New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-07

going forward are reported to have no significance
whatever, and referred to as a matter of yearly
occurrence The message will be strong and decisive
on the Mexican border question, and also on the
currency. On the lattcr subject it is en-
phatically In favor of a specic-paying policy,
and the ability of the country to return to hard
money valuations. The Indian peace policy is again
referred TO approvingly and the message indicates
that hereafter the QuartemaSter and COmmissary
Departments Of the army will have more to do with
the annuities and provisions of the Indians
THE RAIDS OVER THE RIO GRANDE.
TEXANS AND MExICANs BOTH ENGAGED IN TIE
wORK-A COMPLICATED QUESTION OF RIGHTS
AND WRONGS PREsgNTED-rHE STORY OF TWO
OFFICIAL DISCUSSIONS or THE SUBJECT
TBy TELEGRAPH THE TRrBUsEl
WAeuINGToN Dec. 6.-The Hon. john V. Foster
United States Minister to Mexico, arrived IN Wash
ington recently for the purpose Of consulting with
Secretary Fish and the President in regard to the
best method of putting end TO the chronic
troubles upon the Rio Grande frontier. One reason
why this Mexican border question IL more dlincult
of adjustment than it otherwise would be is, that
whenever our Government makes complaint to the
Mexican authorities it is net by counter COM
plaint on their part against the people of Texas.
The Mexican Government admits that its citizens
unable to prevent il; but adds that the Texans are
equally guilty, and are not punished either by the
State or National authorities. Nearly year ago
the Mexican Minister to the United States
brought the grievances of his Government 10
the attention of Secretary Fish. lie said that IN
1873 and 1874 an unusual number OF crimes and
Outrages Of all kinds were committed against the
Mexcans in the State of Texas by the inhabitants of
that State and that tie perpetrators IN the great
minority of cases remained UNPUBLISHED, either
throuzh the powerlessness Of the State authorities
or fiom some other cause still more to be hmented
He said that he had hestated to complain to the
Government of the United States until all legal re-
sources for the punishment of criminals should have
been exhausted, or until he should be reasonably
convinced that all efforts to this end absolutely
unavailng. This lie said, was certainly required by
the nrincjpes of international law. He thought he
had observed those principles in this matter with
scrupulousness which, at first sight, might seem
carried too far when the conduct OF the government
of Texas was considered, which had been VIGOROUSLY
hostile to the Mexicans
The immediate occasion which induced Mariscal 10
bring this matter to Secretary Fishs attention at
that time was the murder IN November, 1873 of
seven Mexican shepherds on a stock farm in Nueces,
Texas. owned since SCI by Don Lozano, n Mexican,
living in the State Of Nnev0 Leon. The murderers
were supposed to lie from the neighbOring towns.
According to LozanO's witnesses, il was customary
for landowners and other residents OF Texas to or
gopize for the purpose Of killing shepherds who are
accused of the crime of stealing and skinning cattle
in order to sell their hides The witnesses also
declared however, that in spite OF such alleged
savage devastation and tlefts, the Texan authori-
ties do not punish and they even expressly permit
the free sale of hides that may have thus been soen
aud In this manner encourage crime, winch they
aferward punish in illegal az II is Darpar-
ous The victims of this atrOciOus system, Marlscal
said. were usually Mexicans; and in this manner.
be was informed many unfortunate Mexicans had
boep mt to death whose relatives, through ig-
noranoe terror or some other cause do not take the
necessary steps to obtain redress pretended at
tempt 10 punish the murderers in the case III ones
ton he said had resulted in nothing, and really no
attempt had been made TO punish the crime IN
order that justice might be done the Mexican Con
sui at San Antonio hal addressed polite note To
Gov Coke who after three montls delay, replied,
admitting that "lawlessness prevailed to great
oytent in the western and border countess, and that
in some deproe it could not be reached by the reg
MAR authorities" and adding that :" this state OF
things resulted necessarily in measure. from our
form of governments" The Governor added that this
did not Justify the murderers of Mexicans,
and as A means of avoiding crimes of this
kind. which he called " infections" he advised
herdamennot to enter the State Of Texas or II they
did so, to be very scrupulous in their respect Tor
nronertv. which, lac said he was informed they had
NOD aInavs been. After such declarations az this,
Ma,isca said, seemed useless to continue to take
measures 10 obtain Justice He also complained OF
law passed by the Legislature OF Texas IN May,
1874 expelling, by implication cattle belonging 70
Mexicaps from Texas under the penalty OF cohnsca