Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-05-28
The Mexican Frontier.


The recent events on the Rio Grande ex
cite conflicting emotions. The settlers OF
our southwestern border, seeing the prom
Use of security to life and property, and 10y
ing their lives perhaps unduly, are highly
pleased. Those versed in the mysteries OF
statecraft are, on the contrary, panied and
hurl ponderous tones on international law
at the heads of Col Mackenzie and those
who sustain his action. They have plenty
Of ammunition for the writer's upon that sub
Ject sustain their position, with perhaps the
exception of Bynkershoeck who thought
phlegmatic old Dutchman as he was, that
when his " blood was up" he had the right
to chase his enemy upon his neighbours
grounds.
The Kickapoos, tribe of far from model
Indians, were removed from Illinois to Kan
sas several years ago. During the rebellion,
frightened by the bugbear of draft, great
part of the tribe went south into the Indian
Territory where the Confederates drove them
still farther on. At length they crossed the
themselves conveniently near our Texan from
tier. From their new home they have made,
at various times, raids into Texas, killing,
stealing and doing what mischief they could
lay their hands to. Sometimes the Lipans
Joined them and very generally their booty
was disposed Of to Aexicans.
Our Government made representations to
Mexico and urged that such action be taken
as would stop these depredations, asking
finally that our troops be allowed to pursue
the Kickapoos and others into the Mexican
Territory. The answer was that the Presi-
dent of Mexico had no power grant this lib
erty, the matter lying within the power of
their Congress. But the proposition was
well enough received otherwise. In 1871
Secretary Fish announced that it might be-
come necessary to do the very thing that
Col. Mackenzie has done, if the Mexicans did
not, themselves, put stop to these raids.
All this brought nothing better Kiclza-
pOos and Lipans forded the Rio Grande and
stole and carried off their plumber at will
Two weeks ago another raid was in progress
and Col Mackenzie of the regular army, in
command at FOIt Clark, determined to take
effectual measures to break up the perform
ance. With six hundred cavalry he started
on the 18th, and in two days reached the
Kickapoo camp, eighty miles beyond our
lines. Attacking it he killed nineteen war
riors wounded as many more, captured forty
squaws and retook one hundred horses which
had been stolen. This expedition into Mexi-
co to break up a nest of mauraders is what is
so violently condemned as an uniustifiable
breach of international law.
The theory that the territory of one coun-
try should be held inviolate from the en-
trance of the troops of another is a very good
one, supplemented by the fact that the coun-
try, whose territory is so held sacred, pre-
vents raids from that territory and holds it
self responsible for all injuries that occur
from any such raids when they shall happen
in spite of its vigilance, But in this case
Mexico is either powerless to prevent these
incursions or is grossly derelict in failing to
do so. In this condition of affairs the die
tate of common sense is to put stop at once
to the border murderings by just such decis-
i've steps as those taken by Col. Mackenzie
The Mexican Minister at Washington, if re-
ports are correct, takes a very sensible view
of matters and thinks that his Governm ent
will consider the expedition as no insult to
h,,fo tho oh e -
posing of troublesome matter. We do not
see why there should be this extraordinary
" loneliness about the sacred soil Of an
almost uninhabited and certainly uncivilized
region. The rules which are said to have
been violated, were those made in thckly
populated regions and should be given rea-
sOnable modification when brought to oper-
ate in territory hardly yet in the control of
the power to which it belongs. Certainly, if
our Arizona Indians should make regular
raids upon Mexican settlements and our Gov
eminent should fail to have troops enough
on hand to keep them quiet and harmless to
their neighbors, it would be the greatest of
folly to consider our national honor insulted
if Mexican troops should pursue the Culprits
to their haunts and save themselves from
disturbance and murder, without waiting for
the tying and untying of endless quantities
of red tape. We should rather thank our
neighbors for taking an unwelcome Job of
our hands.
But it seems to be a source of great
grief to some of our learned countrymen
that, by this summary operation, Mexico is
" entitled to demand an explanation. o.
course she is, and what is the hurt Of giving
one? The whole affair was the cheapest anc
best solution possible both to ourselves anc
to the great body of the Mexican people. The
only parties injured, are the Indians whose
reckless career was so suddenly stopped ant
the few "greasers'' who made profitable traf
fc in stolen property. We think the Mexi
can government will, if it asks an explana
ton, be satisfied when it shall be made anC
that they will show themselves sensible men
as their representative has already DONE
France.