Arizona citizen., 1871-08-19
MEETING AT FLORENCE
The:Pinal PrOspectOrs hold a Meet ing after OrganiZatiOn-Speech of Governor Stafford.

ing after OrganiZatiOn-Spee of
 Governor Stafford.
 A correspondent reports the follow
 ing extracts from speech deliver ed
 by Governor Stafford, at Florence, on
 the 10th instant, on the occasion of
 the organization of the Mogollon
 Mining and Prospecting Company:
 It may be considered inappropriate,
 but I find so many erroneous impres- sions existing outside of Arizona upon the Indian question, that I desire to state to you my views upon 1t, and what I believe to be the opinions of nearly every inhabitant of the Terri tory; and when I make the statement. I intend to call for an expression by all within the sound of my voice as to whether you coincide with me or not. 1 presume there are within hearing about me, at least about five hundred men, and among this number nearly every portion of the Territory is represented. You are representa- tive men of the section from which you come, and if we all agree, it will be fair to state that we represent the views of the people of this Territory.
 The object most desirable of ac- complishment by the people of this Territory, is permanent, lasting peace with the Indians, and any course that will attain that end the most speedily, will be hailed with joy by every in habitant. It has been said and is be- lieved by many good people outside of the Territory. that we entertain deep seated prejudice and hatred toward the Indians, and would deny them, if we could, all rights and privileges. The error of such belief is refuted by the assertion of the well-known fact that the Papago, Pima, Maricopa, Yuma and Mohave Indians, nearly all quite large tribes and occupying locations in different portions of the Territory, with rare exceptions, live in perfect harmony with the whites. It IS true that some bad Indians among the Pi- mas have, at different times, commit ted depredations upon their white neighbors; often poor men have lost an entire years labor by the destruc- ton of their crops of grain, but the counsel of the people has been peace and forbearance, which I hope and be- lieve will continue to prevail.
 While speaking of these Pimas, I desire to say to the citizens of this sec ton of Arizona, that it has been re- ported to me that bad men are in tile habit Eof selling liquor to them. I know nearly the entire population de- plore this traffic, be it much or little, and want to see it stopped. It is the duty of every good citizen to seek out and prosecute to the full extent of the law these creatures who are engaged in this traffic. This work mainly rests in your hands, and you will not do your duty to yourselves nor to soci- ety unless you do 1t. I wish the pen- alties were heavier. I Iurged our late Legislature to increase them. The should not be less than ten years in the penitentiary, and if the crime were punishable by death penalty, should be slow to pardon convicted monster who for gain had engaged in traffic which is liable to bring on a conflict that will result in the loss of the lives of many innocent people.
 :. But the great practical question we have to deal with IS THE WAR WITH THE APACHE INDIANS. Those far thest away, and who know nothing of the condition of the country, or of sav- age Indians, can frame theories by which the problem is only theoretically solved; but to us who have the re- sponsibility of occupying and holding