The Placer herald., 1864-04-23
FRENCH DESIGNS IN SONORA.

Sylvester Mowrey writes on the 18th of
March to the New York Journal of Com
merce as follows:
Telegrams from Washington, day or two
ago, stated that President Juarez, of Mexico,
had ceded portion of the whole of the
State Of Sonora to American parties. Per
haps this is a suggestion of the parties in
terested in the secret treaty of cession to the
United States, of Sonora, made by Mr.. Cor
win, our Minister to Mexico, and the Juarez
Government, two years ago, which, it is said
was laid over to more convenient season
by the Senate in executive session. 1t is
perhaps forgotten, except by some of the
most eminent capitalists of New York, that
the Mexican Government in 1857, entered
into contract with the house of Tore,
Jecker & Co.. of Mexico for the survey of
the public lands (terrenos Jaldios) Of Sonora,
granting TO them in fee one-third of said
lands in payment for the survey of the State.
Under this contract scientific commission
(at the head of which was General Charles P.
Stone, of Balls Bluff, and Fort Lafayette
memory was sent to Sonora, and at an
expense of several bundrad thousand dollars,
the survey of large portion of the State
was accomplished, with degree of accuracy
and an exquisite finish of detail in mapping,
quite unsurpassed, and worthy the talent of
General Stone and his immediate assistan ts
The progress of the survey was interrupted,
Pesquiera in despite of the orders of the
Federal Government Of Mexico. The house
of Tore, Jecker & Co., failed, and Jecker
escaped from Mexico by the port of Acapulco
carrying with him to France, it is supposed
a large amount Of coin. lie was soon after
declared French citizen, and his rights
under the above contract indorsed by the
French Emperor, and made a prominent
part OF the bill of Indictment framed by
Louis Napoleon to justify bis interference in
Mexican affairs. The American capitalists
interested with Jecker, employed Caleb
Gushing to prepare an opinion in reference
to the right acquired under their contract,
and in no legal production has that distia>
gushed lawyer shown more learning or great.
er research than in this one, which conclu
siyely shows the vested rights of Jecker and
bis associates to large portion Of the public
domain Of Sanora There is no room for
doubt that one of the first acts of the Em'
peror Maximiian's Government will be to
reinstate Jecker in his rights in Sonora, and
it is more than probable that ex-senator
Gwn, of California, now in Paris, and who
is to accompany Maximilian to Mexico, with
a promise of a large mounted force to sub
due the hastie Apaches in Sonora,) is in
terested with Jecker in the development of
the immense property he and his American
associates hold in that State. 1t is of course
impossible to say what private interests have
b en- given to secure Jecker so strong sup.
port from the Emperor Napoleon; bnt it is
said Maximian is to receive per cent. of
the net profits of the enterprise. The late
cession, therefore, by Juarez, if not 10 any
other light of no value, becomes, in view of
these facts, worthless. Nothing less than an
American army, and the right obtained by
conquest, will wrest from Jecker and the
Emperor Napoleon this, the richest of the
Mexican States. 1t is, however, perfectly
well understood, not only from the procla-
nation Of Marshal Forey, but from authentic
advices since, that all vested rights in mines
and lands in Mexico, acquired in good faith
and held by American citizens, will be re-
spected, confirmed and protected by the
Imperial Government