New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-10-20
Affairs ~ the Border.
Says General e. 0. c. Ord, in . recent
report to Adiutant General Drum:

In regard TO expeditions after hostile In
dams, all Indisns Who come into or tempo
rasily eeeapy this State ere, and have beel
3, for years, hostile. They never come arouna
the settlsments except to rob or murder
and the peculiarly Wild, rugged and inhos
pitahle character of the immense and 81
most unknown portion of Texas, extending
from the one-hundredth meridian in . line
due west % FL PAso del Norte, . distanc<
of AGO miles, and from the Red river south
to the Rio Bravo, . distance along thai
meridian Of AGO miles, makes it next to i'm
possible, with the limited force at my com
mand, TO do more than guard Q few i'm
portsnt settlements along or near the Rio
Grende, protect the stAge routes. and Oc
hns struck ito blow and ID in full run for q
hitherto safe retreat among the recesses OF
the nountains in Northeastern Mexico.
Many of these Indians have, in years past
been driven by tho troops and Texans from
this State to the uninhabited mountains of
Mexico, whence they have carried on their
depredAtions with impunity and great pro-
can towns or villages, and returning to
Texas for more booty - soon - the pro-
ceeds of previous raids we're spent.
Some of the settlements along the Rio
Grande have been almost abandoned by the
stock rspcheros because of the want of
safety to life or property, and have had
summer camps established at two such
places for the profession of the settlers.
Tho stock interest exposed to these raids il
very large, and is entitled to consideration;
and here repeat what stated in former
report, that there is only one way of check
ing the raiders, or of recovering the stolen
property, and that is to pursue them to their
retreats in Mexico, where they can be pun
ished and the stock sometimes recovered.
They always have the start of troops sent
to overtake them while in United States
dered horses to ride-chsnging as fast az
needed-so that they nearly always reach
the river in safety, and taunt US from the
other side as they ride leisurely along. driy-
ing the stolen American stock, and some
times displaying the scalps of our people
The authorities of chihuahua have in
vited cooperation on their side of the river,
with view to rid themselves of theee
lpdians, who have not scrupled ct times to
cross the river near where they live, 90
some distance up or down, recross and
plundef On the Mexican side.
While it may seem to be none of nv
business, a. military commander to give
my opinion in the matter of the causes that
continue revolutions in our sister republic.
or to suggest the remedies for such, yet the
welfare of that, our own republican neigh |
OOAs 70 oO lutiuotciy cOuucCt6O Win our Il
own, and on her cOndition-whether one of 1
peace or war-depends somewhat the mum.
Der Of troops which it behooves us to main
tain IN this department.; go that, really. this /
is question of military importance, and I. |
therefore, feel justified in giving it as nv |
belief, that were the intelligent and patri-
otto men in Mexico land there are a good
many such therel convinced that the
United States had no Interior designs
upon the territory of that country, were
anxious not only to protect them in the |
peaceful possession Of it, but that. on no
could We he induced to &C.
cept any accession from Mexico; then, and
only until such an opinion prevails, can q
great and beneficial influence in promoting
works of internal Improvement be exerted
In that country BY our capitalists Now.
our advice and offers of aid or capital to
develop, the resources Of the country. are
generally regarded az coming from covet-
Gus, powerful and interruptions ueighbor.
rather disposed to foment their internal
troubles with view to take advantage of
them at the hrst favorable opportunity and
.eize slice of their land, than TO helm her
n her need. So much is this the cass that
10 party valuing the popular favor would
allow it to be supposed that they are
riendly disposed toward 'los Yankees"
n any enterprise that comes from
hem. lSee Cortina's proclamation &C.
,using the government of favoring
he Yankees). For the reason above
tated, have, in dealing with raids and
aiders from the revolutionary border
states OF Mexico, considered them a. the
nemies OF both repu blics, and, as the Mex
can government could not, by reason of
he disorganized condition of their border
states, control the rebel authorities when
ucn were IN power, or punish the bandits,
WouId Dc an insult to that government
we're we to consider the latter entitled to |
ne dement, OF refuge in Mexico when by
prompt use OF our troops they could be
cached. In the same spirit have ordered
hat when Mexican troops should cross the
10 Grande IN pursuit Of Indian raiders
rom this side they should be treated Az If
hey belonged to our own army.
The efficiency of republican govern.
lent IN maintaining peace and order among :
q own people depends very much on the
naracter Of the people. We can not make !
10 Mexican people anew, but as far as con
rms the opinion they hold of the United
Sates and its citizens we may, perhaps, ex-
nd our good influence by removing IN i
ere and delivered at our door for ten Z
nts the pound and sugar at three. we can i
ith advantage to US help them to make it
fe to grow coffee and sugar under their
N government and to build the railroads a
bring it to our market. Perhaps the cot. i
, and sugar planters would let US do this !
We could convince them that we will pro- :
tie our interests bv 90 doing more than if
, annexed their O. fee and sugar growing =
,tricts. Tho building of railroads across y y
, Western Texas plains would soon fol- i
=, and settle the Indian and cattle raid. o
, question. i,