The New York herald., 1872-10-11

OOiOnel TnOm6S +. hOOD Oi GcOrBia, Anu MAJOR
Richard II. Savage, Of California, members OF the
Border Commission, arrived here this morning
from Brownsville. Texas, and during the day called
upon the President and had q long conversation
with reference to their late investigation into Mex
lean outrages upon our citizens in Texas and their
forthcoming report. They are to meet the Prest-
Gent again tomorrow. the conference to-day being
interrupted by the pressure OF other business upon
the Executive. Mr.. Fabius j. Mead, OF Mississippi,
the other Commissioner did not accompany his
colleagues TO Washington. bat will rejoin them here
after spending two or three weeks at home, in
Natchez The Commissioners, who were ap-
pointed by virtue OF an act passed during
the late session OF Congress, left New Orleans
for the Rio Grando frontier on the 4th or July and
remained there till within the last two weeks.
They sat at Brownsville, Rio Grande City, Ringgold
Barracks and Rockport, and have brought back as
the result Of their labors and In addition to vast
fund or personal information q great quantity OF
testimony, taken chiedy in border Spanish and
reduced to English by themselves with the aid OF
the army interpreter az Fort Brown. The earlier
part OF this testimony relates to the general state
OF affairs along the Bravo as the Rio Grande is
locally designated, and the responsibility OF Mexi-
can officials OF all grades therefor. The rest con-
sttutes the ample proof OF small part OF the in
dlvdual losses or the Texan rancher0s that Mexico
In some manner win have to pay.
C0RTINA AND THE HOME or THE CATTLE STEALERs.
The country between the Bravo and the Sierra
Madre, varying from twenty-five to seventy-ave
miles in width, and c0nst t.tutng what Is known as
the Free Belt, Is the home of the cattle steaers,
who enjoy the powerful protection OF General Juan
Cortina, or the Mexican army, who has large
ranches on botn sides OF the river though he does
not venture to visit his Texas property In person.
COrtna was retired from active service by his
government some two years ago, at a time when
the HERALD was directing public attention to the
injuries inflicted on citizens by his banditti
measure which, though intended to rel..s7e the
government from responsibility for his acts,
aorded no re...ef to the plundered Texans. He has
lately been again assigned to service, and is under
to collect and guard beer cattle for the Mexican
troops who are short Of supplies IN uvsequence OF
the severe drought OF the past summer. nersS.~
reason 81 hs g. pa2opason TuH ShSan0SFHns Of Himself
the various State and municipal officers in
,he profits Of the plu,nder from from Texas the
from the moment they reach their own side OF the
river with the stolen herds OF horses or beeves.
Comparatively little stock being raised on the
Mexican ranches, whose owners are mostly poor
and lazy and the Mexican revenue system leyying
aSties on exports only, the ireebooters have a
and his property to Maramoros or Camargo that a
show or administering justice Is made by the
Alcalde, but the stolen cattle are never recovered
nor the robbers ever punished.
TIE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT POwERLEss.
1t Is conceded by all with whom the Commission
ers have conferred that the central government Is
powerless even If well disposed. SO that the dspo
stion OF that government Is not regarded as being
a question OF much practical consequence. The
only effective aid that 1t could give towards the
suppression OF the depredat!ons would be to grant
the repeated application OF our own government
for permission to follow the marauders into the free
belt whenever their trail was struck by our troops;
and these requests 1t has always refused or evaded.
IL Is understood that as a measure OF immediate
relief the Commissioners will urge the picketlng of
the river by larger cavalry orce than the detach-
launches to be kept on the river as
part Of the customs establ shment. But such
remedy Tor the present insecurity OF life and prop
ery; and the Commissioners will In all probability,
fall in with the popular demand in Texas for the
extension OF our frontier from the Rio Grande to
the Sierra Madre, including the mountain itself,
which Is reputcd to be plethorc in gold and Silver,
and which, If we only held the base, would still
anord safe refuge for the handful
INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT.
The commissioners are not very communicative
concerning their interviews to-day with the Pres-
dent and the secretary Of State, but they seem
exceedingly well pleased with the reception given to
and intimate that, SO far they are concerned, the
hopes OF indemnity and security raised by their
presence among the people Of Texas Will
given to the report they to prepare and submit
for the Information OF Congress on their return from
brief visits 10 their homes. The economical organ-
zation OF the Commission for whose expenses but S8
600 were appropriated, afforded them neither secre-
tary, stenOgrapher nor Interpreter in consequence
OF which all the work of collecting information,
hearing testimony and reducing it to writing ,ell
upon themselves, and their detailed notes are not
as full as might be desired.
PEELING on THE BORDER.
The prevailing hope OF the settlers that they may
return to complete their investigations, will prob.
ably be taken into consideration here, and should
they go back for that purpose the President may
conclude to withhold any decisive action or recon-
mcndation to Congress Till further evidence
and information secured. But the
Commissioners themselves are confident that the
policy instituted IN the passage OF the resolution of
Congress under which they were appointed will
not eventually fall to materially advance the sou-
tion OF our pending Mexican question, and they
acknowledge the great services OF the HERALD and
other journals In evoking public sentiment to the
supporI OF wnatever proper Steps may De taken Dy