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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
孴 ueson； Oct。 2； 1857。
We have heard from Mesilla and they fully concur with us in all we
have done； showing that you are the person chosen to act for them and to
represent their interest in this matter。 The people here are very much elated
at the turn things are taking； and every one seems to be highly pleased
with the course you have pursued。 An election was held on the first
Monday in September； at which you received all the votes given； and a
certificate of your election； signed by the judges and clerks； has been
forwarded to you。 The country is being settled very fast； and there is
somewhat of a stir to obtain cultivated lands。 The lands already under
cultivation are now fifty per cent。 higher than a short time back。 The great
misfortune we labor under is want of protection。 Thousands and thousands
of acres of land； as rich and fertile as any on the face of the globe； lie idle
and useless because they are not protected from the Apaches。 We want
only one thing besides the Territorial organization； and that is
PROTECTION。
Very truly yours； S。 Warner。
Oct。 8； 1857。
The guerilla warfare on the Sonora frontier continues with increased
aggravation。 We look for the happiest result from the exploration of this
interesting region of the Colorado； about to be explored by Lieut。 Ives； U。
S。 A。 The ores from the Heintzelman mine took the premium at the
mechanics' fair in San Francisco； just closed； where the ores from
California and the western coast were on exhibition。 So； Arizona leads
California； the great mineral State。
All we need is good government and honest； liberal legislation to
make Arizona equal in production of precious metals； if not exceed；
California。
Yours truly； C。 D。 Poston。 Lt。 Mowry； U。 S。 A。
Fort Yuma； June 2； 1857。
News has just come in from the Arizona which represent an awful
state of affairs。 During the time Mr。 Belknap was below at Sonora it was
unsafe for him to go out unless accompanied by his friend； Don
Gaudaloupe Orosco； and even then it was very dangerous。 No news from
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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
Sonora nor even an arrival for the last twenty days。 God knows what is
going on； though of one thing we are certainno American； never mind
whatsoever he may be； can go into Sonora； with or without a passport。
Very sincerely yours； P。 R。 Brady。 孉 ug。 5； 1850。
The condition of the purchase has been extremely bad since the
unfortunate and injudicious expedition of Crabbe into Sonora； and at the
present time is but little better than a field of guerilla warfare； robbery and
plunder。
The exasperated state of feeling between the Mexicans and Americans
prevents intercourse and commerce； upon which the Territory is dependent。
Americans are afraid to venture into Sonora for supplies； and Mexicans
afraid to venture over the line。 Americans who had nothing to do with the
fillibustering invasion have been treated badly in Sonora and driven out of
the country； and Mexicans coming into the purchase with supplies and
animals have been robbed and plundered by the returned fillibusters。
The Americans in the Territory are by no means harmonious on these
subjectssome in favor of filibustering and others opposed to it； some in
favor of murdering and robbing Mexicans wherever found； and others
opposed to it。
It results that we are in a state of anarchy； and there is no government；
no protection to life； property； or business； no law and no self…respect or
morality among the people。 We are living in a perfect state of nature；
without the restraining influence of civil or military law； or the
amelioration of society。
There have not been many conflicts and murders； because every man
goes armed to the teeth； and a difficulty is always fatal on one side or the
other。 In the midst of all this； the Government has blessed us with a
custom house at Calabazos to collect duties upon the necessaries of life
which； by chance and 〃running the gauntlet；〃 we may get from Sonora。
God send that we had been left alone with the Apaches。 We should
have been a thousand times better off in every respect。
In this state of affairs it is scarcely to be expected that the people will
meet together in a convention； there was no arrangement for that purpose
up to the time of my leaving； and none could be made。
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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
We have never had any orders of election from Santa Fe； nor heard of
any convention。
Yours truly； C。 D。 Poston。
Major Fitzgerald； U。 S。 A。； whose long experience on the Pacific
coast makes his opinion very valuable； in a letter dated Fort Buchanan；
Arizona； Sept。 17th； 1854； says：
〃The citizens of this country are very desirous of a territorial
organization； with its courts； &c。 Murders are committed and stock is
stolen by white men with impunity。 There is no court nearer than the Rio
Grande （300 miles） to take cognizance of crime。 Some few of the
emigrants of this year have remained in the Santa Cruz valley。 More
would have done so； no doubt； if they had not started from the States
originally with stock for the California market。
The country around us is now beautiful。 It has been raining almost
daily since the 1st of July； and the vegetation is most luxuriant。 Many of
the Mexican citizens come over the line for purposes of trade； bringing
flour； fruit； and leather。 If there was no custom house at Calabazas； these
articles could be had very cheaply。
We have very excellent gardens； and plenty of vegetables。 There is
said to be a good deal of cultivable land on the upper Gila； and if a
territory is created； it should embrace this。 This would also include a large
part of the Colorado valley above the junction of the Gila。 That you may
succeed in your wishes with regard to Arizona； is the sincere desire of
Your friend and obliged serv't； E。 H。 Fitzgerald。〃
Lt。 Mowry； U。 S。 A。
A subsequent letter from Major Fitzgerald dated Oct。 1st； says Tueson
contains rising five hundred inhabitants； the remainder of the Santa Cruz
altogether enough to make considerable over a thousand； independent of
the population towards and upon the Gila and Colorado； of which he
remarks；
〃You know more than I。〃 〃There is not a doubt but that upon the
location of the mail route； there will be a considerable emigration to this
country； and if a portion of Sonora be organized； large numbers will come
both from the East and West。 The country is an excellent one for stock of
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MEMOIR OF THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA。
all kinds； of which there were great numbers where the Apaches were
gathered under the wing of the Catholic church。 The valleys of Santa Cruz；
San Pedro； and Upper Gila； and also that of Messilla； contain large bodies
of productive lands； and all the cereals grow luxuriantly therein。 THAT
THERE IS MUCH SILVER IN THE TERRITORY THERE IS NO
DOUBT； but it requires capital to develop it。 As yet but little progress has
been made in mining。 Evidences of old works are seen on many of the
water courses； but operations have not yet been recommenced； except at
Arizona； Sopori； and Ariaola； principally because the country is very
partially settled； and it is not safe to be at any distance from the mass of
the population； and the troops。 Copper ore is found in many localities； but
little gold is yet discovere