[capitan_refugio]

That is not the map I was thinking about, but it does show what I was talking about. The line was at 34 degrees north. The Missouri Compromise line was 36 degree 30 minutes north. I wonder was the basis of the claim was?

[rustbucket]

The line was at 34 degrees north. The Missouri Compromise line was 36 degree 30 minutes north. I wonder was the basis of the claim was?

Here's what Kerby says. Sounds like a miniature version of North vs South in the US as a whole:

The Territory of New Mexico (the states of New Mexico and Arizona, plus the southern tip of Nevada) was theoretically subject to a government that had been established at Santa Fe in 1850. In actual fact, the appointed executive and the elective legislature, in which the northeastern portions of the Territory were disproportionally represented, were habitually ignored by the southern and western sections. Those areas were isolated from Santa Fe by miles of desert and wasteland, and resented the legislature's propensity for concentrating troops around the capital while leaving the rest of New Mexico to the mercies of the dread Apache. As a protest against Congress' refusal to establish a separate government for them, the people of "Arizona" (the present state plus New Mexico below the Jornado del Muerto desert) had established a de facto Territory of Arizona before South Carolina's secession.

Economic differences intensified the regional conflicts. While Santa Fe was dependent on Missouri, Arizona was tied to nearby Texas. ...

As you'll remember, Congress, or more particularly the Northern members of Congress, refused to reimburse Texas for the expenses they expended fighting the Indians when the Federal efforts weren't sufficient. That was one of the reasons Texas seceded.

Here is a description of the sort of Indian depredation that both Texas and the Territory of Arizona were concerned about. From an 1861 report of the State Gazette of Austin, Texas:

The party of Indians committing these massacres and depredations are represented to be Lipans, with some other tribes, about one hundred fifty in number, with pack mules, &c., very deliberate in their movements, indicating great confidence in their strength.

1st. In Uvalde county, on the Rio Frio, killed Henry M. Adams and Henry Robinson, wounded and scalped Miss Kelsey, aged twelve years. Miss Kelsey has been found, and will probably recover from her wounds. Wounded also, a youth named Robinson.

2d. This party subsequently met with and killed a party of toradoras, while on there way from San Antonio to Eagle Pass, at a place near the Chicon. The number of this party was not ascertained.

3d. In Atascosa county, on the Nueces, killed Mr. Eastwood, and wounded Mr. Spears.

4th. On the Rio Frio killed old Mr. Sanders, mutilating very much the body, besides removing the very long white beard worn by the gentleman.

5th. On the Sabinal, killed Mr. McFarland. In Atascosa county, on the Laguniellas, twenty or more families are forted at the house of Mr. Odom, and such has been the extent of robbery, that throughout the region of country traversed by this party, the men are nearly all afoot, because of their horses having been driven off. Cattle have also been killed in great numbers.