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Show 266 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN THE HISTORY presumed consent of the people, until congress shall provide for them a, territorial government.’’ In accordance with this position of the American government, Vigil continued in office until October 11, 1848. He was succeeded by Colonel Washington,’*! who exercised the functions of a military and civil governor combined. 191 Among other things, General Price gave the members of the convention some advice, the tone of which is very significant. He said: ‘‘ You can now secure the protection of a government which imposes no bonds upon the conscience, which will protect you in the unmolested enjoyment of your personal, political and religious rights, under the regulation of equal laws. In short, you have it in your power to secure for New Mexico all the rights and privileges of citizens under the freest government in the world. . . And I ex press the hope that, in view of your serious and important duties, the deliberations of the convention will be conducted with the strictest propriety and decorum; and though the right freely and properly to express opinions should not be restricted, yet I desire all to understand that seditious and indecorous language against the constituted military or civil authorities, calculated to inflame or excite the people against the government, my desire for the peace and welfare of the Territory will induce me immediately to notice. The utterers of such language will be held responsible and called to a strict account.’’ Colonel Washington entertained Colonel John C. Fremont at the time the latter was in Santa Fé, subsequent to the disastrous experiences of the ‘¢Pathfinder’’ in the mountains at the head of the Rio del Norte. In a letter to Senator Thomas H. Benton, written at Socorro, New Mexico, Fremont. says: ‘Letters which I have forwarded by Mr. St. Vrain, will inform you that wé were overtaken, and surrounded by deep and impracticable snows in the Rocky Mountains at the head of the Del Norte. We lost all our animals and ten men, the mules frozen, and the men starved to death, Proue only excepted. He was frozen. The miscarriage of an express party under Mr. King was a secondary cause of our greatest calamity in the loss of our men. In six days after leaving my camp in the mountains, I overtook this party, they having been out twenty-two days, and King having been starved to death. In four days after ward I reached the settlements, in time to save many, but too late to rescue all the men. Relief was immediately sent back, but did not meet them ™ time been to save all. The officers of the army stationed in the country have uniformly prompt and liberal in their attentions to me, offering me all the assistance in their power. is Major Thomas, Beale who Dr. Webb, Among those whom is in command and Captain of the Buford. I ought particularly to mention Northern Colonel District, Washington Capt. Judd, Lt. desired me to WAR WITH MEXICO 267 In the month of February, 1848, General Price published an address to the members of the convention which had been called for by resolution of the convention or session of the legislature held in the previous year. This CONVENTION OF 1848 convention did not meet until the following October, nearly four months after the signing of the treaty of The session continued four days and acGuadalupe Hidalgo. complished little other than the framing of a memorial to congress asking for the ‘‘speedy organization by law of a territorial civil government,’’ and at the same time protesting against the claims made by the state of Texas, and against the introduction of slavery.192 the Pueblo, I had engaged as a guide an old trapper well known liams,’ and who had parts of the Rocky engaging this man. have forgotten, We occupied the whole more as ‘Bill Wil- spent some twenty-five years of his life in trapping various Mountains. The error of our journey was committed in He proved never to have in the least known, or entirely to than region half blundering a tortuous way of country a month through through in making deep snow which the which journey already we were to pass. of a few began days, to choke up the passes, for which we were obliged to waste time in searching.’’ Fremont’s fourth expedition was undertaken, mainly, at his own expense. ae who assisted him were Colonel Robert Campbell and Thornton Grimsley of t. Louis; Dr. George Engleman, also of St. Louis, a man of scientific attainments and great zeal, also assisted in many ways. The expedition left for the west October 19, 1848, and arrived at Bent’s Fort November 16. The dis— of the expedition are detailed in a letter to his wife, written from Taos, Se M., where Colonel Fremont was stopping at the home of Colonel Kit Carson. Si Life, Explorations and Public Services of John Charles Fremont, Boston, lcknor and Fields, 1856. ico ‘ 192'The memorial to congress is as follows: ‘‘We the people of New MexTespectfully petition congress for the speedy organization of a territorial government. We respectfully petition congress to establish a govern- civil a purely civil in its character. We respectfully represent that the organic ah Statute law promulgated under military orders of September 22nd, 1846, Ma a alterations would be acceptable. We desire that the following of- call on him without reserve for anything at his command. He invited me to dine with him, one out of the two daysI spent at Santa Fé, and dined with me at the officers’ quarters on the other. Major Weightman (of Washington, son-in-law of Mr. Cox) was very friendly in his attentions to me, and Captain Brent of the Quartermaster’s department, gave me some effective aid in my equipment. Among the citizens who have treated me with some attention, make it a duty to recommend to your attention, when you may meet him, our fellow citizen of St. Louis, Mr. F. X. Aubrey. You will remember him as hav maa ing lately made an extraordinary ride from Santa Fé to Independence. "® have been traveling together from Santa F% to this place. Among other acts of kindness, I received from him a loan of $1,000, to purchase animals for my mek oust of slaves into the Territory. We desire a local legislature, i a8 18 prescribed by the laws of New Mexico September 22nd, 1846, subject . the usual veto of congress. We desire that our interests be represented journey to California.’’ Colonel Fremont attributed many : : of his misfortunes at the head of the - del Norte to his guide, who was a celebrated ‘‘mountaineer.’? He says: ‘At é filled by appointment of the i Sent of the senate, the governor, president, by and with the advice secretary of state, judges, United a orney and United States marshal. We desire to have St appeal from the courts of the Territory to the supreme and States all the usual rights court of the United States, We respectfully but firmly protest against the dismemberment of svt territory in favor of Texas or from any cause. We do not desire to have — Slavery within our borders; and until the time shall arrive for aduo into the union of states, we desire to be protected by congress against y a delegate admitted to a seat in congress. Considering that New Mexico cid & population of from seventy-five thousand to one hundred thousand, we weve our requests to be reasonable and we confidently rely upon congress |