The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-11-18
Brownsville Insurrection.

It is now month or moro since news
reached us of an alarming state of things
at Brownsville, in Texas. on tho north bank
of the Rio Grandc. On the 2Sth of Septem-
Der that town was attacked by a baud OF
flbustors, headed by one Cortinas, person
of Mexican blood, but whom the annexation
Of Texas had made a citizen of the United
States, and whose followers were principally
persons of tho samo class. Excepta narrow
strip on tho Rio Grando, tho whole of that
southern district of Texas is mere desert
without inhabitants, and tho people OF
Brownsville, Fort Brown being without any
garrison, proved no match for their assal-
ants. The invaders took military possession
of tho town, killed five of the citizens, broke
open the Jail and released the prsoners.-
In this emergency, tho good people OF
Brownsville appealed for aid to tho Mexicans
of Matmoras, on the opposite side of the
river, who lent them a body of Mexican
troops as a temporary garrison for Fort
Brown. A Mexican officer, after q parley
with the assalants, persuaded them to quit
the town. They encampod, however, within
twenty miles of it, two hundred strong, and
though, upon being visited by the Mexican
officers, thev agreed to molost Brownsville
no more, no reliance was placed upon this
promise Indeed, within few days their
number had increased to four hundred, and
was daily receiving accossions. Their object
appeared to be general plunder. Fears
wero entertained that they would burn the
town, and the moro timid inhabitants, in
great state Of alarm, were flying to Matam-
oras. The bolder had entered into mill
tary organization for self-deEense aud mean
whiIo. had dispatched messenger to Cen
oral Twggs, commanding tho United States
forces in Texas, then in San Antonio, asking
for assistance. The General replied that
tho forces at his disposal we're quite Insult
ficiunt for tho Indian hostilites in which he
was engaged, and he could therefore DO
nothing. This iudood was u case in which
it was tho business of the State of Texas to
defend its own citizens against tho attack OF
outlaws and robbors. Blu: i! any application
was made to tho State authorities of Texas,
it does not appear to have been attended
with any success. Moro recent accounts
which come down to the 2d instant repre-
sent tho people of Brownsville as in immi-
nent danger On the Oath Of October, they
had marched out with l2O mon, o cannon,
and howitzer, in hopes of dispensing tho
outlaws but had fallen into an anbuscado,
and been put to fight with the loss of thoir
artillery, nine men killed and four wounded.
A general panic prevailed at Brownsville,
and the steamer which brought those ac-
counts brought an application to tho city of
Now Orleans for hundred men to assist
in tho defense of the place. It also appears
that an agent dispatched to Washington
with an account Of their desperate condition,
had reached the city. and, in consequence of
his representation, tolegraphic orders have
just been dispatched to Baton Rouge and
New Orleans for the embarkation for
Brownsville OF company of United Statos
artillery stationed at tho former place.
1t is certainly extraordinary that tho au-
thorites of Texas should have done nothing
for the suppression of this local iusurrection,
but should leave the good people of Browns
vile to send all tho way to New Orleans and
Washington for assistance. Texas is ono OF
those States which has bustorod consider
ably about dssolving tho Union, but, if hor
efficiency in the matter of this Brownsville
affair is to bo takon as q criterion, she is
hardly yet in position to set up for herself.
~ Y Tribune