New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-23

SANTA FE, Oct. 8, 1873.
JOHN PAYNE, Secretary.

SANTA FE, Oct. 8, 1873.
To The Editors IF The y,,o Entional Era and tYt,.u
i propose to call the attention Of your
readers TO two distinct subjects in nv pres
ent letter, which l trust may prove of some
general interest to those for whom they are
designed.
On the first of last month IA general elec
ton was held in this Territory for delegate
to the Forty-third Congress, and also for
Territorial and county officers. Hon. $. b.
Elkins, of Santa Fe, was the candidate o.,
The Republican, and Hon. Jose NJ. Galegos,
the so-called Democratic and Liberal Ee-
publican parties.
a long and exciting campaign ensued
Mr.. Elkins was the first American (for all
who come here from the States are so desig-
natedD who had been put up for Congress by
either party in the Territory since the cleo
ton of Hon. John S. Watts, in 1861.
The Hon. Jose NJ. Gallegos, popularity
known as the Padre-having once been an
officiating priest in the church-a native of
the Territory, the pet Of the Democracy, and
delegate in the last Congress. was selected
as the strongest man in their ranks to pit
against Mr.. Elkins, whom they designated
as political adventurer and carpet
bagger." Mr.. Elkins is native of Ohio,
though reared in Missouri, from which State
he came to this Territory more than ten
years ago, and has been resident here ever
since acfiyo1y in ~
law, and the general Improvement of the
Territory.
Though not having had the opportunity
OF being born here, or having the oppor-
tunity, he failed to improve 1t, he was COM
PEELED to become the recipient of the most
outrageous abuses, in the form of the most
refined, or rather l should say, improved
slang, of which the Democratic stump orators
and press were capable of forcing upon
him.
And it is even stated upon good authority
that the Padre, during his canvass through
the country pending the election, publicly
endeavored to array the country people
against Mr.. Elkins because he was a natipo
del pals, but on the contrary, that he was an
american. However, in due time election
day arrived, and the undismaycd free citizens
who think for themselves, marched manfully
to the polls and deposited their ballots ac-
cording TO the dictates, each of his own con-
science. without being influenced by the fact
as to where either Mr.. Elkins or MIR. Gale
Cos was born, but solely as to which of the
two candidates more nearly represented the
grand idea Of American progress and free
institutions. And the result was most clo-
rious triumph for the Republicans Of New
Mexico, who had been cheated out of their
wonted victory two years before through an
uncalled for division in their ranks, designed
and accomplished through real political
adventurcr who was at that time the pub
Usher of paper here which he claimed to be
the only genuine organ of the Republican
party in New Mexico.
The Secretary of the Territory has Just
announced the official count Of the vote cast
at the late election for delegate to the Forty
third Congress, which sums up the cheering
majority of 3,SlS for Hon. S. b. Elkins, the
choice of the Republicans, out of total vote
of lG, 9SI,
This is decidedly the largest majority with
which any delegate from this Territory has
hitherto been honored
Mr.. Elkins is quite young man. who
stands at the head of the legal profession of
the Territory, of very temperate habits, and
with unblemished private character, and is a
representative of one of those very rare phe-
nomena, of whom it may be truthfully said
that he is a public man without a private
enemy. lie has also had considerable expe-
rience in public life, having been member
of the Territorial Legislature, Attorney Gem
eral Of the Territory, United States Attorney
for the District of New Mexico. and is at
present President of the First National Bank
of Santa Fe.
During our late political contest little in.
cident occurred which think of sufficient
Importance to chronicle here, aud, though
truly enough, the Democrats sought to con.
meet this affair with the late canvass. vet l
have decided to present it to the public as
distinct subject of the present letter. Now
il happened thus: Mr.. Elkins is widower.
and just previous TO the election he was
called from the city to attend court in some
of the distant counties; and, meanwhile, his
eldest daughter, who is under the charge of
his sister-in-law, was attending a private
school, and 1t so happened that there was
also little colored girl attending the same
school at the same time, and, as rumor has
it, when the fact became known to the said
sister-In-law she requested the teacher,