New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-05-25


Wdr on he Pdt Of The Mexican People and
Qdicers Against Settlements on NE Rio G1'ancle--
Go'tsnd az az Larye IN Gte Streets of MdtdD,ords-
l,,,seclrdy fe0 IN tiie Toacn Of Brownsville and
51songase Az ftrer--People Learning their Farms
4 Ihe Dtstfia Judge has to be Escorted rom
eo"''fy to County by u s. Dragons.
Special to the New Orleans Creseent1
BROWNSVILLE May 10, 1860.
M. Edstor-As an evidence of the shameful
condition in which the people of the frontier are
left, have simply to call your attention to most
singular relation which is now in the mouths of all
the residents Of this city. After the war with
Mexico was closed, hundreds Of the soldiers and
followers OF the disbanded army of Gen. Taylor's
division located on the Rio Grande for the pur-
poses Of settlement and trade They improved in
circumstances while Mexico maintained anything
like tranquil government or decent remember
ance of the recent drubbing we had given her
bomDastle soldiers and guerrillas; and the money
they made was invested in lands, farms and inn
proyements on the Rio Grande. This wealth and
population increased 50 rapidly that the State Of
Texas found it necessary 10 create line of coun-
ties along the river up as far as El Paso and the
prospect at one time promised well for the frontier
AZ present, matters are sadly and most disgrace
fully changed. The counties, which once promised
such inviting homes to the settler and such pro-
lection to the frontier, are now dissipated the
people scattered and their well-improved homes re-
converted into desert. The residents of Cameron
county, who have heretofore lived on their places
IN this valley, are now collected in this and the
adjoining towns, considering it unsafe to live away
from the rrotection of largo c,n,n,rni.;os Mari
me this is not an Indian frontier II does not ad-
ioin sparsely settled naobhor;ng terr;torv hnt
it borders upon a nation with which We claim To
be on the best Of terms where there are large
towns and settlements and where treaties exist for
the protection of life and nronertv and where laws
are made TO punish offenders Considering these
things. does it not seem most anomalons. and. /
may say, scandaIous that ON the American side of
the Rio Grande there should exist such state OF
dread and insecurity both as to life and property,
that people forsake their homes and sacrifice their
possessions. in order to avoid an enemy whom we
are continually caressing and holding out as our
best friend, and whose safety from European
Vaccinations we claim to be bound to protect? !?
Even in the CITY of Brownsville let me assure YOU
Immediately under the musket range of the United
States soldiers, men, do not consider themselves
safe, and when gentlemen have to leave their
families for time they take care to remove their
u
locality. l know a lawyer living three squares
from the river, two squares from the center of
business and one square from the garrison, who
removed his wife while he was absent, and this re-
moyal was recommended and sanctioned by the
bravest men and the Oldest frontiersmcn in Browns
vile.
call your attention to this fact as one of start
ling moment, that here in the midst of peace, with
the most endearing expression Of affection con-
stantly offered at the shrine of our Treasury DOORS
by Mexican beggars, with Ministers and messen-
gers fitting back and forth thick as bats on sum-
mer afternoon; in spite of all these state of war
already exists between us and them. Our people
are robbed and driven from their farms. our towns
are Threatened our cattle ranches are desnoiled of
large herds of stock while tbe rohhers ara al.
most n s;obt nrotacted on,v bv I mrdav croo,xed
narrow river. The Mexicans on the other side Of
the Rio Grande live in peaee. are benefited by our
trade are protected by our laws. and vet they are
constantly making war unon us. and at last the
matter has become so alarming that the Hon, u.
Davis .Jndpe of this District on going from the
county seat of Cameron to that of Hidaleo. only
seventy miles. REQUIRED body guard of United
States dragons and the steamboats, are actually
afraid to nayipate the river above Brownsville.
Is there apy excuse for such condition Of affairs
Can the American Government defend itsel,
aoanst ono or botb of the cbaroes that If ia cow.
ardlv or negligent while its frontier is thus men
aced by combinations of semi, official robbers from
a matchmaking and professedly peaceable nation2
And not only do these outrages occur on the
frontier. but thew are matters of every day repe.
tition elsewhere-on the Isthmus of Tehuaptepec
On the Colorado in Mesilla, in the center of Mexi
On in Tamnico in Acapuleo. Guayamas. Vera Cruz,
and in fact wherever we come in contact with
Mexican officials we are considered fair game
for their avarce and oppression, and so long the
authorities at Washington content themselves with
protests. the evil will continue. What benefit did
Mr.. FORSYTH do to the merchants of Mexico by his
protest? What guarantee did Mr.. McLane gain by
his pompous proclamation to Miramon about the
massacre of Tacubaya? If any good has resulted
/ have vet to see it, Indeed, Mexicans are SO used
to protests that they laugh at them, and consider
the man well done for who rests his hope for salts
faction ON such useless productions.
-, ~. +ho hon5+ rort;.a