New-York tribune., 1876-03-02
RIO GRANDE CATTLE RAIDS.
RETALIATION THE ONLY CURE.

| FORTHCOMING REPORT OF MR. sCHLEICHER5 COM
| sITTFE-wHY THESE RAIDS CANNOT BE PRE-
| VENTED BY ANYTHING But FoRCE-TBFiR AFRO
| CITY AID EXTENT-A REIGN OF TERROR ON THE
| BORDER GEN. oRD's AND CONSUL ULRICHs 8
| TESTIMONY.
fFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE !
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The Special Com
mittee OF the House. OF which Mr. schechei Is Chair
for the investigation Of the chronic troubles on the
lower Rio Grande border. having completed the exam
nation Of witnesses obtained permission OF the House
yesterday to print the testimony 1t has taken Mean
time Mr. seheiehe who from his long residence on the
frontier is thoroughly familiar with the subject VIII not
wait for the printed evidence, but will at once prepare
| draft of a report 70 submit to the Committee
| at early meeting for its consideration. In
this report Mr. schlecher will probably take occa
sion to correct misapprehensions In regard TO
the attitude Of the state Of Texas toward this very iu
portant subject IL will be thown that the people VINO
have suffered and st suffer- from the constant raids OF
MexcaDs into Texas not now asking Congress to re-
munerate them for Losses which they have already su
ered. What they do ask OF Congress, and what they
think they have right TO demand is future protection
They have desire for declaration OF war against
Mexico They have been for 10 state worse than
and they ask the Government to take measures TO
preserve the peace The idea Of annexation OF any pot
on the Mexican territory is also entirely repugnant
10 them II that territory could he acquired without the
people who inhaht 1t, such an acquisition might meet
with the approval of those living the border but the
necessity OF absorbing into the POPULATION OF Texas,
should annexation take place. these thieves and murder
rs, and the possibility of seeing Gen COrtina or some
other Mexican Of equally bad character and reputation
representing thc the Congress OF the United states,
would make the annexation Of tie Free Zone an intensely
unpopular measure In the Southwest
II seems 10 be the almost unanimous opinion Of an
those who have had opportunity 10 observe the con-
ditlon Of affairs the Mexican border, and have given
lain uhx
In which the raids into Texas be stopped by au-
thorlzng Unitd States troops when in actual pursuit OF
cattle thieves TO the river into Mexican territory
aud there punish the guilty their own soil 1Lis
been suggested by Secretary Fish In his dispatches
to United states Minister to Mexico by Gems Sheridan
and Ord by Capt McNey, now in command OF the Texas
state troops frontier and by every citizen of that
ho has given his testimony before the Committee.
The proposition give such authority to commanders OF
our troops does not show desire the part of any OF
these gentlemen that the United states shall make war
upon Mexico, violate her territory, or commit an mdg-
nifty against her nation. It, object ~ simply to Sc
cure adequate protection to our own Citizens when IL
seems impossible to secure in any other way.
THE sAGACIiY OF PR )MPr ACTION.
Mr. scheicler viii probably urge that whatever is
done shall be done at once, order to prevent more
serious difficulties in the future The evil is growing
several years ago the raids were not as numerous
IA they now and would have been easier TO check
cross into Texas with mpuniGy, tnat the business OF
cattle stealing profitable aud comparatively safe
one hundreds and thousands induced to engage in
IT, Every year the number of tn SO increases ana the
problem OF devng the means OF protecting our terri
tory from invasion becomes more and more dincut 10
solve.
While the people OF Texas have thus far shown
defu forbearance, and have not to any extent been
guilty Of acts of retaliation it is unreasonable to sup
nose that they will always be patient, AMI II is loared
mat II Coryrcss does take immediate action the
people OF that who have suffered 80 long viii take
matters into their own bauds. Should they organize ex
petitions and cross into NJ rco they may not conine
their acts OF hostility who have been guilty OF
lawless acts or engaged in maraudng expeditions, but
may burn cities towns, and innict severe punish
ment upon all classes OF people Sucn an event as tbls
might bring about complications with Mexico which
would cost us trouble and expense Than any
measures Of protection which are now asked for
NO INVAsIoNs EXCEPT BY MEXIChNs.
Among papers relating to the Mexican border troubles
furnished 10 tue Committee by the erctary Of sate is
letter written in April 1879, by Mr. Ulrch United States
Consul at Monterey Mexico. Mr. Uirch notices at some
length the reports that Texans in the habit oi cr0ss
ing into Mexico aud committing depreations there, ana
says these reports wholly untrue There are no or
ganized bodies Of Texans, Texas MeIcans deredat
ing on the southern side Grande and he adds
that hear Of any stealing on that side by In
divduas from Texas In fact the Mexican side Oh the
river is too poor offer ay Inducements To thieves He
saws that hero can be doubt that the raids into Texas
are entirely owing to the dernOralized condition 0 the
masses of tue people u the State Of Tsmau-
hpas and to the class Of men who hold Of
hte there. From Laredo TO El Paso no raids
occur from Mexico into Texas and there really very
few persons in the State Coahula who disposed to
I've guilty Of such conduct. About Eagle Pass there ls
kind feeling between the People on both sides OF the rYe
and that the only point where any considerable num-
ber OF persons living the border between Laredo
and FL Paso The State OF Tamaupas alone, he says,
from Laredo down, furnishes the material for the raids
and the killing of less than 200 well known seoundr's i'll
that State would lie believes put entire stop to them
The Mexican Government can never apply this
remedy. No regular Mexican Government troops can DC
stationed the line; they desert en mdsse and cross
into Texas The officers know this and always keep the
regulars away from the foner Volunteers, or irregular
recruits from the state Tamaulpa could be kept on the
line There s however, reason which MAKES IRIS lu
practicable. Five hundred volunteers taken from the
ranches Of the frontier armed aud mounted would be
DANGEROUS body the General Government A. in case OF
political disturbances always possible IN Mtheo' ihe'
would the nucleus for army to assist any reVo
lutjonary chief 10 carry his schemes Tue General
Government Of Mexico therefore poweress TO act IN
the matter.
ISCoRkTGIBLE TRAITS OF THE hExiCANs.
In regard the proposed occupation OF Nex1ean ter
ritory by United States troops, Mr.. Ulrich says:
would not for moment be considered from this sug-
geson as having the least desire 10 bring about per
80 wou d. Ia my opinion, be about equal to cngrafps
cancer human body, or reducing our country TO te
condition OF q sufferi' x from heinorrn0ids, VINO,
although not likely to die from IT, Is neVerthelessFety
uncomfortable.
In reply to the report that Mexican Minister accuses
the Texaus and especially eAConfederates OF crossing
into Mexico, Mr.. Ulrch says:
Such statements constantly published In Mexican
newspapers, and urged by Mexican orators who iahe