New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-21

C1N6Lb UVEx6OS 14v0
VOLUME X.-NO. 1
Especial Correspondence Of tho Rspuhlican.l
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Mexican Qusssis.-Rspsre Of the
mexican Ber6er Ceunistee . 10 Cea-
soAered ThuFsAay-Facss In the Case
The Zona Libre-A Leng List Of Out.
rasos, lnroads, Robberies and Mur-
aero-Lieutenaae GeseFal eheridan's
Opluioa-Receunendas Of the Cen.
uiesee, etc.
WARRINGTON, April lS, 1876.
Tho Mexican question will soon engage
the attention Of Congress. Thursday, the
twentieth instant, is set fer the general de-
bate upon tho subject in tho House, but it
will probably be postponed ON account Of
the Belknap impeachment case or the sp-
preparation bills. It will, however, be
brought mp at an early day.
The special Mexican border committee of
Ave, appointed by the House last January,
and to whom WAS referred that portion of
the Presidents message which relates to
unfriendly Mexican legislation and out
RACES along tho western frontier Of Texas.
has taken evidence upon 90 much Of the
subject 20 relates to recent outrages along
the lower Rio Grande, and has made IN OK
haustive report thereon. Tho discussion
must, however, in the nature of the case,
take wider range, and include the prin-
opal acts of unfriendly legislation ON tho
part of tho Mexican government, - we'll %
tho inroads, robberies and other outrsges
committed since tho treaty of Gaudaloupe
Hidalgo of l84S.
On the twenty-eighth day Of December,
1857. the Legislature of Tsmaulipas, tho
State borderinaon the Rio Grande and the
Gulf Of Mexico, passed An act admitting
foreign goods intended for consumption in
the United States practically free of duty,
thus making the entire State smuggling
rendezvous for al who might wish to en-
gage in violating or evsding our revenue
laws. Under that act millions upon mil.
lions Of dollars worth of foreign goods were
brought into Tamaulipas ports on the Gulf
of Mexico or west bank Of the Rio Grande
free Of duty and smugeled into Texas; and
the business continues to this day.
The attention of the Mexican national
government Was repeatedly called to this
cot Of unfriendly, and to us highly ipjuri.
ous legislation on tho part Of one Of its
States, but instead Of giving 10 any salts
faction, instead Of sbrogating ct once s.lsw
% hostile to friendly nation, the Mexican
national Congress in December, 1869, con-
frmed the cot Of tho Tsmaulipas Legisla-
ture, and extended IS provisions eser hs
States Of Nisevo Leon and Coahxila.
In other words, the Mexican government,
instead of abolishing the smuggler's rendes-
vous, extended it along our southwestern
border, from the Gulf of Mexico, half way
ncross the continent, to the Gulf of Califor-
mia, constituting what 10 known in Mex
leo - ''the Zona Libre," or FREQ bolt. It
is the rendezvous for mot only smugglers,
but robbers, murdereFs, thieves and out
throats, gathered from every CLINE, to plum
der eur citizens and defraud our govern |
ment. .t..-. .....
During our late rebellion, the Zona Libre,
u Mexican towns along the Rio Grande,
free ports for the Confederates,
through which they exported their cotton,
md received in return large quantities of
munitions of war. Upon this point, the
oiAt Committee on Retrenchment, in
T. report to the Forty-Arst Congress,
n 1870, says:
"The Mexican government while pro-
eesing friendship for the United
,tstes, sympsrhised with tho rebels,
md aided them by every means in
to power. Its customs regulations facil-
tated the expectation of cotton, and
ports were blockadsd by our
it permitted merchandise and
munitions Of war imported duty FREQ into
he Zons Libre, to be transported to the Con-
ederacy. Under the guise of friendship
nd neutrality the Mexican government
i'd rs more harm during the late war than
! could have done if openly hostile, for, in
hat case, We could have easily blockaded
be mouth of the Rio Grande, and have
0mpletely cut of that great source of Con-
ederate supplies.
Since the rebellion the Zona Libre has
erved "a q base from which smuggling, |
nd every species of crime against the
Jnited States and her citisens, and their
ropefty, has been safely carried on; and
be whole community ON the west bank of
be Rio Grande has learned to look upon
and kindred crimes as legitimate
ccupation. Honest merchants all along I
he border have actually been driven out Of ]
usiness, and on the Texan eide Of the river
D honest occupation Whatever can be pur-
ned with safety.
No action was taken by Congress upon
10 report of the Joint Committee on Re-
enchment in 1870. but in May, 1877, .
int resolution passed both houses author Z
ing the appointment Of three commission !
% 1t &l0 per day each and expenses to re-
vestigate and re-report upon the subject q
thoroughly investigated by the joint .
,mmittee of the two houses of Congress 4
,ly two years before. The new oommis-
on thus created BY Congress went to y
exas, thoroughly investigated tho cub q
ct, fully confirmed the report of the icint
mmittee, snd presented in ito report 4
ng array of new inrosds. robberies and
urdsrs, but Congress took NO action. A d
pliuR that 1t would be ungenerous to 4
puble - sister republic" seemed to pre- q
Il. and tho report of the commission Of {
n was pigeonholed with tho Joint com' b
ttee's report Of swo years previous, and Q
the sixth Of January Of the present year 4
other and third investigation was ordered {
tha Housa. IN