Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-11-16
THE BROWNSVILLE INsURRECTIoN.

GraDde. On the Zotn OF september, that
town attacked by band of fillibusters
headed by one Cortinas, person of Mexican
blood, but whom the annexation of Texas had
made citizen of the United States, and whose
followers were principally persons of the same
class. Except very narrow strip on the Rio
Grande, the whole of that southern district of
Texas is mere desert without inhabitants,
and the people of Brownsville, Fort Brown
being without any garrison, proved no match
for their assailants. The invaders took mill
tary possession of the town, killed five of the
citizens, broke open the jail and released the
prisoners. In this emergency, the good pco
pie of Brownsville appealed for aid to the Mex
leans Of Matamoras, on the opposite side of
the river, who lent them a body of Mexican
troops as temporary garrison for Fort Brown.
Mexican officer, alter parley with the as
sailants, persuaded them to quit the town.
They encamped, however, within twenty miles
Of IT, two hundred strong, and though, upon
being visited by the Mexican officers, they
agreed to modest Brownsville no more, no re
lance was placed upon this promise. Indeed,
within few days their number had Increased
to tour hundred, and was daily receiving
cessions. Their object appeared to be gen.
eral plunder. Fears we're entertained that
they would burn the town, and the more timid
Inhabitants, in a great state Of alarm, were
flying TO Matamoras. The bolder had entered
INTO military organization for Sef-defense,
and, meanwhile, had dispatched messenger
to General Twiggs, commanding the United
States forces in Texas, then at San Antonio,
asking for assistance. The General replied
that the forces at his disposal were quite in
sufficient for the Indian hOstlites in which he
was engaged, and he could therefore do moth
ing. This indeed was a case in which it was
the business of the State of Texas to defend
its OWN citizens against the attack of outlaws
and robbers. But ifany application was made
To no prif nf
appear to have been attended with any success.
More recent accounts which come down TO the
I'd instant represent the people of Brownsville
as In imminent danger. On the oath OF Oct,
they had marched out with 120 men,a cannon,
and howtZer, in hopes of dispensing the
outlaws, but had fallen into an ambuscade, and
had been put to flight with the loss of their
artillery, nine men killed, aid four wounded.
general panic prevailed at Brownsville, and
the steamer which brought these accounts
brought an application to the city of NewOr
leans for a hundred men to assist in the defense
of the place. 1t also appears that an agent
dispatched to Washington with an account of
their desperate condition, had reached that
city, and, in consequence of his representa-
tions, telegraphic orders have Just been dis
patched to Baton Rouge and New Orleans for
the embarkation for Brownsville Of company
OF United States Artillery stationed at the
former place. 1t is certainly extraordinary
that the authorities of Texas should have done
nothing for the suppression of this local in
surrection, but should leave the good people
of Brownsville to send all the way to New Or
leans and Washington for assistance. Texas
is one OF those States which has clustered
considerably about dissolving the Union, but,
II her efficiency in the matter Of this Browns
vile affair is to be taken as criterion, she is
hardly yet in position to set up for herself.
no TIM In
Gle with this heading, the Ceredo, Virginia,
Crescent, of Nov. 5, asserts that it has ssdocu-
ments which show as clearly as some other
things, that the editor of the New York Her
aid is at the bottom of that diabolical plot at
HarpeT's Ferry After calling attention to
the course of the Herald in attempting to
fix the origin upon others, and thus withdraw
attention from the editor himself, the Crescent
uses the following plain language -
s'But it will not do. James Gordon Ben
nett, we have got the documents in black and
white. Chou art the man. or the power be-
hind the throne it makes no difference which
and Just as soon we become satisfied to what
uses YOU will put this thing, shall expose
the whole fraud. 1t will make a sensation.
1T will create an excitement among prominent
politicians which may choke some of them.
But the truth must be told. The editor of
the Herald may look out.''
1t win, sure enough, SNAKE a sensation,' if
it is shown that Bennett, the friend of Buchan-
an and the leader of Democratic newspaper
editors. is at the bottom of the Harpers Ferry
Insurrcction Whether he is, or is not, we
are not prepared to say; but it is asserted by
the n. Y. Tribune that Bennett left that City
"some time last August or September, pro-
fessedly on tour to and through the South
West, but actually proceeded only to Harper's
Ferry, whence, after remaining some time in
very quiet way, with no apparent business,
he wheeled short about and returned post
haste TO the City,
Frederick Douglass whose freedom from his
master was purchased by the English people,
some fourteen years ago, is about to visit
Great Britain on a lecturing tour. His name
has been connected with the events at Harper's