The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-01
TROUBLES ON THE RIO GRANpE-FUTURE
ANNEXATION.

Doiuci' WhiOu VIII pioDaoiy iNouis ~ VII" an
nexation of more territory in that quarter.
When the Anglo-Amcrican race was brought
into immediate juxtapostion with the semi
civilized races inhabiting the border provinces
of Mexico, what could be expected! We are
superior in energy, intelligence, enterprise
the spirit of domination and aggression is con-
stantly urging us to oyerleap our bounds, and
trespass ON the rights of our weaker neighbors;
and these attributes especially characterize the
frontier population on our Southwest. Their
respect for law and order is by no means pro-
verbal and they cherish most profound con-
tempt for all other races. Besides, the pro-
and the late war between the United States
and that country, have left deep and ranking
wounds on the Mexican population along the
Rio Grande and the conduct of the Americans
towards them has carried with it no healing
virtue. They have done all they could to evade
or break down the Mexican laws against SNUG
Cling, and they gave open aid and comfort"
to Caravajal, in his revolutionary scheme for
NltAlCO, anu tltCllDS itS
NIadre provinces into Republic, with an ulti-
mate view to annexation by this country. In
fact, Americans not unfrequently constituted
the great body of his forces, and this in def
ance of the proclamation of the Government
and vigilance of its officers
That collisions should grow out of this state
of things was not surprising. Mexicans and
Indians united against race which held them
in contempt and showed little disposition to
respect their rights and the result at last is
a kind of guerilla warfare along the Rio
Grande, marked by cold-blooded murders on
both sides
The Washington Union publishes extracts
from letters, dated at Brownsville, all referring
alone to outrages committed by the Mexicans
One, dated June 10th, is as follows:
Something must be done to effect change
Of the present state of things here. 1t is risk
ing ones life to 60 ten miles from here by land
and there is no security for property, Avalos
this morning had barbarously shot the four
flibusters whom he had pledged his word to
save, and war Of determination between the
races appears about to begin. 1t is openly pro-
claimed that the steamer Comanche will be
again fired into, if certain persons go passen-
gers on her.
Why this hostility to certain persons on,
board the Comanche! Private letters from
respectable sources in New Orleans, throw
light upon the question. 1t seems that the Co
manche had been engaged in depredatons on
the Mexicans.
The following extracts from these letters we
find in the National Inteligeneer:
:" Early in this month the United States
steamer Comdnche was going up the river
BroUo and on nearing point known by the
name of Paso de Dona Cecilia, she stopped
close to the Mexican shore. Five persons
landed from her and killed COW. which they
were about to carry on board, when the owner
came forward and demanded to be paid the
value of his COW. This demand they refused
to comply with, and answered with insults and
threats. The owner of the COW threatened
them in return and went off The steamer
continued her voyage, and shortly afterwards
the pilot observed party of men approaching
the bank of the river, and he fired upon them
from the steamer The party on shore then
withdrew, and, ascending the river, they hid
themselves behind pile of wood waiting for
the approach of the steamer, upon which they
fired with muskets as soon as she came near.
The result was that two passengers were wound
ed, one OF them being the deputy collector of
the custOm-house of Rio Grande and the other
his son.
" An unpleasant occurrence has taken place
also at Camargo 1t appears that some soldiers
belonging to the United States army went over
the river, and, in consequence of having drank
to excess, they began to commit outragcs upon
all they met with, until they came up with
sentry belonging to the Mexican army On
coming up with this man. one of the Americans
drew his pistol and fired at and wounded him.
Provoked by this wanton act the inhabitants
ofCamargo assembled and attacked the Ameri-
cans killing one and throwing the remainder
into prison, who were subsequently sent to
Gen. HARVEY, at Ringgold barracks"
He must be blind who does not see in this
unfortunate state of things the germ of future
ed to the uses of Slavery. The Washington
Union is already busy at the old game, of try
ing to throw the whole blame on our Mexican
neighbors and stirring up popular feeling
against them; so that when the seasonable mo-
ment shall come, an Administration, brought
into power on such platform was set up at
Baltimore, and under such auspices as those
which secured the nomination of Mr.. Pierce.
may find warrant in the popular voice for
another dismemberment of Mexico
Events are plainly tending in this direction.
The Slave Power was disappointed in its for
mer acquisitions. California slipped from its
grasp, and it is not sure that it can make much
| out of the Territories. But there can be no
mistake as to the fitness of the soil of the Mex
lean provinces on our Southwest for slave-labor
products; So that their acquisition would give
new lease of life to Slavery. 1t is because
we understand its necessities are familiar with
it's tactics, have watched the growth of the
troubles on the Rio Grande and detected there
the national appetite for new territory, that
we cannot look without profound apprehension
on the present subjugation of the Democratic
Party by the Slave Power The Free. Soil
Democrats have dsarmed themselves, are about
to place power in the hands of the clear-sight-
ed, determined champions of Slayery-extension
and there is nothing in the antecedents of Mr.
Pierce, nothing in his present position, nothing
in his character, principles or relations, which
can authorize the faintest hope that he will
oppose the slightest obstacle to their schemes
Our Free Soil friends may find this out when it
is too late to repair the mischief
THE MONSTER LAND BILL.
The importantly of the Land States for
grants of lands to aid in the construction of
roads has ut last produced its lepitimato res,,I,