Arizona citizen., 1872-08-17

Governor Stafford, Of Arizona, which Territory, it will be remembered, was some ten years since formed from New
 Mexico, Ill his message to the last Legislative Assembly, January, 1S71,)
 says:
 I believe it to be the duty of the Gov ernment to give a helping hand to the in- fant Territories that are destined soon to
 become States of the Union, and especially
 do believe the Territories acquired from
 Mexico should receive marked considera-
 tion in this direction. The people of these
 Territories have suddenly been tran sferred from another government to our own. Speaking a foreign tongue, we call upon
 them to adopt our customs and obey our laws. They are generally we'll disposed,
 law abiding citizens, and have but little means they have and will continue to
 have an important influence in the govern ing power of the country, and it is essen
 tial that they should be educated in the
 language of the law that governs them.
 This question has already been agitated in Congress, and many of our statesmen take a liberal view of it. It is to be hoped that Congress will at an early period adopt such measures as will at least insure education Tn the Territories.
 During my own term of service as Governor of this Territory l was con- stantly annoyed by the lack of edu- cational facilities and repeatedly ad- vised the Legislatures to devise some measure of relief, but the people were generally without means to warrant taxation. The ravages of the hostile Indians in New Mexico and Arizona, owing to the lack of fixed and wig orous policy upon the part of the Gov ernment, have been so constant and extensive that the people, both Amer ican and Mexican, have been well nigh impoverished, and it would seem to be an absolute duty on the part of Congress to grant them assistance Ill the matter of common schools. The Governor, in the message alluded to, justly compliments the private enter prise winch has established schools at one or two points in the Territory, and that of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who have lately founded and brought to considerable perfection a seminary for the education of females, which he pronounces & school creditable to any country, and which already has an at tendance of about one hundred and fifty pupils.
 lwould also bear cheerful testimony to the jealous personal efforts on be- halt of education made in new Mex ico by Bishop Lamy, and in Arizona by Bishop Sallepointe. With limited means and under many obstacles these worthy prelates of the Catholic church have done much in field which for some reason has been almost entirely overlooked and neglected by other religious denominations. But they have not been able, nor can it be ex- pected that they or that any private or religious agencies will be to provide free schools, such as are contemplated by the bill now in hand, and such as are necessary to carry education to all classes of the people.
 Within the last year, under an act of the last Legislature, an earnest at- tempt has been made by the terri torial authorities of Arizona to es- tablish such schools, and the Gov ernor, who has made the subject one of especial attention, informs me that most gratifying results have already been attained. In each county there IS at least one school in successful op- eration, and both parents and chil- dren are deeply interested and grati- fled, but there will be need of Gov ernment aId to steadily maintain these schools until there is larger popula- tion.
 Not alone for American and Mex ican children have we desired the es- ta blishment of common schools in New Mexico and Arizona, but for the children of the friendly Indians have we wished for them. One of my ear Hest efforts in this House was to pro- cure an allowance of $5,0O0 for estab- fishing schools among the Pimas and Maricopas of Arizona, in which I was not successful. These Indians have l always been peaceably disposed, and hey are entitled to Government aid if my Indians are. Their reservations Ire in central part of the Territory, md their relations with settlers and I ravelers are so intimate that 1t is es- ,ecially desirable that their intellig- , noe should be in every way advanced. C The Governor ill the message already f uoted from speaks as follows of the I