Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-17
OUR RIo eRANDE CORRESPONDENCE.

TIE PREsESr STATE OF THE LowKR Rio
GRANDE FRONTIER CoRTINAs VAMoosrp-
The DISPOSITION OF THE PEOPLE OF TAMAu-
LIPAs.
BROWNSVILLE, April "a, 1860.
Editor Star: Very little has transpired on the
MO orande valley since my last, that is worth
mentioning.
On the 4th Inst, company M, U. s. A consist
Ing OF IS men and 81 horses, under command of
Brevet Major H. ID. Hurst, Lieuts Benson, Plat
and Jones, arrived from New Orleans on board
the steamship Arizona, at Brazos Santiago and
were then transported to this city on board the
river steamer Grampus. At about the same date
Coi. Lee arrived at Rio Grande City, at the head
OF respectable force of U. 3. troops, from San
Antonio.
The presence of these troops, as a reinforcement
10 those already on the border, has instilled some
hopes IN the umid and Responding, lent addi-
tional spirit to the brave, queiled flor the time
being) the cry of the defenceIess for protection
and makes US feel, withal, as though we were
and await those of the future.
The author OF all our present troubles and of
the evils that begin already to develop themselves
on the mexican frontier-Cortnas, ! mean-is
now seldom spoken Of His name which has
been In the mouth Of everybody for the last six
months, has been mentioned to safety fTbis
by the way, Is very sensible suppression of a
word among people who consider 1t synoni-
ever guilty of These who heretofore seemed
TO be well informed as to his whereabouts and
even the argus-eyed gentry who were wont to
magnify the number of his force so as to cover
the entire area Of the Mexican frontier appear tn
have lost sight Of the bandit entirely Indeed. I
Know OF no one who has seen or heard of him for
the past month, save the Paragraphist of our local
newspaper, who, with a remarkable power of
Imagination and an Hl-concealed hatred for our
neighbors Of Mexico, still continues to portray
him, week after week, in a menacing attitude to-
wards this country. Yet daring to doubt the as
nj ahaot 4
PoSuIre Information that Coriinas Is no longer on
toe river; that he has disbanded the yery small
force which accompanied him to Mexico after hi .
defeat az Rio GTande City, and that, even if he
Were sui on the border, ne no longer entertains
any hostile Intentions against the people on this
side OF the river. He is at present fugitive from
Mexican Justice, and his chief object is 10 avoid
II possible, the clutches of the law
From all this, without being extremely summary
In our deductlons, we may safely conclude that
the COrtina war is at an end. Nearly all the mi
ltary posts on the Rio Grande are comparatively
well garrisoned, and we can be under no appre-
henslon for our present safety and indeed under
nothing like apprehension for the future If the
civil ana military authorities on the Mexican mar.
gin continue as heretofore to use their exertIons in
endeavertng TO capture the bandit
The foregoing lines, and the peculiar manner
In which have therein expressed nv views on
Rio Grande affairs, may be thought strange by
many oy those: at least, who have accustomed
their ear to hear nothing but the rampant. biob
nown accounts Of newspaper correspondents and
to picture in their minds eve nothing hut scenes
OF blood, pillage and destruction. 70 all such
would say that the time for such style is long past
The fofmer excitement, under the Influence of
which we were wont to express our condition.
has subsidized, and the feelings Of our people oug hi
TO have reassumed their usual tone. That we have
SUFFERED; that the laws Of our country have been
tramPled upon by armed bandit; that everything
transpired on this frontier for the last six months
has been detrimental 70 It's interests, and that we
have hardly recovered from the shock no one
0f but.
the time has come when, relieved from excite.
ment we may soberly and calmly reflect upon
the past, and draw unerring dedtctions for the
future. " ~
Our thinking faculties have been long SUSPEND
ed, and, impelled alone by our suffering condI-
uon, we have said more, perhaps, than was neces-
saiy 70 describe 1t. If j chose to be severe
might add that we have judged Of our troubles
with little impartiality; but, certainly. impar-
hality was feeling not to be exercised by the
poor iaoorer, who, having no work, became de-
prlved OF food for himself and family-by the
merchant who, to take up arms, lost the sales of
whole wceks-by the professional man. who to
do the same thing, abandoned his business en-
tirely-by the representatives Of the law who saw
IL trampled under foot by the menacinp rebel At
the suburbs Of the city-by all, in hne who with
a musket 10 their shoulders passed long sIeeoIess
fights behind the feeble barrcades Of Browns
vile, Yet, now that these troubles are ali over
without having reliable information, to assert
that Cortina still maintains an armed force on the
MEXICAN side Of the river, with intentions again
10 lofdy upon their soil; that he is tolerated and
aoetted by the Mexican authorities corupromisinq
by these statements the peace and dignity of the
nelghborin2 Republic, and wantonly EN- mbitterjnp
the feelings of our people against IT, when all lis
GOOD cltzens have shown themselves disposed to
check the movements Of the aggressor and even
lent US aid In our moments Of peril. is ungenerous
TO place them all on a level with bandit, with
out assigning tangible reasons for 80 doing; to
eonsIue Their prudent silence, or rather contempt
for the accusations brought against them. as an
acknowledgment Of having erred; to avail our
selves Of the weak and distracted state of Mexico
70 menace IL with national war, when its people
nave proved themselves to be entirely unconnected
with disturbances brought about on our own soil
all this, say, is unjust, and certainly is not the
voice OF an unPrejudiced ard generous people
FRONTIERsMAN.