The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-26

BROWNSVILLE, April 20, 1851.
Indian Osayages-Ldnguishng Condition Of Broscns

BROWNSVILLE, hpru 1901.
Indian Ora,ages-Ldnguishing Condition Of Brotcns-
vile &c, &c,
Since were last here, upwards Of year
ago, things have generally and materially changed
for the worse in fact, stagnaton prevails every
where, and everything; no business doing, and
prospect of any being done, until our govern
ment shall take active to defend the from
tier and rid the suffering inhabitants of the Ca
manehe Indians, who daily commit such dreadful
outrages upon their persons and property.
We had hoped TO have located ourselves here
abouts, and carried on a business formerly, but
that Is quite out Of the question; and to 60 higher
up the river would, we are told be still worse; SO
we must content ourselves with the good luck of
not having brought goods from the North, upon
which we should inevitably have been great losers,
as our capital would have been converted into un-
saleable goods.
You are aware Of the iourishing business which
was carried on with Monterey and Saltil!o, and the
large amount OF specie that continually flowed
through this place to our Northern cities, In ex-
change for their manufactures, (principally cotton
goods) alas that is all over, and is now but mat
ter of history, and We have set to see the worst.
Who that knew this place year ago, would
ask; or who that saw its rising and hourishng con-
diton them look upon its present depressed and
languid state, without feelings Of bitter Indignation
and disgust burning within him, at tae unpardon-
able negligence Of our government in not timely
placing on the frontier proper and efficient force,
both for our defence, and that of the border Mexi
cans, whom by treaty stipulatons we re bound to
protect, and who had that been complied with,
would have been carrying on an active and lucra-
tive trade with here ut this moment, greatly to
our mutual benefit; they with their dollars and we
with our merchandise, instead of which these pitt
less savages absorb, and destroy all.
Every new arrival from the interior brings fresh
accounts Of outrage and murder committed upon
the frontier population by the savages. From the
other side Of the river have also frghtful ac-
counts. Two thousand Camanche Indians have
OH into have s.<a tai
themselves on the border Of the Lake Of Jaco;
whence they dispatch numbers Of small predatory
bands to pillage the defenceess people of that
try,-drive of their ssock-burn their farms--and
take the life Of every living thing within their reach,
excepting perhaps, the young women and girls,
whom they carry into captivity, and to whom death
Is even more welcome in any shape than the lelty
and suffering they are exposed to, and doomed to
undergo.
BROWNSVILLE, April 81 1851
The Hostile Tndaas-7H9 Country dbIndonei by its
bliabtants, rilo seek safdy III the cites.
Our advices of the 10Th inst will have informed
you of the depressed condition of CONNIE ,ial affairs
in this neighborhood, and | regret to adj that
change for the better can take place until such
times as our government looks to our interest and
that OF the country at large, by supprsssing The
ravages of the hostile Indians, who hourly in
creasing our troubles and etardng our progress
We say the interest of the country at large, and
you will agree with in this opinion, when tell
you that the best informed merchants in this quar-
ter assure US that commerce, amounting to
several millions per annum, might and would be
carried on with the frontier Mexicans if life and
property were secure against the Indians. As
things are, we are separated from our customers,
and they from US, by that ambuating scourge in
terposed between US, and which is the equal deadly
enemy of both
We conversed yesterday with some gentlemen
from Zacatecas, who bring late advices from
Northern Mexico. They inform that all the
country to the north of Zacatecas is so infested by
these laWless depredators, that the whole popua-
tion is terror stricken, and that unless immediate
measures be adopted to arrest their devastating
progress, the whole country, excepting the large
cities, will become waste and the exclusive abode
Of the savage and of wild animals.
In consequence of the large number Of Indians
that have crossed the river into Me xico, (Which,
by the by, may afford Texas some temporary
hef,) many Of the most respectable families
abandoning their /" Haciendas," and retiring to
the City Of Mexico, and other places of safety.
he Mexican border population are daily be-
coming poorer; not only do they make no profits,
but they lose all they possesi; and many of our
acquaint ances, who were in affuence, now
rapidly being launched into destituton and beg
gary.
The Camanche Indians are now completing a
work they commenced years ago. work OF de-
yastation is raging throughout the Texan and
Mexican frontier.
The non. compliance of our solemn treaty with
Mexico, places this country in q very unenviable
position before the civilized world. The amount Of
crime and misery we have to answer for is enor-
nous, yet we cannot replace those happy house
holds that RACED to the ground by the frebrind
OF the remorseless savage; nor we restore hus-
bands to their wives, or parents t. their children.
No; the widows must remain widows, and the chill
dren must remain orphans but se ought, and are
able, to prevent furtherance Of this outrage and
cruelty, as both moral and political duty oblige
us 70 do and not allow the pages Of our history TO
be blackeBed by an apparent want OF faith towards
people so manifestly weaker than ourselves.