usually from thirty to forty days transporting loads from Santa Fe to Chr huahua; to the east, the nearest settlement is Fort Leavenworth, distant 873 miles and the distance to the nearest port on the gull is about one thousand miles.

A very large portion of the territory is made up of desert wastes. "Its extreme aridity of soil," says a writer, "and the consequent deficiency in water, must ever prevent its being thickly settled. The valley of the Del Norte is fertile, but of very limited extent; and the other portion of the province is comparatively valueless in an agricultural point of view." Even in the most favored spots, the crops have to be watered artificially.

The valley of the Del Norte, says Mr. Kendall, in his "Narrative," ii generally fertile, and well adapted to the growth of corn, wheat, beans, and pumpkins. The wheal produced is sometimes of a very excellent quality. The valley of Taos also ranks among the most fertile portions of the territory. Here also wheat and corn are raised in good crops. There is said to be little timber in Mew Mexico, except in the mountain] and along the water courses,—the table-lands being generally all open prairie.

Yet New Mexico is not without her natural resources. These consist in pasturage and mines. The former of these, indeed, constitutes her chief source of wealth. On this point, Mr. Gregg, in his "Commerce of the Prairies," remarks:

"By far the most important of the indigenous products of the soil of New Mexico, is its pasturage. Most of the high table-lands afford the finest grazing in the world; while for want of water, they are utterly useless for most other purposes. That scanty moisture which suffices to bring forth the natural vegetation, is insufficient for agricultural production, without the aid of irrigation. The grass being rarely nipped by the frost until the rains are over, it cures upon the ground, and remains excellent hay—equal, if not superior, to that which is cut and stacked from our western prairies. Although the winters are rigorous, the feeding of stock is almost unknown in New Mexico. Nevertheless, the extensive herds of the country, not only of cattle and sheep, but of mules and horses, generally maintain themselves in excellent condition upon the dry pasturage alone through the cold season, and until the rains start up the green grass the following summer."

The value of the mires in New Mexico cannot at present be accurately estimated. That there are mines of considerable extent is well known; and some of them have been worked for several years, although, in consequence chiefly, no doubt, of the character of the class of laborers by whom the work has been prosecuteJ, the yield has been limited in quantity, and in most cases has hardly repaid the labor of working. Still they deserve to be classed among the natural resources of the country, and what developments of wealth from this source, time and a more energetic population mar not bring to light, it is impossible to determine.

The population of the territory, according to the census of 1850, was 61,574; the number of farms 6,715. During the year 1849-50, the number of deaths was 1,157. The chief localities of New Mexico are Bernallia, with 7,753 inhabitants; Rio Aribi, 10,668 inhabitants; Santa Ann, 4,656; Santa Fe, 7,713; San Miguel, 7,071; Taos, 9,057; Valencia, 14,207. In New Mexico, there obtains a species of servitude called peonage. This continued to exist, even ofter the abolition or prohibition of slavery by Mexico in all its territories; and is still recognised under the present order of things. The peons are for the most part of the Indian population, who enter, for a consideration, into a limited agreement of service, and for the time are bound by the wishes of their masters. The relations between these parties forms a topic in Gov. Calhoun's message. These, he says, "should be distinctly defined, each should understand their re

spective obligations, and appropriate remedies for a violation of them. upon the part of either, should be provided."

UTAH, OR DESERET.

The Territory of Utah is bounded on the west by the State of California; on the north by the territory of Oregon; on the east by the summit of the Rocky Mountains; on the south by latitude 37 degrees.

The acts of Congress providing for the organization of this territory, and also that of New Mexico, expressly stipulate that when admitted into the Union as states, they shall be admitted vith or without slavery, as their constitutions may prescribe at the time of their admission. They may each be divided into two or more territories, should Congress so determine; or any portion of either or both of them may be attached to any other state or territory of the United States, according to the judgment of the same authority.

The state of California is bounded on the north by (latitude 42) Oregon Territory, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by Mexico, and on the east as follows: beginning at the intersection of latitude 42 with longitude 120, thence running southerly along said meridian of longitude to latitude 39; thence southeasterly in a straight line to the river Colorado at the point where it intersects latitude 35, thence down the middle of the channel of said river to the Mexican boundary.

Thus it will be seen that the State of California occupies all the Pacific coast from Oregon to Mexico, some 800 miles, with an average breadth of probably 250 miles. The Territory of Utah lies between the State of California and the Territory of New Mexico, but extends southward only to latitude 37. South of that parallel, the Territory of New Mexico extends to the State of California. Utah is, therefore, bounded south and east by New Mexico.

As is generally known, the population of this Territory consists chiefly of Mormon emigrants from the States, who, after the fall of Joe Smith and the destruction of the temple at Nauvoo, took their departure for the Territory of Deseret, where they have founded a flourishing colony, under the guidance of their leader, Brigham Young, the successor of Smith. Young, on the establishment of a territorial government, was appointed Governor, by President Fillmore; thus holding the civil as well as spintual control over his people.

During the discussions relative to the territories, which took place in Congress in the summer of 1850, it became desirable to elicit as much information as possible in relation to them; and Dr. Bernishel, the agent of the people of Deseret, who was in Washington at that time, in attendance upon Congress, contributed, in communications to members of that body, much valuable information in regard to the territory of Utah ; which, as being more reliable than anything to be obtained from any other source, we shall present in a condensed form, to the readers of these pages.

He begins with an account of the Great Basin, so called. This is believed to be about five hundred miles long, east and west, by two hundred and seventy-five in breadth, north and south. It has never been fully explored; but, so far as it has been, a portion of it is found to consist of arid and sterile plains; another, of undulating table lands, and a third of ele vated mountains, a few of whose summits are capped with perpetual snow. Some portions of the Basin abound in rich and nutritious grasses. There arc within its limits many streams and lakes, and of the latter the most remarkable is the Great Salt Lake, which is about seventy miles in length, and thirty to thirty-five in breadth. Its waters are a saturated

solution of muriate of soda, or common salt; and, when low, considerable quantities of it are precipitated to the bottom of the lake, or rather are there crystallized. No living creature can exist in this lake. A remarkable species of volcano is to be found on its borders. It is composed of mud and covers several acres. The mud is raised up into cones, from which steam and water issue, in some instances, ten or fifteen feet into the air, with a loud noise. One of these cones ejects hot and cold water at short intervals. From others, the hot mud is occasionally thrown out in every direction, with great force.

A striking feature in the topography of this region is, that none of the streams or lakes have any visible outlet either to the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, but either lose themselves beneath the soil, or disappear during the severe droughts to which the country is subject; for, according to another authority, it seldom rains here between April and October, except upon the high mountains, where thunder showers are frequent in summer and snow storms in winter.

Dr. Bernhisel is of opinion, that no portion of that vast extent of country between the Great Basin and the Rocky Mountains is inhabitable, excepting the valley of the Uintah, and perhaps that of Green river. The valleys known in the Great Basin, are Great Salt Lake valley, Bear River valley, Utah valley, Yoab valley, South valley, Sevier valley, and Sand Pitch valley. The Great Salt Lake valley, which is much the largest, is about one hundred and fifteen to one hundred and twenty miles long, and from twenty to forty broad, but the Salt Lake occupies the greater part of the northern portion of it. The surface of the centre of the valley is level, but ascends gently on either side towards the mountains. The character of the best soil in the valleys that are inhabitable is as follows: one portion of it is a vegetable loam, another a marly loam, and a third a gravelly stratum, containing a silicia. The latitude of Great Salt City is 40 deg. 45 min. 44 sec. North. Its altitude is four thousand three hundred feet. The climate is milder and drier in general than it is in the same parallel on the Atlantic coast. The other valleys have a general resem blance to the Great Salt Lake valley, except that they are much smaller —South valley being thirty miles long by twenty broad, Utah valley about sixty long by twenty broad, and Sand Pitch valley some forty or fifty long and perhaps twenty wide.

The other authority quoted above, (Mr. Erastus Snow, from the Salt Lake City), says, in relation to timber, that the whole country is almost entirely destitute of that article. A little may be found on the sides of some of the high rocky mountains, and on the "canons" or deep gorges of the mountains whence issue the mountain streams. On the table lands, the undulating plains, and the isolated hills, there is none. There are, however, small groves of cotton wood and box elder on the bottoms of some of the principal streams.

Wheat, rye, barley, buckwheat, oats, and Indian corn, are the chief agricultural products; and all the garden vegetables peculiar to the Middle and Western States of the Union, are produced in great perfection. Cotton, sugar, and rice, are not susceptible of cultivation in the region described; tobacco and sweet potatoes can be produced in limited quantities. Only a few portions of the valleys are well supplied with water, and upon the rest but limited crops can be raised, as artificial irrigation in agricuiture is indispensable to success.

The population of Deseret, in the early part of 1850, was estimated at about fifteen thousand persons, located principally in Salt Lake, Utah, and Sand Pitch valleys; three-fourths of whom are natives of our Eastern, Middle, and Western States; a small portion are from our Southern States, and the rest emigrants from Europe. The population has since no doubt largely increased by emigration, the number of emigrants annually being

from two to three thousand. Dr. Bernhisel thinks the inhabitable portions of the Great Basin capable of sustaining a population of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand; as stated, the remaining portions of the territory are nearly or altogether uninhabitable.

A description of Great Salt Lake City, as given by Dr. B., may not be uninteresting. It is pleasantly situated on a gentle declivity, near the base of a mountain, about two miles east of the Utah outlet, or the river Jordan, and about twenty-five southeast of the lake whose name it bears. There is a beautiful stream running through the town, called "City creek." The city is regularly laid out on a rather extensive scale; the streets cross each other at right angles, and all of them are eight rods wide. Each lot contains an acre and a half of ground, and each square eight lots. There are four public squares in the city. The greater part of the houses are small, but commodious, and in general constructed of "adobes," or sundried brick. Among the public buildings, are, a house for public worship, a council-house, and a bath-house, and it is in contemplation to erect another temple, larger and more magnificent than that formerly built at Nauvoo. The city is divided into nineteen wards, in some of which, at the time of Dr. B.'s communicating his information, school-houses had been erected, with the intention of establishing one in each ward to be sustained at the public expense. The schools in operation were in a flourishing condition, and besides the ordinary branches, Mathematics, Latin, Greek, French, and German, were taught in them.

The number of acres under cultivation in Deseret, Dr. B. was unable te state, but it was very large, considering the short time since the first settlement was made. He speaks of one field which contained six thousand one hundred and sixty-seven acres, and the fence around which was about fifteen miles in length.

There is a printing-press in the valley; as early as 1850, there were four grist mills and six saw mills in successful operation, while it was proposed to erect a paper mill, and also to manufacture linen and woolen cloths sufficient for home consumption; and in July, 1851, intelligence was received of a project of a rail-road soon to be built. Dr. B. disabuses lb* public mind of an impression that exists, that property is held in common in Deseret. This, he says, is a great error,—every man holding his property in his own right. These settlements being on the highway to California, tens of thousands of emigrants from the United States find therein a place to rest their wearied limbs, as well as to recruit their animals am! stores of provisions previous to entering the deserts on their onward journey.

Many defamatory reports have been spread abroad in relation to the Mor mons and their leader, Young, and recent events would seem to show that they have not been misrepresented. The Judges of the territory of Utah, appointed in accordance with the usage of the government, have returned to the States, and in an official communication made by them to the President, reveal a state of affairs in that territory of a most surprising character. They were, it appears, totally unrecognized in their official capacity, by the Mormons, were treated with the grossest indignities, and virtually forced to leave the territory for their own personal safety. They represent Young and his followers as proclaiming the most treasonable sentiments against the federal government, and as having seized and squandered the money appropriated for the maintenance of the interests of the territory. Added to all, they describe a condition of morals existing among the Mormons, of the vilest and most reprehensible character. The subject has been brought to the attention of Congress.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

JULY 4th, 1776.

THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OP THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal: that they arc endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, ns to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; nnd, accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient suffer ance of these colonies, and such is now the necessity which construins them V> alter their former systems of government. The history of the present king of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world:

Το

He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent Bhould be obtained, and, when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of largo districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature—a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the repository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused, for a long time after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise—the state remaining, in the mean time, exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without and convulsions within.