New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-26
1red and fifty to two hundred miles in

hundred thousand horses. These cattle
are often sold in herds Of fifty 20 seventy
thousand, and as the ranches are from ten
to two hundred thousand acres il extent it
follows that the population is sparse and
the cattle in great part unprotected. 1t
seems that the MeXicans lover the bor-
der have organized expeditions for ':reiv-
ing" or 'lifting' these cattle, as the same
trade used to be called in Scotland in the
days o: William OF Deioraine. Westburn
Flat and other cattle thieves Of Scotland,
made famous by traditions and Sir Walter
Scott. Well. these Mexican expeditions
were composed Of humble! Of freebooters,
who crossed the river in separate and
small parties. made rendezvous at some
appointed place. penetrated, sometimes.
one hundred and fifty miles into Texas.
and sometimes drove off III one raid six.
teen hundred head Of cattle: The char
acter Of these expeditions was somewhat
peculiar; sometimes they were headed by
an officer in the regular Mexican army.
Indeed. General Juan y. Cortina. who
had been indicted repeatedly Cor murder
and robbery. appears from the testimony
10 have been the protector and patron Of
the cattle thieves who plundered the
Texans. The judicial authorizes Of
Matamoras protected them also by dis
missing prosecutions founded by Texan
claimants. and sometimes by taking
share OF the cattle as a compensa.
ton for the Judgment. The de-
spoiled Texans at one time established
an agent in Matamoras, and a judge agreed
to aid him in recovering lost property.
1t seems that the chief commerce of this
city consists in buying and selling the
stolen cattle, and detacing the brands on
dry hides. A judicial ruling SO adverse to
the trade of the place exasperated its mer-
chants, so the judge proposing restitution
of property robbed from neighbor was
driven forth by their Chamber OF Com
merce, We may suppose, and had
to flee to foreign parts. The
Texan commissioner, Of course. tee
crossed the river from prudential mo-
tives, for the testimony shows the assaso
sination of officers in the yevenue service
of the United States. whose testimony be.
fore the American commission was appre.
hended by the commercial men Of Mata-
moras as injurious 70 the dry hide and
beef contract business Of tina: city.
!5u: the theft o: cattle is not The only
grievance Of which the Texan frontier has
to complain. There have been yaiis by
Mexicans who passed from the reserves in
the United States to the territory 0. Next
co. and have from that vantage ground.
and, as alleged. with the approval Of the
Mexican authorities. committed murders,
carried of captives, horses and cattle. 4
schedule of indictments :or murder and
outrage on the Texas side Of the Rio
Grande frontier shows :ror: lSG'; 20 1872
the following list Of indictments: Murder.
40. assault, So: conspiracy 70 murder, >;
cattle stealing. i03: theft, robbery and
burglary. 1.3; stolen property. ). There
We're nearly four hundred cases o: felony
perpe!rated in tina. unprotected country
within period o: six years. There were
as many more which were never made :he
subjec. OF legal proceedings.
The Mexican authorities manifested
no .espec. Cor the Texans. They ma
raude! upon their territory with
i was q far cry 20 Lochar."
and the federal government: was
giving interviews 20 Nr. Jack Hamilton
and his compeers Oh the intricate cues
tons Of constitutional! law raised by these
p.rtinac!ous iiyigan.s. Texas. like some
Other States. preferred tina; :he time al
!otted by Congress for the consideration of
her interest. shoaid rather be devote! 70
the adjustment OF claims 10 Office than to
the relief of her suffering citizens. But
1ir. Jack Hamilton q Co. were ulti.
lnateiy satisfied, or Congress grew tired of
their squabbles, so that some next friend
of Texas introduced resolution in Con-
gress to inquire
l. Into the complaints that Indians and
Mexicans had, for some years past, muir
dered and carried into captivity citizens
Of Texas, and committed depredations
upon their property.
2. To send three commissioners upon
the frontiers to inquire into these facts, and
to make up and transmit reports to be laid
before Congress.
These commissioners have performed in
good part their duty, and report that the
claims on the behalf stated foot up nearly
.wenty-eight millions. The commission
ers are of opinion tina: this concerted in.
vasion and robbery is not an act Of war
on the part of Mexico. bur a violation of
the Jaws Of Texas. which that State should
pursue and punish by her own judicial
process. and perhaps by some demand Of
o: the offenders. The pr.
mary cause o: these nisdeeds the com.
mission considers :he establishment o: a
free trade territory .!on: the Rio Ggande.
md recommends.
I. \ diplomatic re:nons:rance against
Ills privileged territory: and
? 4 reinforcement: % = regimen. o:
!