The New York herald., 1875-07-17
IHE BORDER BANDITTL.
The Anarchy That Exists on the Line
Of the Rio Grande.
Cortina and His Thieves Paw
ing the Way for War.
Murders, Oulrages, RobberieE and Insults
by Mexican Authorities.
THE CIVIL vs.. THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES
General Hatch, Of the Army, In
dicted for Murder.
BRowNrsy111E. Texas. July 3.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, July 8 1875.
Our relations with the sister Republic OF Mex
leo has, ever since the French invasion been
sucn that 1t has required the most delicate
diplomacy on the part OF our government to avoid
an open rupture with that country and war as
consequence. The moral support gwen the Juarez
government In its efforts to drive the troops Of
Louis Napoleon out or Mexico, whittier they were
despatched TO seat Maxlmiian as the sovereign,
has, in great MEASURE, obliterated the feeling
OF hostility engendered against this, government
by the war of 1s47-s Still, there is q class OF
semi-oarbarans In Northern Mexico who. traitors
to their own constitunonally organized govern
tnem are never at rest unless they are preclpl-
tating O revolution or pilaging the unprotected
residents along the northern borders Of the Rio
Grande. Every old reader Of the HERALD will re-
call the numerous raids made into Texas by the
EoBBER CHIEFS OF NORTHERN MEXICO
since 1867; the murder or ranchers tue pilaging
OF stores and the sacktng OF towns; but few. per-
haps, have any adequate idea OF the anarchy that
really exists there. few days ago we mad the
intelligence or the arrest by the Mexican autmr-
tiles OF General Cortna the freebooter and leader
OF the Mexican cnndllle IN the North. This may
serve as temporary check upon the men who
follow his lawless lead; but II half the reports
coming from very authentic sources be true there
seems to be q necessity for our government TAX
ing through rhe State Department very strong
means 70 give Americans on the border pro-
lection and peafe.
Last spring permanent committee OF residents
OF Brownsville ana other border towns was1ormed
with Instructions to prepare full report or the
grievances OF the border residents and for
ward 1t to the Secretary Of state az an an
swer TO the misrepresentation alleged to aaave
been made by Senor Mariscal, Mexican Minister
at Washington. This committee. whose respec-
liability and DIcilities for speaking accurately are
vouched for by army officers resident at Fort
Brown. have just made their report, which has
been forwarded to Washington. we are enabled
to lay before our readers an advanced copy,
shorn IN soule places, however. OF matter not very
important Tae committee opens by reviewing
the alleged causes OF complaint on the part OF the
MeXicans against the people on this part or the
Rio Grande, Ia the encouragement OF hlIbuster-
ing. They the Texas revolution or 1885. the
war Of 1s4 SO, the revolution heaaed by General
J. NJ J. Car vajal IN 1s5o-51, known as the revolu-
tion of 81 Plan de la Loba, and pretty clearly
show that the United States hasverygenerally
ooservedi ner treaty obligations relative TO the
border. After referring TO the peace THAI sue
ceeded ttnis revolution OF 1S5o-5i the committee
take upt
THE coRTINA RAID OF 1859.
But this period OF peace and prosperity. says
the con lmittee, was destined IN the year 1859 to
come to close in consequence or an insurrec ton
IN Cam eron and the adjacent counties, generally
known as "the Cortina RAID" We now proceed to
give brief history OF this AFFAIR, which is taken
almos literally from Official documents, such as
the m essages OF Governor Houston, the reports Of
the Con- mssioners Taylor and Navarro, sent here
by Governor Houston to investigate its origin, the
ofic ial reports OF Major $. p. Hentzelman, United
sta tes Army; Hon. stephen Powers, Mayor OF
Brownsville, and mass Of other testimony pre-
seated to COnQreSs ut that time.
BY General Orders No. /. dated headquarters;
Department OF Texas. February 5. 1859. General
rwiggs, then commanding the department. or
r,ered that the post OF Fort Brown (BrownsvIllel,
RinQgoId Barracks TRIO Grande city, Fort McIn-
tosh (Laredo), as well Forts Mason and Nc
.Kavltt, hl2her up the frontier, should be ADAM
doned, and the troops Inereat removed hundreds
, tween the Rio Grande and the Eueces was
; stripped, in accordance with this order, OF
all protection and lett exposed to the lawless and
turbulent VINO always seek the frontiers Tor i'm
punity aud for opportunities TO punder that are
people ia public eenngs and their representa-
lives IN the Legislature protested IN vain agtanst
this suicidal order. Their worst fears and predlc-
uons were soon realized.
On the 2stn OF September, 1859. Juan N. Cort1na,
o bold ana turoulent man, WHO was under Ind CT
ment In cameron county Tor murder: at the head
OF an armed body OF MeXicans, numbering about
100; entered tne city OF Brownsvuie about three
O'Clock In the morning. while the whole popula-
= tion was yet asleep, and Immediately awakened
from their sumDer several innocent citizens, and
in the most brutal manner began TO shoot them
down. and in several Instances TO mutllate their
persons The band went to the county jail.
MURDERED THE JAILER
and released all the prisoners, some ofwhom were
conhned for murder and other felonles. And It
was not until several OF the most influential
.cltizens OF the neignoorlng city OF Matamoros
came across ine river and lnLerceded with Cortina
Itnat ne was induced to withdraw rom the city
when he finally did however, but proceeded with
his Daudltti 10 MS ranch about six miles distant.
ne an ms arsss
gradually increased until they numbered 400 OF
500 men-all Mexicans. In october he defeated q
al a IN fEa
the Governor, winch greatly eated his fol-
Lowers anu increased his forces. He issued two
pronunclamentOs after the most approved style
OF his mother country, claiming TO be under the
dlvlne protection OF sovereign majesty. The
people OF Brownsville were reduced TO the shame
and extremity, In their abandoned condition, OF
seeking protection from a foreign government,
ana a DOdY OF troops crossed from MatamorOs un-
der the immediate command OF General Carvajsl,
the chef OF tue revolution or La LOba. Tor. tneir
protection. THIS whoe section was q scene OF
CONFUSION and violence tie bandits OF COrtna
dominating all the surrounding country for
.Tlontbs, stopping and opening The mails, making
prisoners Of travellers, and Keeping Brownsville
in state OF siege, his forces daily increasing in
numbers. Tse whoie frontier was lad waste,
every ranch owned by Amercang being burned
and destroyed. AT length lorce or United states
troops arrived near the scene the connict, un-
der command OF Major ). J.. Helm ntZelnau, which,
with the state troops, organized aud placed under
command OF Major Fora soon drove the bandit
cnIeT up the RIO Grande TO RIO Graude city, where
he overtaken and completely routed and
driven across tie lIO Grande.
CORTISA BECOMES GOVERNOR AND GENERAL.
aThe unexpected DoIdness displayed by Cortina
. In MS raid upon brownsville soon made him one OF
tne most feared, powerful and influential leaders
! on the Mexican frontier, and In a very short
| period he rose TO tue position OF Governor OF the
| neighDorlnR Mexican state OF Tamaulipas ana 10
the grade OF br1gadler general Ia the Mexican army
Az the present time he Is the President Ol tne
| AYuntAmlento or tne nelanDOrlng city OF Mata
| morOs, the metropolis OF this frontier. HIS con
troll over the Mexican frontier Is absolute. AT the
II close OF our war; WHICH ended the lucrative cot
ton trade, upon which the Mexican frontier towns
had grown ricn, and with tRe Withdrawal or tht
French troops from Mexico, large bodies OF me1
VINO nad been lrelghuhg cotton or nRntlng the
trencn were turned loose, anu from this niateria
-GoYernor and General Cortlna has surrounded
himself witn a band OF followers devoted 10 BIZ
personal interest and ambltton and we charge
tnat tnis band OF uesperadoes aud advent turers
since the close OF our war; has oeon supported
and maintained az the cost Oi the stock raiserI
between the Nueces aud the RIO 0faude.
70 support this charge present the report
OF the United states Commissioners TO Texas
approved May 7, 1879, now on ME IL
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