is owned in great part by English
and American capitalists. A port on the Gulf of California is necessary
to our Pacific possessions, and must be ours sooner or later. The
longer it is delayed, the worse for American progress on the Pacific.
Arizona needs it at once, as a depot for the export of her ores, and
for the import of goods for the supply of her population.

The Mormon war has closed for years the great emigrant road to
California and Oregon, over the South Pass and Salt Lake valley,
leaving open only the route along the 32d parallel of latitude, through
Arizona. This route is by far the most practicable at all seasons of
the year, and the closing of the South Pass route by the Mormon
difficulty is an additional and urgent argument in favor of the early
organization of this Territory. Fifty thousand souls will move towards
the Pacific early in the spring, if the route is opened to a secure
passage.

The present condition of Arizona Territory is deplorable in the
extreme. Throughout the whole country there is no redress for crimes or
civil injuries--no courts, no law, no magistrates. The Territory of New
Mexico, to which it is attached by an act of Congress, affords it
neither protection nor sustenance. The following extracts from letters
received by the writer tell the story of the necessity for early action
on the part of Congress, in urgent terms.

TUBAC, GADSDEN PURCHASE, August 15, 1857.

Affairs in the Territory have not improved. A party of Americans (our
countrymen) had made an "excursion" into Sonora, captured a train of
mules, and killed several Mexicans. Upon their return to the Territory
with their ill-gotten booty, the citizens formed a company and took the
property away from them, and returned it to the owners in Magdalena, [a
town of Sonora--Ed.] and delivered the robbers up to Major Steen,
commanding first dragoons, to be held in custody until Courts should be
organized. They have again been turned loose upon the community. In
justice to Major Fitzgerald I must say he was in favor of retaining
them in custody, and has generally maintained favoring law and order in
the Territory, but as he is only second in command he has no absolute
authority.

We have no remedy but to follow the example so wide spread in the
Union, and form a "Vigilance Committee"--contrary to all good morals,
law, order, and society. Can you do nothing to induce the government to
establish authority and law in this coun