Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-10

The Texas grand jury, which has been con-
sidering the Mexican cattle thieving raids, in
cludeS in its report the following statements
I and recommendations:
"a reign of terror is proven to exist between
the Rio Grande and the Nueces. Mercenary
| bands of maraudars-MeXican officers and sol
diers, and Mexican outlaws aud bandits-have
! been for about seven years holding a saturnalia
OF crime, violence and rapiue upon the soil of
| Texas. They have denounced the penalty Of
| death against any who may become informers
| They have already sacrificed life upon mere sus
pciOn as in the case OF young Cleveland of
| San Antonio and others. Should our reauest
| lin regard to the suppression of the evidenced
be unheeded, the lives of the witnesses would
| be taken with certainty and without remorse
"The evidence submitted iisliies the declara-
| ton that predatory war has existed on tbis
| frontier since 1865; that it has been waped nv
men organized in Mexico by Mexican soldiers
acting under orders of a Mexican general and
commanded directly by officers of the Mexican
army; that the authorities of Mexico-civil
and military-have countenanced aided and
supported these hostile operations; that the rob
berry of our citizens has been legalized so far as
the acts OF Mexican officials could legalize muir
der, robbery and other criminal outrages: that
the markets Of Mexico have been used openly.
publicly and shamelessly to effect the sale Of
property robbed from the people of Texas; that
Mexican officials, merchants of that and other
natiOnalitieS, and all classes of Mexicans have
bought and sold cattle, hides, horses, and other
property stolen from the people of Texas, aud
they have done so knowing they have been dis
honestly obtained; the custom house and NUM-
cipal authorities OF Mexico have pTofited 10y the
piratical acts of Mexican soldiers and highway
men, and q tax has been levied upon cattle
which they knew had been taken BY armed
bands from tue rightful owners; that the people
ON the Mexican side of the Rio Gtande consider
ana treat the Americans as enemies; they claim
the country between the Nueces ana the Rio
Grande, and express a determination 10 drive
the Americans from it.
Among the grievances of which the people
justly complain, there is none more gaIIinm than
the sending of Gen. Juan Nepomuceno Cortina
to this frontier II may be truly said that he
has written the history of his career on this side
OF the Rio Grande in letters of blood and fire
The criminal who stands charged upon the oaths
OF twelve men, good and true, of murder, theft
and treason; who levied war upon the United
STATES, murdered its citizens and soldiers and
robbed its mails; who laid waste one hundred
and twenty miles of frontier, and who now oc.
cupieS the double position Of ranking officer Of
the Mexican army upon the line of the Bravo
and ranking COW and horse thief on both from
tiers, has been retained on duty against the pro-
test of Gen McCook, which was communicated
to President Juarez. His retention is deliber-
ate, willal and studied insult to the government
OF the United States is officers and people.
'It is believed, from the evidence and from
other reliable authority, that since the close of
tue civil war IN this country there has been an
Texas monthly and driven into Mexico, and
this estimate is confined TO the lower Rio
Grande The total number is estimated at 42O,-
600, and the actual value at $4,000, 600. This
does not include losses accruing from the depre-
datons OF the kickapOO lndans--naturalized
citizens of Mexico. The loss of life the sense
of insecurity, the decreased value of property,
the paralyzation of business and the moral
effects resulting from this war cannot be est
mated. Some OF these defy tue sordid valua-
ton Of dollars and cents.
"Ghe grand jurors would respectfully call at
tentiOn 70 the assaults which have been made
upon officers Of the United States government
while in the discharge of their duties, 10 the
threats against them, to their fOreible detention
and TO the distinctions preventing them from
performing their. duty; and all these acts are
shown to have been done by raiders, with the
approval and protection of the Mexican author
tiles.
This depiorable state of affairs, this loss of
life and property, and the misfortunes which
have, in manner, crushed this frontier, have
resulted from the want of au adequate force of
cavalry 10 cover and protect the inhabitants of
the Rio Grande valley
"A mounted force, properly handled, which
could follow mauraders into the Businesses of
the chaparrals, pursue with Parthian vigor and
perseverance over the broad prairies, could give
protection, and roll back upon Mexico the wave
OF invasion. That nation 10 aborng under tbe
incurable disease of chronic revolution. Its
masses have become demoralized by half q cen
tnry of war, and internal commissions and dis
| sensions, The advance of United States troops
on the line of the Lower Rio Grande in 1859, re-
suited in the CortiGa war The absence of
| cavalry force capable to protect this frontier
| mas invited the attacks of our hostile and ag-
| greSSlVe nelghbors; and the pillage of q Terri
| tory covering not less than sixty thousand
| square miles are the traits Of the omission"