The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-16

To the Editor Of the Un,on !.


SlR Every mail from Western Texas brings papers
and private letters teemng with OF the continued
drpredatons OF Indians upon that border As citizen
OF thai country, wish to make the following remarks
through your journal for the purpose OF showing Is
plainly a. possibly can in letter condensed a.
compelled make this OF the present and past
suerngs OF the people upon tina. frontier since January
l649.
Upon the valley OF the Rio Grande, Aace the above
mentioned date, below Eagle Pass, which is point some
i've hundred miles inside Of our outside settlements
our Indian frontier certainly ought 10 be above all SCI
Elements, and not between twothee have been upwards
LOT one hundred farms broken up and destroyed, the
stock driven of and the inhabitants compelled to look Tor
protection elsewhere than IN their own hOnes many Of
them forced to flee into Mexco and under the flag aud
right arm OF that conahy, to seek safety Tor their lives
and the lives OF their families; and they have to thank
their Almighty God that that countryhc country over
which, but short time Previous the American stars and
stripes foated to the breeze In all OF their conqneng
glory and spendor-was not so Imotlered against them
as 10 refuse them asylum and home. Most Of the
farms and plantations upon the river for two seasons,
have remained uncultivaled More than seventy women
and children have been murdered and carried Oh captves
more than hundred men have been butchered in cold
bood seven different times has the United States mail
been captured the mail rider in instances, getting
shot and killed, in others only wounded escaping
aoot; and yet effective step has been taken to relieve
the suferinKs OF that people, and TO make secure their
homes and resides enable them return TO their
peaceful occupations and business.
1t is eighteen months to my knowledge, since the in
habaDs Of that country sent their first petitions Tor AIDE
|quate protection 10 the general government; and they
forth the facts their real suierngs, by memorials.
by the press by private letters by representatives. in
Congress- and by legislature, the highest tribunal OF
our State So az 10 remove all doubt, if any existed in
the minds OF the rulers OF this government 10 the
truth OF the reports that had been made in relation to the
Neutrality-suspicious. upon our frontier legislature had
evidence aken and adavts by the most respectable and
honorable men IN our country were made to prove those
statements true Resolutions passed in that body,
and forwarded to the general government, calling upon
her for our rights Tor protection to our bleeding frontier Il
but they have had no eectthey have so far done no
!good
The Congress passed bill short time since for the in
of the rank and file of the army, and the
Infantry. have doubt but that many oil the sup.
!poers of that bill thought they doing all that
nsce say 70 give ample am perfect pr9'ec'pn put they
frontier il s impossible to find Americans back woods.
men, hunters, and horsemen that will recruit into our
when once they have enlisted they are liable to be placed
10 the artillery in the cavalry, or in the infantry corps,
las chance may be, they will only be used to i'll
|up companies who may that time be composed OF three
our,hs irish Germansgool troops shoudered
IL musket tor any service IN which they can be made
deficient but there is not out Of hundred that
ever be made horseman-and they know that they may
be placed upon the frontier active service they may
be sent to some portion OF the country where they will
have nothing to do but to stand sentry and mend for
cations which kind OF duty would not be consenia
general thing with the restless spirit OF the young back
woodsman But let law be passed 10 troops for
NE frontier rrie, and send the recruiting officers TO the
interior Statesmen to seaport towns but in the
|uy-and in that way you get sufficient nber OF
men in less than three months fiji two regiments and
they will be the class of suitable for that duty and
DULY IA that mode they be procured Tor the service
will here make mention OF Of the depredations
committed by partyfor to give account OF all Of
the parties and Of all Of the ourages, would fill vol
umes not letters OF Indians no visited our country last
spring do tais solely for the purpose OF enabling per-
sons who undequainfed with it 10 form correct
sopnon OF The true situation OF our frontier, when tell
them liable to have, and do have, such parties
| almost weekly in our country
Sixty-odd Indians went down between Brownsville
and Point Isabel low Paio Altoihat battles
upon which General Taylor his first victory
the Mexican army-and there remained tor upwards Of
EIGHT days robbing and numbering upon the high road
driving of stock, and plunderiny wagono Of fine
merchandise During those eight days at no time were
they more than twenty miles from FoH Brown OF
the largest military posts upon that frontier and although
the officers OF that post particularly the commanding Of
hcet, and that splendid gentleman. MAJOR Chapman,
OF the quartermastes department. to whom every citizen
in that country feels indebted did everything in their
power to chasse drive out Of the country the Indians
them they were inefficient them as mounted infantry
are and will be everywhere against that enemy. The
chief justice oil the county, seeing there possible
Chance OF troops routing the Indians aud seeing thai
they would remain long as they thought proper 10 DO
go laying waste the farms. and check ing the business
even in the Cities unless other forces ans
them than such had been SENT and feeling be his
duty TO use every means in his power TO project The lives
aud property OF his fellow too by the
people OF that country-made official request Of Gen
AUaiu commanding officer of the Mexican army Mata
moras the Rio Grande and to bring to their relief
light cavalry, 10 protect the and children OF that
portion OF the United States. General A. Immediately
his willingness comply with the request
humanity that had been made of him, by marching his
troops without delay to the banks OF the Rio GrAnde
Knowing. he did, that 1t contrary the treaty OF
peace between the United States and Mexico Tor
ed party 10 pass under any preence from country
the other, he requested written permission roWi the
commanding officer Fort Brown the tina
permission denied him, and he thereby refused
the privilege OF protecting the lives and property OF the
people that troops had shown them selves unable TO
protect What state OF things must exist when Ameri
can citizens 10 their country, compelled to beg
Mexico protection from national enemy There
no telling how long these Indians would have held that
hunt them down. The merchant left his coun6er the
doctors and Iawyersclo-cd their Offices and the camen
took their horses IRON the harness. and all started pur
suit Of the savage foe Then, and not I'LL then, did the
Indians make any attempt TO retreat.
must here give faint description of a scene that we
beheld while on their trail, ahoughi is one not at all
uncommon with the Indian; yet, from the fact OF my
being acquainted with the lovely being upon whom the
outrage committed. il imprinted so strongly upon
my memory will keep il from ever being etfaced
Above Brownsville the Indians had taken three female
risoners, two OF them full grown women and young
girl, who bad not reached her fourteenth year, whose
nocen and vir'uous SOUL whose bright sweet and play
fu connienance made happy all upon whom degned TO
cast smile, was The third With our party old
man. the father OF that lovely and hut short time pre-
vioua happy being Judge Of the horror OF the feelings
OF that old man, OF the feelings OF ali OF party when
- we were brought TO halt, by coming upon resting
place OF the Indians noon, found many piece. of
drees winch the father recognised at once being parts
81 the one his daughter and little further we
found BY handfus the dark sken that had been
torn by the roots from the lovely head that they had but