The New York herald., 1874-10-03

Ine Iollowlng interesting report with respect TO
the condition OF affairs on the Rio Grande has
reached the office OF the Attorney General in
Washington.
Governor Richard ColSe's Report from
Texas.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, STATE OF TEXAS.
AUSTIN, August 6, 1874.
hon. GEORGE d. WILLIAMS, Attorney General
United States, Washington, D: Z.
SIR-Your communication OF July % reached me
IN que time and Its contents have been duly con-
You call my attention to an order issued by me
as Governor OF Texas to Captain Remgio Bena-
ydes commanding minute company on the Rio
Grande border, requiring him, when In close pur-
SUIT Oh indian marauders or cattle thieves ior the
o cens rexa ss e
cross the Rio Grande River; and, in
o SST 20 ma 70
ties iOr breach OF the neutrality laws OF the United
States, and desire to hear from me on the subject,
by Hon. Hamilton Flsh, Secretary of State. have
to say in reply that In order TO determine the
necessary to understand the circumstances under
which it was given and the condition and neces-
issued.
NEUTRAL LINE NECESSITY.
The. Tne RIO Granae a1 RIVER tue boundary line be.
Mexico, is a narrow, shallow stream, and from
Brownsville, thirty miles rom its mouth up lord
ABLE except lor lew weeks throughout the year
river Is mostly covered with dense
thicket or chappara growth. From the mouth
OF this river up to Fort Duncan, distance or
about 400 miles, where the depredations herein
alter spoken OF are chiefly committed there are
1our stations or posts OF United States troops, the
four having in the aggregate, eleven companies
OF infantry and seven OF cavalry Fort Clark,
with eight companies Of cavalry and three of
infantry, still higher up the river, covers about
sixty miles OF the river, besides a long line OF
frontier not on the river. This constitutes the de-
tense provided BY The United states government
cavalry can be used with any effect in repelling
anu punshing the Indians and Mexican thieves
and robDers who depredate in that country. the
infantry are useless for that purpose. For twenty
hve years this border has been harasscd
rom Mezco Indians AND Msxeans 0aaS. Gov
ernof erns rou,, Houston . a.. mad to send mill
headed by the bandit Cortina. During this time
many millions OF dollars worth OF property belong
Ing to citizens OF Texas have been destroyed stolen
marauders. Especially since 1865 has it been the
case that armed bodies OF men from the west side
Of the Rio Grande are constantly coming INTO
Texas, overawtng the people ana driving of into
Mexico large herds OF cattle, the property OF
citizens or Texas At other times these parties
shoot down aud skin large numbers OF cattle and
carry on the hides leaving the carcasses to rot on
the ground They not unfrequently in executing
faMiDes-men, women and chlldren-and fire their
houses. Losses by the people OF Texas from this
dollars annually, and since lS65-to say nothing Of
losses prevlously-to many millions
LIFE AND PROPERTY,
IN the country between the Nucces anC Rio
Grande rivers, have from this cause, been made
30 insecure as to threaten its depopnlatlon and
terest, cattle and horses. The Country is spaysey
settled. and by the time few OF the citizens can
get together Tor defence and pursuit these robbers
are at or across the Rio Grande with their booty,
and, having reached this place OF refuge, they
taunt and defy the citizens of Texas, whom they
Within the last six months the invasions OF these
bandits from Mexico have become SO bold and
citizens OF Texas so extensive and alarming,
that have been compelled to call out at d
heavy expense to the State, military force for
their protection. On account OF the chapparal
thickets and brushy character the country the
RIO Grande. and the great extent Of 1t. the small
force the State IS able to keep in the field is most
effective In patroiling the country Immediately
on the river and watching the crossings where
some delay occurs in driving over the stolen stock,
and it frequently happens That the robbers are not
discovered until they have partially or wholly
crossed the river with their plunder. These dep
relations upon persons and property in Texas by
Mexcans, state as an undeniabe lact, are being
committed, ana for years past have been commit-
ted, with the knowledge and acquiescence of the
local municipal authorities on the west SIDE of
the Rio Grande and 1t is believed to be susceptible
Of abundant proof that 10 numerous instances these
and shared in division Of the booty Certain it
ls that In open daylight without concealment,
Mexlcans, in 1ull view OF the municipal officers
on the west side OF the river, constantly come
ncross the river into Texas and return publicly
with large herds Of cattle, and other property be-
longing to the citizens OF Texas, and have for
years been doing 1t without any effort by the au-
thorltles lor It's repression, when 1t was publicly
and VIGOROUSLY known that they were robbers
and had been plundering the people OF Texas.
1t Is equally certain that
THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO
mas oeen ana Is now fully informed OF the depre-
datlons committed by citizens under its jurisdc-
tl0n, and having homes, and taking refuge from
property OF citizens Of Texas and that that gov
ernmenr, Notwithstanding the enormty OF the
crimes, and the constancy, persstency and pub
have been committed, has up this time failed to
take any steps to put end to them, or 10 punish
tle criminals, or make reparatiOn TO the injured
parties III Texas
THE UNITED STATES FORCE.
The force placed by the United states govern
ment on the klo Grande border is shown by the
present condition OF tnat country, the frequency
upon it, to be utterly inadequate for It's protection.
The lacts herein recited are Of public and common
notoriety and have been brought to the attention
OIL the government ct Washington time and again
by the public press, by Tie representatives IN con-
gress from Texas, and ny the State authori-
ties OF Texas, and can be proved to be true
with any amount OF testimony. Under these cir
Cumstances, and oasing my action on these facts,
as Governor OF Texas, In obedience 10 au lmperi-
GUS necessity brought about by no dereiiction OF
duty ON the part OF Texas or her people 10 protect
citizens of Texas as far as possible IRON
BY loreign desperaaoes and '' robbers, '' i
called into the state service one nun
rivers, and issued to the officers commanding the
orders oil which complaint Is made. The portion
Of the order to which objection Is made is in these
Words ''Should the company be In
close pursuit Of thieves or marauders, with their
plunder, 1t Will follow as far possible whether
on this side OF the Rio Grande or the other having
Q due regard for It's own safety and the prospect
OF recovering the stolen property" This order
contemplates no military expedition enter
prise to be carried on against the territory or
Mexico or the people OF that country 1t simply
looks to the employment Of the small force the
state OF Texas has been compelled TO call out by
an inexorabe necessity for the protection
OF her otherwise deienceess people in the
only mode IN which 1t can be used efYec.
lively. these Mexican raids, which this
force Is called out to repel, were OF recent date
OF irregular occurrence and OF such character as
10 elude the efforts OF an ordinarily vlgilant and
energetic government to SUPPRESS and such efforts
were being made in good latin by the authorities
Oh mexico. grant in that case that to allow an
armed force to pursue even robbers for the pur-
pose OF recovering their booty, across the Rio
Srande, would be violation OF the rights OF
uOnal law.
TIE RIGHT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO
10 immunity Its TERRITORY from the tncursiOna