The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-27
THE REIGN OF TERROR.
Mexican Officials Legalizing Theft
and Murder in Texas.
REVENUE OFFICERS KILLED.
Juarez's Refusal to Remove
COrtinG.
THE CRY FOR PROTECTION.
TELEGRAM 10 the new yoaK HERALD.

TELEGRAM 10 the NEW York HERALD
The HERALD correspondent in Brownsville
has forwarded us the following special de-
spatch:-
BROWNSVILLE, Texas, March 26, 1872.
The United States District Court, Judge
Morrell presiding, being the first federal Court
held here for several years, has concluded its
session.
The Grand Jury indicted the Mexican gen.
eral Cortina, for levying war against the
United States, and made presentment of the
facts of armed bands of Mexican raiders steal
ing cattle on the Texas border, for the pur-
pose of securing protection from the United
States government
THE CHARGES.
The presentment states that it is proven
there has existed since the year 1866 depre-
datory war on the frontier, waged by an
organized band in Mexico, acting under a
Mexican general and commanded by officers
Of the Mexican army. The Mexican officials
civil and military-have taken part in these
hostile operations, and by their acts legalized
murder and robbery.
A reign of terror exists between the Nueces
and the Rio Grande. The informers are
threatened with the penalty of death, 80 no
names of the witnesses have been made pub
lie. The Mexican markets are open for the
sale of stolen cattle, and the tax on them is
regularly and knowingly levied by the au-
thorities
CoRTINA's MIsDEEDs.
The presentment then refers to the appoint
ment of Cortina as an officer Of high rank in
the Mexican army, which has been an encour-
agement for murder, theft and treason in
general Cortina has levied war on the
United States, murdered citizens and soldiers
and robbed mails. President Juarez has
been petitioned to remove him, but he has
refused to comply with the request. 1t is fur
Their stated that Cortina's command are always
mounted on stolen horses.
The evidence shows that since the close of
the American civil war, on an average, 5000
cattle have been stolen monthly, the value of
which is estimated at $6, $780, 900, not in
GLIDING the depredations committed by the
Kickapoo Indians, who are Mexican citizens.
REVENUE OFFICERS MURDERED.
The Revenue Inspectors Dapont, Ham,
mond, Phelps and Mclaughlin have during
that period been killed by the bandits. Others
have been assaulted and detained as prison.
ers. Indeed, all the revenue inspectors along
the border are in great peril Of their lives.
The presentment further states that the
inhabitants have for years suffered all the
horrors of war without the security Of its
civilized usages. 1t suggests the necessity Of
stationing an efficient force of United States
cavalry on the border as the only remedy for
these evils.
THE PREsENTMENT ENDORSED.
Judge Morrell and General McCook fully
endorse the statements of the presentment.
The former has addressed a communication to
the Senators of Texas reiterating these facts
and asking for relief, while the latter has made
an official report to the United States govern
ment In support Of the proposed measure.
There have been number of convictions
for smuggling and for violations of the Inter-
nal Revenue laws. Judge Morrell exercised
clemency in sentencing the offenders, as the
federal laws on the Mexican border had been
neglected 80 long that such crimes, by COM
parison to the depredations of the Mexican
raiders, had come to be regarded as venial.
He warned them, however, that hereafter
the laws would be rigidly enforced.
rvururNd TN rpNNpqcEp