Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-09-18

Life on the Border.
by CORA moNre oMERY.

by CORA reoMERY.
EAGLE Pass, (Texas,) Aug. 2 1851.
We must wait little longer to know whether, and
when, the Government at Washington will deign glance
ot inquiry and word of protection citizens OF the
Union, who sold into Slavery in Mexico The prin-
cple still remains in abeyance and my prayers that the
Mexican officials would retain Victor and friends
compel, by his resoute rescue the tmid Of
the day to show themselves the bar Judgment fell
dead 10 the ground. Victor's friends first the
Commander at Fort Duncan, and requested him to de-
mand, officially, in the absence of all civil authority
here, the restoration of American citizen held in p
son, and in danger of perpetual bondage for debt
tracted this side Of the river and therefore by fair
construction of law amenable the Mexican penalty Of
servitude. The Colonel felt the should, but
ne was uncertain OF the range OF his powers and duty
and still more uncertain how far Cabinet notorously
much zeal in defence Of our SOIL flag and citizens
so he excused himself from taking active part least
until everything else was tried This was exactly what
suited the spirit fast growing up this frontier. The
people have been long and so shamefuy neglected
that hundreds willing to put officials in
open and blazoned default, they the Mexcans.
Acute eyes and ready wits lie in wait seize upon every
clearly provabe and inexcusabe lapse that be
red home to the conviction of the people. There
some who only wish to the facts bring the
owls Of party clear vision and better performances
OF their duty. This is the sentiment of my family and
it is my aim and WISH but it ought to be known in
the United States that this is not the feeling Of the
OF mankind " out here. There hundreds both
sides of this border line who want war; and who ,cl
make ,car before this Administration goes out. The
criminal neglect of public servants accommodating
for them beautiful entrenchment of just6cations; and
Mllard Fillmore won't find his place bed of roses If
he does look il himself His sound, patriotic
sense, will set this all right if he bat takes it and
has subordinates firmly in hand when he comes home
from his travels.
Well our party having duly acquitted their conscien
ces by laying their plant before the Colonel At Fort
Duncan, and having received the invariabe border
swer, We have means to protect anybody, and no
powers to do anything they went very contentedy
settle things in their way with the Mexicans
They found the Commandant asleep, and the Alcalde
out of the but they courteousy ordered the officer
to be forthwith awakened and laid before him their
rand without delay He talked Webster TO them for the
first ten minues and the Secretary Of State himself could
not have dwelt with JUNCTION and logical force on the
nuty oil American rights, the nohingness OF the Ame
rcan ag and the and sacred duty of respecting
above all things and before all things the supremacy Of
foreign laws whatever befalls Americans. We are lazy
here-distressngly lazy. 1t comes suppose natural.
ly, of soft Southern climate, and idle border life
We take the trouble to bend the knee and kiss the
garment-hem Of beings better than ourselves whe
ther they WELD the lash in Cuba or Mexico. We love
our seindulgent ways too well to live In such
tive obedience the commands of foreign despots
seems the life Of some Of our plant friends, who seem
to delight in tnkerng by the month at riveting the
chains oil the Cubans and citizens ensaved Tor debt
in Mexico 1t is steady hard work for them, and hope
they will be well paid-he more some Of our officials
seem to have time for other way of getting bread.
Not in these words but in this spirit friends heard
and replied to the resoundng Webstersms of the Mexi
can and he comprehendcd that they had come for their
man. He probably had shrewd guess, also that they
were likely 60 with their purpose in fashion like
y to create work for both governments. with very little
regard TO how far either the the other would
be pleased in he matter. So he met the emergency
with good grace, and offered them Victor evidence
Of his PERSONAL goodwill. He could not gainsay
the fact that Mr.. Webster in his zeal to side with the
Mexcans had left the door wide open Tor Americans to
help themselves to redress. III Mexicans could not be
punished for invading soil and carrying off citi
neither could citizens be punished for passing
into the Mexican territory and rescung the wronguy
captured with armed hand Like other dilemmas, this
Of Mr.. Webster has horns, and he cannot eschew
both We are not such blind dolaors here as you Of
the north, who accept his blunders something
divine, infallibe, end high above doubt scrutiny He
man like other men, and commits errors like all 9TH
ers born Of woman, and pity, from the depths Of my
heart, the American ttleness that cannot
lift It's eyes above his shoe-tie and at every word must
cry out, oracle, oracle" There only or
two among who the Webster collar; and to the
mpute the liberation of Victor, though it yielded
under show Of special concession Of friendship, and
with the distinct nssance the principle laid down by
own Secretary OF State, that matter how he got
there whether by dark deceit open kidnapping, an
American the other side loses all his rights and
must submit to slavery whatever the Mexican law
the Of it--may inflict. We must wait yet
tions Of our government In the Of Yictor-and
confess regret tit brought to trial. The
prison DOORS though closed by Mexican laws and guar
ded by the written decision Of Cabinet flew open st
the significant request Of few earnest men, and the IL
legal captive walked forth Free Before the sun set
Victor home chanting his interminabe ballads,
but Of were but half content that his liberty was
granted under protest and favor when it should be
his by admitted right as an American citizen