Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1871-02-11
TERRITORY OF ARIZONA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Tucson, Feb. Z, 1871.

LII consequence OF tllo DfuUdls nurQer
of three citizens at Mission Camp
Station, on the 9th day Of Dec. 1870,
and the pillage of nearly all the NOV
able property belonging to them and
others at the Station, by three Mexi-
cans subjects named Pedro Pine, To-
mas Sanchez and Jesus Ortega, and
their subsequent escape to Sonora; and
also, in view Of the frequent commits
sion Of crimes of a SIMILAR character
by persons of the same nationality,
who have invariably escaped to Sonora
In Mexico, and in no instance within my
knowledge has punishment ensued in
consequence of the preparation of said
crimes, [ deemed it my duty to exert eve
ny power which l possessed, to cause the
apprehension, conviction and punish
ment Of the Mission Camp murderers !;
and, l have been strengthened in the
necessity of such action by the con-
slant robberies that have been perpe-
trated along the ella River, by bands
of outlaws from Sonora, since the Mis-
sion Camp murders We're committed;
and which have already resulted in
the loss to our citizens, OF about one
hundred horses and mules, and caused
general alarm for the security Of life
and property.
Therefore, in addition to offering a
reward of 81, 100000 for the apprehen-
sion of said mission camp murderers, /
appointed George Cooler my agent,
and placed in his hands a warrant to
arrest and bring them before the court
of the first judicial District Of this
Territory to be examined on charge
of murder; also, requisition upon
the Governor Of the State CT Sonora
for their surrender to him.
l herewith forward, for your infor-
nation, the report of my agent, also
two communications from His Excel
lency, l. Pesquiera, Governor of the
State of Sonora.
You will be informed by the report
and the communications that the Gov
ernor of Sonora refuses to surrender
Mexican subjects who commit crimes
upon the soil of the United States, and
assigns as a reason for such action
that he is prohibited from doing SO by
the VI Art. of the treaty between the
United States and Mexico, signed at
the City, Mexico, December 18th, 1861,
which reads as follows:
Neither of the contracting par
lies shall be bound to deliver up its
own citizens under the stipulations Of
this treaty.
While [ readily concede that neither
of the contracting parties are 6ound to
surrender its own citizens, yet l be-
lieve liberal and fair construction of
said article leaves it optional with
either government to do so Or not.
1t is, and has been, my desire to
promote the most friendly relations
with the neighboring State Of Sonora,
and it has also been my purpose to
cooperate with the authorities Of that
State in securing, if possible, the pun
ishment of the outlaws that depre-
date upon the people of Sonora and
Arizona. Moved by these considera-
tons, I addressed communication to
the Governor of the State of Sonora,
on the 18th day of October, 1869, ask
ing for cooperation against the Apa-
che Indians, and also, these bands of
outlaws. In that correspondence, [
made use of this language:
"Robberies and murders are of fire.
quent occurrence in this Territory, and
most of the criminals either escape, or
endeavor to do so, to Sonora. | pre-
sumo your State is infested with SINH
lar bands of outlaws 1t is for ,the
mutual interest Of your State and this
Territory that these criminals be
brought to justice. desire to assure
your Excellency that will exert the
full powers with which l am vested,
to aid in capturing and furnishing any
criminals that may escape from Sonora
to this Territory, feeling confident
that you-will reciprocate.'
[ also addressed communication
to the Governor of Sonora, dated Jan.
ID, 1871, referring particularly to the
Mission Camp murders, in which l
used the following language:
"For the safety of the lives and pro-
perty of the citizens of Arizona and