mountains teem with minerals of the richest description。 The
oxides and the sulphurets of copper are the most beautiful and
richest in the world。 Silver undoubtedly exists of equal
richness。
All the foothills contain gold； but I hardly think it will be
extracted by the whites； as the localities are devoid of water；
and they are not probably rich enough to pay without sluicing on
an extensive scale。〃
I am； sir； very respectfully； your most obedient servant；
Herman Ehrenberg。
To Lieut。 S。 Mowry； U。 S。 A。；
Delegate elect from Arizona；
Washington； D。 C。
The only comment the writer has to make upon these statements is；
that two years' residence among and acquaintance with the people
of Arizona； has convinced him of their absolute truth。 At the
last session of Congress a petition was presented； praying for a
separate Territorial organization。 The necessity for some
legislation was admitted by both Senate and House； and bills
creating a separate judicial district and land offices； passed
both Houses； but owing to some minor differences and the lateness
of the session； the bills failed to become a law。
With an increased population and prolonged grievances； the people
of Arizona are again about to present themselves as supplicants
for that right inherent in the American heartthe right of self
governmentand of protection under the law。 Their petition sets
forth in brief； plain terms； their situation and necessities； and
prays simply for a separation from New Mexico and a Territorial
organization under the name of Arizona。 As a matter of necessity
for the successful carriage of the mail across the country； this
Territorial organization is imperative。 No contract for labor or
supplies can be enforced in the present condition of the country。
Courts of law must be established； with officers to enforce their
mandates； or the contractors will be utterly unable to carry out
their contract。
The great necessity of a safe and speedy overland communication
with the Pacific； has directed public attention to the
organization of Arizona as a separate Territory； and the desired
legislation has received the unanimous endorsement of the press
of the whole country。 Petitions with thousands of signatures from
leading citizens of the majority of the states of the Union； will
be presented to Congress asking for the immediate organization of
the new Territory as the best means to at once open a highway to
the Pacific； and so important has this view of the question been
deemed as to call from the President of the United States a
recommendation in his message to Congress。 No opposition has been
made to the most just prayer of the people of Arizona； and it is
believed that none will be made； unless it comes from New Mexico。
It must be born in mind that the Gadsden Purchase was not
originally an integral part of New Mexico； that it was acquired
years after the treaty of Gaudaloupe Hidalgo； and was only
attached to the territory of New Mexico as a temporary expedient。
It must also be remembered that the Gadsden Purchase； with the
portion of New Mexico which it is proposed to include within the
limits of the territory of Arizona； is separated from New Mexico
proper by natural boundries； that it derives no benefit from the
present connection； and that any opposition to the desired
legislation arises from the Mexican population； which fears the
influence of a large American emigration。 Moreover； that New
Mexico contains upwards of 200；000 square miles； and that its
organic act provides for its partition； showing clearly that
Congress anticipated； at no remote day； the settlement of the
country by an American population； and its erection into several
territories and states。 The only effect of the present connection
of Arizona with New Mexico is to crush out the voice and
sentiment of the American people in the territory； and years of
emigration； under present auspices； would not serve to
counterbalance or equal the influence of the 60；000 Mexican
residents of New Mexico。 New Mexico has never encouraged American
population。 She is thoroughly Mexican in sentiment； and desires
to remain so。
As a matter of State policy； the organization of Arizona is of
the first importance。 Situated between New Mexico and Sonora； it
is possible now to make it a thoroughly American State； which
will constantly exert its influence in both directions； to
nationalize the other two。 New Mexico is at present thoroughly
Mexican in its character and vote。 Sonora； if we acquire it at
once； will be the same。 By separating Arizona from it； and
encouraging an American emigration； it will become 〃the leaven
which shall leaven the whole lump。〃 By allowing it to remain
attached to New Mexico； or by attaching it to Sonora when
acquired； the American influence will be swallowed up in the
great preponderance of the Mexican vote。 The Apache Indian is
preparing Sonora for the rule of a higher civilization than the
Mexican。 In the past half century； the Mexican element has
disappeared from what is now called Arizona； before the
devastating career of the Apache。 It is every day retreating
further South； leaving to us； when it is ripe for our possession；
the territory without the population。
The incentives to emigration to Arizona； in addition to the charm
which the discovery of mineral wealth carries to every mind； are
very great。 The writer； in an extended tour through the Southern
States； found many people； mostly young men of moderate means；
ready and anxious to emigrate。 The movement is still stronger in
Southwestern States； and already many a train of wagons is on its
way。 It will have no end for years； for so mild and healthy is
the climate that emigration is practicable at all seasons。 Snow
never lies on the soil； and frost is almost unknown。 The
contracts already authorized by Congress involve the expenditure
of six millions of dollars in the next six years； the troops in
the Territory will cost as much more。 Here is enough money in
hard sub…treasury coin； to draw a large population； independent
of other considerations。 All ready in many places the
enterprising merchant exposes his stock of goods only two months
from San Francisco； but he does it with the prayer that the
Apache may pass him by； and too often he sees his hard…earned
profits disappear before the Indian's successful foray。
The establishment of a firm government in Arizona will extend the
protection of the United States over American citizens resident
in the adjoining Mexican provinces。 This protection is most
urgently demanded。 Englishmen in Sonora enjoy not only perfect
immunity in the pursuit of business； but also encouragement。
Americans are robbed openly by Mexican officials； insulted；
thrown into prison； and sometimes put to death。 No redress is
ever demanded or received。 This state of things has so long
existed that the name of American has become a byword and a
reproach in northern Mexico； and the people of that frontier
believe that we have neither the power nor the inclination to
protect our own citizens。 The influence of a Territorial
government； with the tide of American emigration which will
surely follow it； must entirely change the tone and temper of
these Mexican States。
The population of Arizona to…day； exceeds that of Washington
Territory； and is far greater than was that of Minnesota； Kansas
or Nebraska； at the time of their organization。 An election for a
Delegate has been held； at which several hundred votes were
polled； and the writer returned without opposition。 The unsettled
and dangerous condition of the country prevented a convention
being held； but letters have been received from all parts of the
Territory； expressing a hearty concurrence in the election on the
part of those unable to vote； and an earnest desire for the
Territorial organization。
A number of gentlemen at present in Washington； can testify from
actual observation； to the truth of the statements here made in
reference to Arizonaamong them I am permitted to name General
Anderson； late U。 S。 Senator from Tennessee； who almost alone；
with rare perseverance and courage； explored； in 1850； the whole
length of the Territory； Major Heintzelman； U。 S。 A。； whose long
station at Fort Yuma made him acquainted with the resources of
the country； and who has shown at once his intelligence and
foresight and his faith in the prospective wealth of the silver
region； by large investments of capital； Col。 A。 B。 Gray； late U。
S。 Surveyor of the Mexican Boundary line； I。 Smith McMicken；
Esq。； whose residence for many years on the Mexican frontier has
entitled his opinion to some weight； and A。 H。 Campbell； Esq。；
Superintendent of Wagon Roads； whose information is full and
reliable。 To these names it may not be improper to add that of
the writer； who has for two years past； while residing at the
junction of the Gila and Colorado Rivers； made the new Territory
and its resources； an object of constant observation and study；
and whose experience on the Pacific coast； and in the frontier
Territories； and on the route across the continent； during the
past five years； has enabled him to speak understandingly of the
capabilities and necessities of a new country； and of a frontier
people。
In five years a great State may be built upon this remote
frontier； and a population gathered； such as will； when we make
further acquisition of territory； spread at once over it；
diffusing national sentiment and extending the area of American
principles。
Aside from these considerations； justice and humanity；
imperatively demand that Congress shall bear and at once answer
the prayer of the people of Arizona for protection。 If these
considerations fail； then they offer INTEREST； for the
organization of the Territory is the guarantee of a supply of
silver； which will create as great a revolution in the commercial
world as has the gold of California。 Arizona will be known as the
silver State； and the prediction of Humboldt； that the balance
between gold and silver； destroyed by the California discoveries；
would one day be restored； will be made good； from the resources
of the Gadsden purchase。
TO THE SENATE