Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-07-02

BROWNSVILLE, June -, 1860.
The CONDITION OF THE Rio GRANDE FRONTIER
DISASTROUS CONDITION OF AG RICULTURE THERE
The PROPOSED REMOVAL OF THE PoINr
ISABEL CusToM-HoUsE, &c.
Dear Star Could you but see the state of per-
feet tranquility which our city and country around
enjoy at present, you would imagine that IL had
ever been so. The strife and anxiety Of a few
months past are well nigh forgotten, and nearly
all have turned to their former occupations with
the fond hope Of never being disturbed again by
a similar outbreak.
The losses sustained by our citizens in the Cor
tinas war are not yet retrieved by any means. fol-
every one lost something, or magines that he did;
frontier, the only change perCeptible is In the
backward state of our agriculture. That, indeed
IL deplorable. Those Of our farmers who sought
personal safety in this city from the hands of the
marauders, have not yet treasured themselves suf-
hCently to return TO their labors in the country;
and those who took refuge on the Mexican side
are prevented from doing so by fear of being
charged by our authorities with completely in the
late disturbances; although, il must be said, that
many of them have a reason to fear an investig q.
ton Of their conduct for the last six months.
This ruinous state of our farming districts Is
likely to continue for many months to come; des-
pondeDcy has settled upon many, and all seem To
think that they will vet be disturbed should they
again take up their homes along the river. OF
course these fears are ill-founded, for notwith-
standing many assertions to the contrary and sew
abroad, we positively know that COrtinas has
abandoned the frontier; that the Mexican author
tiles are keeping vigilant eye to prevent any in
waste from that country to this; and lastly that
the bandit chief cannot but have abandoned all
idea of further incursiOns soil when even
his most sanguine despeTadOes have, 1t is said,
acknowledged him unworthy of being their
leader. Yet our prophets say
" - The dawn is overcast, the morning low RS,
And heavily in clouds brings on the day,
The great, the important day, big with the fate
or y the Rio Granfs Valley"
So, if the future is believed to bring on events
most wonderful for our frontier, ] am willing all
should be allowed to hope and obtain nothing; tC
fear, and find they could have hoped
Onthe other hand, our commerce Is in flourish.
ing condition. The importatOns into this district
OF goods and merchandise, to be exported to the
neighboring Republic have been greater since
January last than have ever been known to be
before in any eight months of the year. Owing
however, to the institution of the . IONA Ltbre'
or the privilege of entering goods free of duty al
Matamoras, aud the other Mexican ports on the
line the retail trade-to the great detrment of Oul
local interest-has been drawn thither, or rather
II has remained there; for it was mostly by the
petty buyers IF the towns on the opposite shore
that te retail trade of those on our own shore was
carried on. But lit is written that, despite
mishaps and disadvantages, Brownsville is bound
to flourish and be the emporium of the Southwest
and certainly If 1t never reaches that dizzy hight
of our ambition, 1t will not be because our citizens
do not endeavOr to make it so by all practicable
means, or because labor and industry among ms
are at an ebb.
Great anxiety is manifested by our merchants tC
learn the thorough issue of the efforts being made
by our Western representation in Congress and
other persons in your city, to get bill pas sed for
the removal of the custom house from Point lisa bel
where 1t is now situated, to this place. This i:
something which ought to be done at once A
lack OF time precludes me from demonstrating the
many tangible reasons that demand its immpdiat,
execution. In my next ! may treat the subject
more in detail. Our Government Will not forge,
that by this measure large community is to be
benefited rather the frontier at large and that
according to the sage maxim of SGIWs popNli SK
prsnga t.I, the greatest good is for the greates
number. Yours ever, FRONTIERSNAN
Excuse haste.