counsel. say IN the most solemn msnner--I
need not call on the Great Ruler Of the Universe to
witness whatl say-that am not worth single far
thing in the world think it will be utter impossi.
bity for raise Thousand dollars by going among
al my relatives and friends My mother has little
property whi she would gladly for me, and il the
make effort TO get IL. But could not hope 10 raise
fourth part OF the sum the District Attorney has
named But without single iarthing Of bail should
appear and meet this ISSUE VI course could do it at
much poorer advantage ii locked up than if at liberty
and for that should desire il possible to obtain
bail.
There must have been suspicious circumstances,
honest would have got tho foundation for
long indictment this But there two sides
every question: and the learned counsel for the
inent will find there is very different this
from that which he now Sees
Mr. Dana read the relative the offence with
which the prisoner charged aud urged that tho bail
be fixed as high as he had suggested.
MIR. Oaksmith, who had been examining the indict-
mcnt said:-YOur Honor, have always endeavored to
keep posted in thecurrent literature Of the times and
have heard of whore person charged with
this offence has been required to give than S. 900
|,
owner, for fitting out ship never owned plank
in, and think never saw.
Mr.. Dana-But once.
Judge Sprague said there evidence before the
Court and the statee' each side not admitted
by the other. He cou take nothing into consideration
unless il either proved or admitted. There had been
no examination before commissioner to aid him. He
had nothing but tho indictment and the Of the
charged to go by II was his duty the hand
to require oppressive ball. and in this connect ion
the Of the party to be ccnsdered
the other hand the bail should be large enough to
the defendants appearance for trial. and should not be
considered in the light Of compensation to the govern
ncnt for the commission of the offence He would there
fore fix the Sc 0O0 liable bs changed either
way motion OF either party If public justice seemed
to require IL.
Mr. Dana wished have the defendant required to an
pear from day to day.
Mr. Qaksmth--I don't think / can get thar amount OF
bail; don't think you need have any uneasiness.
Mr.. DANA don know about that
Tho Court said that the bail ensure his appear
ance at the March term Of the Court
Mr.. Oaksmth was committed to JAIL but will probably
be able to get bail
SEIZURE AN ALLEGED SLAYER The yacht Wild Pigeon
seized by United States Marshal Keycs on Friday
charged with being SLAYER. She was sold at auction
some two or three weeks since and purchased by
MIR. I. L. Smith, who keeps liquor store at No 81 Gin.
ton street, and Captain Bailey Since then she has
loaded with liquors and other articles frequently used in
the purchase Of slaves and Saturday was cleared at
the Custom House for the West Coast Of Africa with
laey captain The vessel lies Union wharf in
charge OF the United States authorities but it is quite