Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-05-30

many oOIutI OutTdetS u6ItlOlOTt, anu mani
Tested but little if any disposition to pre-
vent them, seemed to Us, at first glance
quite improbable. But we find despatcl
from the Secretary of State, in print, whicl
distinctly threatens such an incurson. l
is as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
WASHINGTON, June 26, 1871.
THoNAs II. NELSON, United States Minister
SIR-Your despatch of the % inst. rela
tlvel to depredations from Mexico acros
the frontier Of Texas, has been received
The frequency Of those raids, the seriou
losses which they occasion and the impunit,
OF their perpetrators want grave consider
alton on the part of this government. 1t l.
presumed that any remOnstrance which NAV
be addressed to the Mexican government
upon the subject would have little or nc
effect. You may, however, say unofficial
ly) that it may become our duty, at last. IA
weigh the expediency ofpursuing the hostile
Indians into Mexico, without the consent
OF the government, if it shall not adopt
measures towards checking the robberies
referred to. | am, sir, &c.
HAMILTON FISH.
This seems to indicate that Col. McKen-
zie may have had, if not formal instructions.
at least hint that he would not be very
severely courtmartialed, if he should follow
the maraudlng Indians into Mexico.
We believe by international law, a case of
hot pursuit of one contending party by
another, across the boundary Of friendly
power, does not constitute necessarily an
act of war; though it calls for explanations.
Bu, this was hardly a case of shot pur-
suit, in which parties may be supposed
not to know when they cross the boundary.
TWAS apparently deliberatelyplanne and
executed expedition into Mexico; and if
not disavowed by our government. can
hardly fail to cause serious complications
between the two countries.
The following report of an interview wit
Mr.. Mariseal, the Mexican minister at
Washington, on the 3lst of last March. has
special interest now:
HERALD CORRESPONDENT under stand
that the American Commissioners Igho have
been investigating the Mexican outrapes
on the hlo Grande are expected back in a
lew days. Has the Commission appointed
by your government for the same object
arrived at any satisfactory conclusion?
Mr.. MARIsCAL i do not knarlw neither tba
Mexican Commissioners haze fms he'd their
Iabors, but this | knOw-tAet they have ar
rived at the conclusion shat nearly ali tbe
cattle stealing and other depredations on
the American side of the Rio Grande were
committed by hnkapoo Indians. who do
not belong to Mexico, but are part of a tribe
now living in the Indian Territory. These
kickapoos took refuge on the Mexican SIZE
during your civil war, when the Cc,red-
crates tried 30 compel them to fight acoinc.
the Union forces. They refused and fo-
;hlS many were hunted down and kilIe8
Others fed across the Rio Gra- de n Ney;eo
where they have been beha' Ing tbemsejyes
We'd enough as far as the ',Ieyiean anthori.
.ieS are concerned. T. iey have confined
Their Expectations to the American side
huer cover OF the NJ ght they would steal
~. t.ie mo HIao de, take all the cattle
ny eIu!u iay mar ds on and then recroSS
WI ' Or oooly in the same stealthy man
,.nlo Vi volIS they would dispose of the |
,.OleI eat'ie on the Mexican side; but it |
az alinos' impossible to prevent this, for
,1,.soi cattle cannot be distinguished |
- S. I T., other. If these raids had been |
i.aee our own citizens we would be held |
lns"e rable for them but a government
an only be held responsible to a certain ex-
eU for the acts of savages living in its
rrltory and committing depredations in
lelghboring country.
CoRREsfoNDEST-And possibly your gov
srhnent may repudiate all responsibility
Tor these outra ges on the plea that thew
were committed by American Indians?
Mr.. MARIscAL-That may be. There is a
grave doubt on this subject. But undoubt-
'diy the whole matter will be settled in an
iniicabe way. And here NAV tell Won as
piece OF news that negotiations are now
gong On between the two governments for
ne transfer OF those kickapoos to the In
Ian Territory, where the remainder of that
ribe Is now settled. The United States
nave initiated the matter, and the Mexican
government is in favor of it, provided the
Nlckapoos consent to leave. Negotiations
o that effect were commenced about two
ears ago, but were interrupted bv the rev
luton, and are now resumed. The New
an government will try to persuade The !
Aickapoos TO return to their tribe on the
american side. Of course We shall NOT
orce them. though we shall hold out every
ndueement for them TO do 50. 1t will per
aps DC dIfhcult task to ACCOMPLISH for {
hese kickapoos have a lively remembrance
1 their treatment by the Confederates, and 2
n that account distrust all Americans in !
c
This operation of MeKenzie's, we take it.
Eill tend to interfere both with an amicable !
e'tlement with the Mexican government
nd with the transfer of the Kickapoos. pro
'osed. lit does not cause a war. it will
fooabiy be because Mexico is too weak to
ght US.