The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-06-18

WHEREAS, II is the duty Of the ooverp.
ment OF the United States 10 protect ia c;f-
liens IN their lives, property and peaceful
pursuits against the violence and ranacifv
of organized bands Of citizens Of fogeion
government and to see that inst
compensation is made them FOR all
such violence and robbery; and whereas.
for years past the citizens Of the
United States living along the valley Of
the Rio Grande, and territory adiacent
thereto, have been subjected to oft-reneated
incursiops Of armed bands Of marauders
from the republic of Mexico, who have. BY
force, taken from the citizens Of Texas and
driveninto Mexico many thousands OF horses
and horned cattle, and have, at the same
time, murdered many citizens while attemp-
ting to defend their property; these acts Of
invasion, robbery and murder, often done
in the most open, undisguised, and defiant
manner, and, in some instances, by bands of
armed men wearing the UNIFORM and bearing
the arms of Mexican soldiers-all OF which
is clearly established by the evidence taken
by the commissioners appointed By the
President under joint resolution Of the
last Congress 70 inquire into depredations on
the frontiers Of Texas, which is fully corro-
borated by the various reports made on the
subject by the officers of the United States
army, by the customs officers, and
by the published reports Of the grand
juries of the United States District
Court for the Eastern District Of Texas.
as also by the almost daily reports by the
newspapers, Of these depredations and
whereas, Notwithstanding the action taken
by the government Of the United States In
sending commissioners to the scene Of these
outrages to inquire into them, and IN ra-
ko1 Il, ~
to the national government Of Mexico, these
acts of invasion and robbery are Declining
more frequent bold and formidable, threat
ening to deyastate that entire region 81
country, and put an end to stockgrowing.
which is its chief interest; and whereas.
from the sources of information already re-
ferred to, it is shown that the citizens 81
Texas have been despoiled Of millions Of
dollars worth of property by maraud-
ing parties from Mexico, for which acts
governments ought to be ultimately
responsible, or else to confess their
own weakness and inability to govern their
own people, and consequent unftness for
the independent relations Of nationality:
and whereas, this perpetual quasi border
warefere over a boundary inadequate as
barrier between nations, retards the growth
of our frontier settlements, and engenders
national hatreds exceedingly unfavofable To
the maintenance Of good neighborhood.
which ought to exist between Contiguous
republics, and which has resulted, in great
measure, in excluding the citizens Of the
United States from participating in the de-
sirable and profitable commerce Of Mexico.
therefore be it
ResOIOed, That the Committee on Foreign
Affairs Of this House be and they are here
by instructed to inquire into these den
relations, their extent and character. bv
whom, and under ysiaat Va o.r..s-te.a.,,cIs
committed; the amount Of damages.
as far as practicable, shown to have
been sustained by American citizens. as well
as those proven before the late Mexican
frontier commission the estimated damages
of like character which have since occurred:
and what amount Of damages to citizens Of
the United States has been rejected by
the Mexican and American ISN'T commission
for want Of jurisdiction; what other tribu.
nal and with what enlarged powers Is ne
cessary to secure the rights OF citizens ofthe
United States; what further measures and
legislation are necessary to prevent incur
sions across the Mexican frontier and give
early redress for such incursions; and also
to inquire what further measures are neccs-
sary to secure permanent friendly relations
and commerce between the two countries and
to maintain the dignity Of the United statos
government and the rights Of its citizens;
and to report the result Of such inyestiga-
ton at the earliest day practicable by bin,
resolution or otherwise.