Arizona republican., 1902-12-21

chase from the government of MeXlco, under the treaty made by James Gads- den on the part of the United States, at Mexico, December 30, 1853, and eX- tends from the 109th to the 115th de grees west longitude and north from 31 degrees, 20 seconds north latitude to the Gila river. The price paid for this piece of land, embracing some 10000 square miles, was $10,000 900. It was generally considered barren desert and not worth purchasing at any price, but subseuuent discoveries of gold made it a valuable acquisition. But it would have been of more value if the original idea of Gadsden of securing the port of Guaymas and the control of the gulf had been carried out. One writer says: "There is not a reason to doubt that the original idea of the acquisition formed a point in the scheme for establishing a southern con- federacy which was a vigorous con ception in many minds at that time"
 On the last day of December, 1854 a memorial to congress was introduced
 in the legislature of New Mexico by the representative from Dona Ana county, praying the organization of the territory into a separate polotical di- vision The name first chosen was "Prmeria," but the one afterward adopted was Arizona.
 These first attempts to secure a territorial government proved failures, and it was not until ten years later that the object was attained and the act received the presidents signature. In 1857 an act to organize the territory was introduced in congress, but failed.
 In 1860 a bill was introduced to provide a temporary government for the territory of Arizona" which also failed. In 1860 one Sylvester Mowry was appointed to go to Washington and urge the passage of the bill, but political jealousies and the breaking out of the civil war postponed the mat ter. But the efforts of Mowry, his lec- lures on the resources of Arizona awakened an interest in this section which eventually secured the passage of the "act of organizat ton and sep aration from New Mexico" The act establishing the territory of Arizona was approved by the president on the 24th Of February, 1863.
 Section l of the act describes the boundaries as follows: All that DOT
 
 Mexico situated west of line running due north from the point where the southwest corner of the territory of Colorado joins the northern boundary of the territory of New Mexico. to the southern boundary line of said terri tory of New Mexico, be and the same is hereby erected into a temporary government by the name of the terri tory of Arizona.
 This section also provides that con gress may at any time divide the ter ritory or change its boundaries.
 Section 2 makes provision for the ap- pointment of territorial officers and eX- tends to Arizona all the laws and en- actments of the territory of New Mex ico, not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, until they shall be repealed or amended by future legislation.
 Section enacts that there shall neither be slavery nor involuntary ser vitude in the said territory otherwise than in the punishment of crime, whereof the parties shall have been duly convicted, and all acts, either of congress or of the territory of New Mexico, establishing, regulating or in any way recognizing the relation of