The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-25
Filibusterism on the Rio Grande-Duty of
the Government.

From the Times.
Filibusterism has been ordinarily considered
product peculiar to state of society demoral-
lied by the institution of slavery. For the free
States we have been accustomed to claim the
credit which attaches to cheerful and unre-
served compliance with law. With whatever
else the Northern people might be chargeable
they have habitually relied upon authorized
channels for the relief of grievances, and upon
constitutional machinery for the preservation of
THEN rights. With filibusterism they have sYm-
pathized rarely and to a very limited extent.
That prospered most where slavery enjoyed the
greatest favor. The Southwest was its con-
genial field.
1t took deep root there, and ever and anon
bore fruit worthy of its origin. Without South
western license tn ere had been no Lopez expe-
dition against Cuba. Without the insolent ag-
gressiveness of slavery, the Kansas question
would have been divested OF its horrors and its
danger. And without the spirit born of slavery,
and nurtured under the influences of a society
prone to treat law as a secondary consideration,
the country would to-day feel comparatively
lii tile anxiety about the state OF affairs on the
Rio Grande. The peril there springs from the
lawlessness which, since the suppression of the
Rebellion, finds no other outlet.
The forbearance OF our citizens along the
northern frontier of the Union had ample ex-
emplihcation during the progress of the war.
Never were men more sorely tried or more per-
sistently provoked Insults and threats and
outIages followed each other in rapid success
sion. There were raids by water and raids by
land. Nothing but the regard of our Northern
people for duly constituted authority rendered
possible the maintenance of peace. They we're
incensed beyond measure; they labored inces-
sanity under consciousness OF wrong; but with
degree of prudence and moral principle for
which they cannot be too highly praised, they
lett the redress OF their grievances and the pro.
lection of their interests to recognized national
authorities. Had the lawless element which
MIR. Jacob Thompson and Mr.. George Sanders
employed for the accomplishment of their plans
found any counterpart on the southern shore of
Lake Erie, or amid the quiet homes of ST. Albans,
the probability is that war between the United
States and Great Britain would have be9n pre-
cipitated, regardless OF all consequences. Peace
was made possible only by the settled character
OF our northern frontier population.
In the neighborhood OF the Rio Grande we
have no such security. The ruffianiam which,
during the civil conflict, found ample vent in
gue rilla outrages, has for months past been con-
Centratng under a confident expectation Of trou-
BILE with Mexico. class Of men prone to vio-
lence at any time, and rendered desperate by the
overthrow OF the Rebellion, are gathered at
various points on the Southwestern frontier pre-
dared and anxious to embrol this country In
trouble with foreign power. Having the spirit
of outlaws and the recklessness of desperation,
they watch for an opportunity of provoking
hostilities. Without single patriotic impulse,
they affect a regard for the Liberal cause in
Mexico. With no object but plumber and outrage,
theY ieign indignation at the encroachments OF
France. They fancy that they see in war a
chance for retrieving. their fallen fortunes, and
they are ready to hasten It, with or without
cause.
Left to itself, this border ruffanism would not
be very formidable source OF anxiety. II
would need watching. but. nothing more. We
could afford to deal with it as rufianism should
be dealt with anywhere. And If thieves and
cutthroats choose to combine on American ter
ritory, and to pass into Mexico for the prose
cutiOn of their work, we might well be content
to leave the rest to the Mexican executioner
Whether they were caught and shot by French
or an Austrian. or a native adherenf of Maxi
milan, would be a matter of entire indifference
TO TINS country They would earn their fate
and would be left to it without murmur.
The latest intelligence from the Mexican
border shows, however much worse state o
things. The hlibusterism just now rampant in
that quarter wears the United States uniform
The thieves and cutthroats who took possession
OF Bagdad did so under the shadow of thu
American flag. The arms they use belong I,
the Washington Governments the pay they draw
comes from the Washington treasury; the of