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Show rn ON 324 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY pA AGA LAS Meg BES NT office was opened at Santa Fé in 1858, but there were no sales of public lands until after 1863. A few donation claims were filed and some were patented. The total area surveyed was 2,293,142 acres, the area of the territory being 77,568,640 acres or 121,201 square miles.?*° The dangers from hostile Indians served to prevent any large degree of development of the mineral resources of New Mexico during this period. Some prospecting was done and some discoveries were made in different sections. In the late fifties some work was done in the southern part of the territory. The census reports of 1860 mention only one silver and three copper mines, all of which were in Dona Ana county. The governor, in his message of 1861-1862, alMINES AND MINING ludes to the gold mines of Pinos Altos, rich placers near Fort Stanton, and the work in the Santa Fé county placers near Golden; also the copper mines at Santa Rita and Hanover. Very little was known of the mineral resources of the country owing to the constant hostility of the wild tribes. The peonage system had long been in force in New Mexico. Peon- age consisted in the acceptance by an individual voluntarily of servitude for the payment of debt; it involved no THE PEONAGE SYSTEM _ loss of civil rights, no sale or transfer of service and no legal obligation on the part of the children of peons.2®° There was also a system of enslavement of Indian captives, which was, of course, based upon no law. These 7 U. 8. Land Com. Reports, 1855-1863. These contain the annual reports of the Surveyor-general during this period. 250 Davis, W. W. H., El Gringo, pp. 231, 232, writing of the peonage system Says: ‘‘Another peculiar feature of New Mexico is the system of . servitude called peonism, that has existed, and still exists, in all apa American colonies. It seems to have been an institution of the civil law, 2% in New Mexico is yet recognized by statute. The only practical difference between it and negro slavery is, that the peons are not bought and sold in ihe market as chattels; but in other respects I believe the difference is,10 apne of the negro. The average of intelligence among the peons is lower than po among the slaves of the Southern States; they are not so well eared for, eo do they enjoy so many of the blessings and comforts of domestic life. so truth, peonism is but a more charming name for a species of slavery as abjec and oppressive : The as statutory any law with the title of ‘Law found upon recognizing regulating the American its existence contracts continent. in the Territory between masters 1S ital eRe PE pa and servan : Chis is all well ‘7 enough on paper, as far as it goes, but the statute is foun beNA «©all Ste on the side of = the master. The wagey paid is the nomina sum . : i l ae amily.. dollars per month, out of which the peon has to support himself and 72 i Gen 1.1 ominent t. Slough, Officers and 2, 4. Soldiers Civil Col. J. M. Chivington. Don Candelaria Garcia War Period 3. Capt. Smith H. Simpson. |