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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 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 discovered。 If the road from El Paso to Fort Yuma be
located by Parke's route； as many suppose； A FINE COUNTRY WILL BE
OPENED on the Gila and Lower San Pedro； which will produce ample
supplies。 The Territory presents no difficulties of importance to
the successful establishment of the road。 Frequent stations and
PROPER PROTECTION ARE ONLY REQUISITE TO ENSURE SUCCESS AS
COMPLETELY AS THE MOST SANGUINE ANTICIPATE。 Should Sonora； or
even a portion of it be organized； this will be one of the most
pleasant localities of our country。 A delightful climate； plenty
of fine fruit； facility of supply by a port on the Pacific；
semi…weekly mails from the east and west；are only some of the
attractions which it would possess。
Sonora is quiet。 Many of the wealthy men there are in favor of
annexation； it is said； but they have to keep silent on the
subject for fear of noisy patriots； who would proclaim them
traitors at once； if they made a parade of their inclinations。
The San Antonio and San Deigo mail passes through Tueson once a
fortnight； and seems to have met with no important obstacle yet。
A drove of mules accompanies it； which are harnessed in turn。
When regular stations are established its speed will be much
increased。 My last letter was not written with a view of the use
being made of it you mentioned； yet if it answers a good purpose；
I have no objection。 It was but a careless note； but its contents
were truths； nevertheless。〃 （This note demonstrated the facility
of supply for the Territory from the Pacific。）
〃Most truly your friend；
（Signed；） E。 H。 Fitzgerald。〃
Tubac； Gadsden's Purchase； 22d Oct。； 1857。
〃We have of late been seriously annoyed by the Apaches。 Nearly
all the animals belonging to the citizens residing around Fort
Buchanan have been driven off by the Apaches。 They are very
impudent； and commit their depredations in broad day…light； talk
to the people while they are driving off the animals； and always
escape without being molested。
The other day they came within 800 yards of the Fort and looked
down upon it。
In order to bring them to terms the Government ought to enlist
1000 Pinos and Papagos to accompany the military。 Indians are the
only persons who can successfully traverse these mountains and
hunt up their hiding places。 If this is not done； they will
surely break up our settlements here。 Forts ought to be
established in the very heart of the Apache country； in the
places fit； and used by them for cultivation。 If this is done we
will soon bring them to terms。
Until now； our mining establishments have not been molested by
them； and we are going on in high glee。 This is undoubtedly the
richest silver mining country in the world。 If the United States
will make just and liberal laws for us； give us protection；
remove those trifling and unprofitable custom houses on the
frontier； at least for 5 or 6 years； procure us a transit through
Sonora to Guaymas； and hasten along the rail…road to California；
this will indeed be a prosperous country； and will astonish the
world with its production of silver and copper。 But with such
terrible obstacles as those mentioned above and the great length
of transit to transport goods over the roads which we have to
take at present； progress only is possible for such as find mines
of the extraordinary and incredible richness of the Heintzelman
vein。 If the present promises of few of these mines are realized；
by working them on a scale commensurate with their extent and
richness； I have no doubt but that they will equal in production
the whole silver exports of Mexico。
I think an appropriation ought to be made to sink artesian wells
through the Papagos country； between San Xavier and the lower
Gila。 This route cuts off about 100 miles from the best route via
the Pinos villages。 It is laid down on my map； as a rail…road
route； now at the office of the Sonora Exploring and Mining
Company； at Cincinnati； Ohio。
The country consists of a succession of plains and isolated
mountain ridges； none of which need to be crossed。 In fact it is
a dead level to Fort Yuma； and； in consequence； no grading is
necessary。 There is scarcity of water； but the soil in general is
excellent and grass abounds all along the line； while the
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 separa