Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-05-29

ture any future bodies and hold them as
prisoners of war The matter did not
rest here. Secretary Fish communicated
copies OF the report to our Minister at
Mexico and directed him to lay the same
before the government of that country,
and inform them that ga full disavowal
of such acts" was expected, and that
measures should be taken for their pre-
vention. The statement and demand
were presented to. the authorities of
Mexico and an investigation promised,
pending which President Jqarez died.
and the subject, for the time being at
least, was permitted to drop, as the I'M
settled state of that country since that
time has precluded a full investigation
and reply. Thus, it will be seen, Secre-
tary Fish looked upon the crossing of
our line by an armed company of Next
can troops as violation of our territor-
ial rights and one which demanded an
explanation and apology from the MeXi-
can government. The only distinction
between the two. cases is in favor of
Mexico, in that Mackenzie was an officer
of the United States, while the Mexicans
were acting by direction of a petty of
fetal.
While considering this question we
have been particularly struck with the
brilliancy of a certain class of newspa-
pers, which, never have any settled opin-
ions of their own to express, and, there
fore gravely inform us that ''there are
several nice questions" concerning this
affair. These mice questions" are logi-
calLy and intelligently stated to be-
''The extent to which Mexico could be
held bound to protect US from the in
cursions of savages within her borders !;
whether, if she complains of our raid,
we may not offset it with legion of
cattle stealing raids from her citizens;
and whether-the Kickapoos being our
own Indians-we may not go after them
and bring them home when we want
them" The wonderful brilliancy, pro-
found learning and remarkable logic of
these mice questions, will be observed
by cursory reading of the first and
third of these niceties. The information
al question involved in this invasion, is
one that should be considered with all
seriousness, for the honor and magma
nimity of great nation are concerned,
and, as such, the United States cannot
afford, even if she wished to-whiCh
we do not believe-to resort to any mis-
cradle pettifogging to palliate, excuse or
justify this, we trust, unauthorized act
of gallant, but oyer-ZealOus and indis-
Greet officer. But seriousness must, for
the nonce be banished when considering
the mice questions" quoted. The prop
ositions, as absurd and ridiculous as they
are, can be disposed of by asking the
question whether a New York sheriff
could arrest pickpocket in Vermont,
and remove him to New York for trial,
thorities? The answer to the one ques-
ton answers the other, except that we
should punish the "Yorker by indict-
ment, trial and Imprisonment, Willie, in
the other case, war would be the only
remedy The second mice question
is nearly as preposterous as the other,
and is simply asking whether the fact
that if a gang OF Canadian burglars
should rob one of the Rutland banks
and escape with their plumber, it would
justify the United States army in march
inginto Montreal, capturing still another
set of thieves and forcibly bringing them
into this country. A wrong act, COM
mitted by one set of outlaws, can never
justify lawless acts committed by other
men, whether against the outlaws con-
cerned, or, as in this case, an entirely
distinct class of persons. If the United
States should establish the precedent that
the government was responsible for eve
ry lawless act and outrage committed
by any of her citizens, we opine she
would have her hands full in settling
damages.