New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-07-30
Special to the New Orleans Crescsnt.l ..-. ''

Special to the New Orleans Crescsut.i .-. .@
r- BROWNSVILLE. July Q, 1861.
Mr.. Fditor-The suspension of the regular steam
ship communication between this place and New
Orleans leaves in rather outof of-the-way
locality as TO communication with the outside
world and the uncertainty of the mails renders it
matter of great difficulty and still greater doubt
whether letters to and from your city ever will
reach their owners. My correspondence with the
Crescent has, on that account, been somewhat
irregular, aud even now feel as though had but
slim prospect of reaching You with this letter..
The Rio Grande frontier has partaken of more
than the usual share of eXcitements within the
last six weeks, and though matters are quiet
now, there is no telling how soon we may again be
stirred up by the Mexican banditti who infest
these unsettled borders. Cortina, Ochoa and sew
eral other desperate characters, harhor in the
adjoining States of Mexico, and when favorable
opportunity Offers, they depredate upon the pro-
perty of Texans until they are again driven cross
the Rio Grande. Four hundred Texas troops are
on this frontier, for no other purpose than to
protect the people of the State of Texas from the
plunderng outlaws who are concealed and pro-
tected by the authorities Of the Republic of Mexico
and so long allow this condition of things to
exist, without eXtradition treaties, or the more
appropriate remedy of extending our frontier to
the Sierra Madre mouutains 70 long must Texas
| or the Confederate States maintain upon the Rio
Grande force superior to the whole establishment
| the United States formerly Kept on the British
| borders.
| The blockade which Lincoln enforces against
your port is alsuhcient to shut mp this port, for
| our people heretofore traded altogether with you,
| and with New York We have not seen nanot-
war in these waters, and yet we have not seen
| man-of-peace either, for we can't go either to the
Crescent City or to Gotham. The door is shut upon
in our legitimate business as strongly as # the
harbor of Brazos Santiago itself was shut up. How
| ever, we have occasional arrivals from Europe. and
| now and then schooner comes in after sly race
from Galveston, indianola, Berwicks Bay, or some
| other seaport town. When such an event hap
pens, great is the rejoicing, and greater still the in
| uuiry for your paper, as we deVour the news with
| the avidty of an ogre.
By the way, this war will have good effect, il
strikes me, in diverting trade from New Iork to
New Orleans in many ways; but more particularly
in the matter of all European goods. Most OF the
large houses here formerly traded exclusively viii
New York and Boston, and would continue to do sc
If the Union continued but the fact of paying Gus
tOm-house duties on mportatiOns from the North
will give to the New Orleans merchant that much
of advantage. In fact, it is rumored that one OF
two Yankee concerns here will quit business. OF
account of the disadvantages they will have to labor
under in doing business with Boston. Would it not
be a good idea for yOnr merchants to make some
effort to extend their business down IN this drec-
ton? Now is good time, while all business is
partially suspended to be negotiating for more ex
tended fields of operation when the war'clouds
break away. This point has a cash trade of neal
50 goo coo annually, with prospect of heavy in
crease. Is it not worth the trouble and expense
, | secure this commerce for New Orleans?
The army on the Rio Grande is in excellent spr
it's considering the fact that the soldiers only cam
here for a short stay, and are now without money
e and most of the men without suitable change
of clothing. The term of service for which on
e volunteers enlisted will expire next month"; and
v apprehend some commotion when that time ar
e rives and they are required to remain in the ARM
Y longer. They refuse now to be mustered into tn
Confederate service, because most of them CLAIM
, that they either want to go home or to some plac
# where they can be actively employed.
t. The health of Brownsville and the Rio Grande
n excellent. the weather pleasant and the prospec
= in all respects, as good as could be desired.
is Our provision market, which created some an
ietv when the steamers were first drawn oft, is no
l. well supplied with Mexican flour and sugar, an
II | with our matchless beef and abundant veg
8 tables. We have arrivals from sea from MeXlca
e ports to the south of us and from European mart
8 Dry goods are plenty, aud as general thin
everything pursues its accustomed course.