WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1850
187
of government, it was said, '"'as much the cheapest; and besides, the New Mexicans would never consent to direct, or even to indirect, taxation. "Some of these gentlemen were favorite contractors at the Commissary and Quartermaster's Departments of Santa Fe and the territory, having numbers of dependent employes; some were the settlers of Santa Fe and the towns along the Rio Grande, men appointed by the military Governor, with certain privileges and immunities, which have made them rich at the cost of the poor teamsters and soldiers; then there were the clerks of the Quartermaster, and the clerks of the army stores. This clique of men, all of whom are recipients of pay from ·washington, and some of whom are said to have accumulated a quarter of a million of dollars since they have been in Santa Fe, are the only political agitators of New Mexico. It is they who have been endeavoring, by the loan of paper, press, and types to Judge Ortera, a Mexican aspirant to the Gubernatorial chair, to excite the prejudices of the New Mexicans against all who are in, or whoever may come into the country, who will not think as they think; and it was they who contrived to have Mr. Hugh N. Smith sent to Washington as a territorial delegate. These men are now for a State Government. Why? "Will it be presumed for a moment that they became tired of drawing their salaries, and of exercising the privileges of power and place which were theirs ?-theirs far removed from the supervision of the people, or of the authorities of the United States Their power they used with an iron hand; their favors were dispensed to those who well understood what was required of them in return. Why are these men now for a State Govern- ment? The answer is, because they are forced by the public opinion against them all the merchants and citizens of New Mexico, who have witnessed their conduct, political and personal, to vacate the places which they have abused; and because the claims of Texas were admitted to be just by the almost entire American population of the territory, at numerous meetings held previous to the 16th of April, at every one of which meetings the Government clique, and their resolutions denouncing Texas claims were voted down, ten to one. In desperation, then it was resolved in caucus, before I left Santa Fe, to make a new move on the political chess-board, and one morning the citizens were nearly unable to believe that the men and the newspaper, which had; always supported a continuance of territorial govern- ment, and ridiculed the idea of a State one, were the clamorous I
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