Arizona miner., 1867-08-24
TERRIroRY OF ARIZONA,
OFFICE or rHE GOVERNOR,
u, Ali och lSF-

OFFICE or THE GoNrHNuR'
Prescott, April 2jth, 1867.
GENERAL,-You will remember that when
recently in San Francisco spoke TO you IN
regard to Indian captiyes taken 10y the troops
here and suggested, that if YOU would order
them turned over 90 the civil authorities
would see that homes were provided them
under the existing law of the Territory
Chapter SO Of the Howell Code, approved,
November 10. lSGi
You we're OF the opinion that the captiyes
would have - he held as prisoners, but since
my return find that at Fort Mcdowell and
NJ other posts they have been turned over to
citizens without any process Of law. | hear
Of instances in which children have been
sold by the troops, of Others in which they
have been exchanged for goods, and In cases
where they have been given TO the Pima and
Maricopa Indians, those tribes have after
wards sold them 20 the whites. Moreover.
am informed that al Mcdowell, il has been
the custom to deliver the adult captives over
to the Pimas and Maricopas for slaughter.
| respectfully call your attention to these
facts and request II prisoners now in hand,
or those hereafter taken, are 10 be disposed
Of that it be done in accordance with the
Territorial law Of which enclose herewith
a copy | also send a copy Of the recent Act
Of Congress prohibiting peonage in New
Mexico and other Territories, which you
may not have seen, and which has some
bearing upon the matter involved in this
communication.
am General, with much respect,
Your obedient servant,
RICHARD c. MCCORMICK,
Governor
To Brvt. Mai. Gen. Mcdowell, Com
manding Department Of California
In a supplementary letter, sent a few days
later, the Governor informed the General
that the instances referred to in the forcgo-
ing letter were reported as not numerous,
but had been presented to him in such way
that he felt it duty to write upon the sub
jet.
The truth of the reports excepting
the first, is not vouched for in either
letter, and should it be made to ap-
pear that they are utterly groundless and
entirely unjust no one will be better pleased
than the Governor. So far from intending
bring odium upon Camp Mcdowell, or any
other post, we know the Governor commu-
nicated with the General, simply, through a
sense Of official responsibility, and had he
failed 10 take notice of such statements a.
were made TO him, he would have been open
to censure as failing TO take care that the
laws be faithfully executed"
1t is difficult 20 see what other course was
left the Governor to pursue, and if circular
No. 3, from Head Quarters Department o
California, June IA, in which the second par
agraph Of the Governors letter is printed
without allusion to the other paragraphs
which must be considered with il in order Il
proper understanding Of his position,) Will
certain instructions to the commanders 0
the districts and posts in Arizona, proves Of
fensive to the military, or to any one, ia,
blame cannot be imputed TO the Governor
who had no idea that such public use woul'
be made Of his letter without permission
liberty which Gen. Mcdowell would be swii
to rebuke any one for presuming 10 take wit
one Of his communications. As, however,
part of the letter has been extensively put
lished, the California press generally hayin
! printed circular No. 3, it is but just to tn
Governor to let the public see it all an
: clearly understand the circumstances unde
which it was written. We doubt not tina
A by all thinking, reasonable men, whether
d or out Of the army, it will be promptly at
o cepted as intending no attack upon or mi
;. representation of the military here, but sin
= ply calling attention to derogatory report
= which, whether with or without foundatio
in truth, were calculated TO injure the seryic
and required investigation, and which wei
brought to the notice Of Gen. Mcdowell, b.
cause it was out of the power of the GoyernC
to have them investigated excepting throug
d. the Department Commander.
This investigation might have been mad
privately and without attracting public a
tention, and the Governor supposed, if mad
at all, it would be in that way, and as "
c, have said the odium of making it or the le
10 ter upon which it has been ordered, matt,
l. of notoriety, cannot justly be fixed upo
IL him