COPPER MINES. 
335 
which you now understand. Beyond this I have no 
powers. The great chief of the American people lives 
faP, very far, towards the rising sun. From him I 
received my orders, and those orders I must obey. I 
cannot interfere in punishing any man, whether an 
Indian, a Mexican, or an American, There is another 
great chief who lives at Santa Fe. He is the governor 
of all New Mexico. This great chief administers the 
laws of the Americans. He holds a court wherein all 
persons charged with crimes are judged. He alone 
can inflict punishment when a man has been found 
guilty. To this great chief, this governor, I will send 
the murderer of our Apache brother. He will try 
him, and, if found guilty, will have him punished 
according to American laws. Such is all that I can 
do. Such is the disposition I will make of this man. 
It is all that I have a right to do.” 
Ponce. “ This is all very good. The Apaches know 
that the Americans are their friends. The Apaches 
believe what the Americans say is true. They know 
that the Americans do not speak with two tongues. 
They know that you have never told them a lie. They 
know that you will do what you say. But the Apaches 
will not be satisfied to know that the murderer is pun- 
ished in Santa Fe. They want him punished here, at 
the Copper Mines, where the band of the dead brave 
may see him put to death — where all the Apaches 
may see him put to death (making the sign of being 
suspended by the neck). Then the Apaches will see 
and know that their American brothers will do justice 
to them.” 
Commissioner . — “ I will propose another plan to 
