Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-30
ON THE MEXICAN


and Kickapoo Indians from Fort Clark,
Texas, into Mexico and killed nineteen,
captured forty-two, and destroyed two |
villages. Fort Clark is in Kinney !
county, and thirtyfve miles east from
the Rio Grande. McKenzie's pursuit |
is said to have extended eighty miles. |
The Lipans haunt the region north OF
Kinney county and east of the Pecos
river. When pursued for offences in
Texas, they usually escape into Coahui-
la or chihuahua, Mexico, and remain
until forced back for outrages there.
The account OF the affair as given in
dispatches from San Antonio, Texas,
is substantially as follows: For months
past Lipans and Kickapoos have made
raids across the Rio Grande ard rob-
bed and murdered American citizens
at will. Their camp was within the
territorial limits of Mexico, and it is
said that they have been joined by
large numbers of Mexican marauders.
The cattle stolen by them have been
sold to Mexican rancheros. The fire.
quent and bloody incursions of these
savages have created great alarm all
along the frontier, and it appears that
General Mckenzie at length resolved
to follow them to their camp near the
Santa Rosa mountains, on Mexican
soil, and strike a blow that would put
a stop to their incursions. According
~, ON the 18th instant he started at
the head of the Sixth cavalry, six hun
bred in number, with trusty guides,
crossed the Rio Grande, and by
forced march of eighty miles into Mex
ice, reached the camp of the savages
at early dawn and made an attack
The Indians, taken by surprise, offered
but slight resistance. Many fed to
the mountains. Nineteen of their
warriors were killed and about as many
wounded. Forty squaws were cap
tured, and hundred horses, together
with much other stolen property, were
recovered The loss of the troops was
one killed and two wounded. Gen.
| Mckenzie re-crossed the Rio Grande
with his prisoners and the re-captured
property, and returned to the fort. 1t
! is said that the troops were fired on
| by the Mexicans while re-crOssing the
Rio Grande, and that great excitement
prevails on the Mexican frontier.
What ting result of this invasion of
Mexican territory will be, can not be
safely predicted just now, unless it be
true, as has been reported, that the act
was authorized and will be supported
by the President We confess that to
us it seems exceedingly probable that
the commencement of open hOstillties
with Mexico will not long be post
p-ned. 1t is true, the President has
no right to declare var or TO make war
with a foreign nation, but these are
days i'll which the right is not SO much
looked to as the power. Especially IS
this the case with President Grant.
4 very slight intimation from Head
Quarters, doubtless, would have been
sufficient to induce General Mckenzie
or any other Federal officer, to cross
the Rio Grande in pursuit of a party
of marauding Indians, even though al
outrage was committed against peace
ful foreign nation. 1t is scarcely to be
supposed however, that an officer OF
General McKenzie's rank and expert
ence, would have committed what he
must have known to be so grave an
offence without some assurance that
his position in the army would not be
thereby endangered. Hewould scarcely
have followed a band Of thieves across
the border if he had supposed he would
be casliered for doing so.
We take it, therefore, that the inva-
sion Of Mexican soil was made with the
consent, if not by the order, of Presi
dent Grant. II this be true, it may be
assumed that it is the Presidents pur.
pose so to cOmplicate the situation be.
tween Mexico and the United States as
to make open and acknowledged wal
the only solution OF its difficulties.
We have little doubt that there is
just cause for complaint on the part OF
the United States against Mexico. II
may be questioned too, whether 6
small war will not work to the advan.
from selfish not to say amean, stand
point.
The average Northern man will say
to himself, the United States has never
ended quarrel with Mexico, bu
with taking a liberal slice Of territory
it may be doubted whether the mex
quarrel will be healed with n slice
merely, whether the lesser Republic
viii not be swallowed up in the greater
we are strong and Mexico is weak
The average Southern man will say
to himself, if Mexico shall be "an
neXed" to the United States, the
leeches who have SO long been sucking
the likelihood from the South, will
loose their hold here and fasten them
selves upon the fresh victim offered tc
their Unsuitable maws. The military
of course, want war. The chances are
therefore, it would seem, that the ac
Of General NIcKensie will not receive
severe censure either from the public
or from the Government
However this may be, the act vii
lead directly and inevitably to war
unless it is disavowed and an apology
rendered for it,
THEE WAR RECORD OF NORTH
CAROLINA.