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

| ico ON the people Of Texas, neaf re non.
| tier, continue. Though the main ooyect cl
these incursions is robbery, they iFeqoenuy
| rosult In tho murder Of unarmed and peace'
| ably disposed citisens, and in eome instances
| even the United States postomcec ana mNl
| communications have been attackeo. He.
have been addreesed to tho Mexican gov.
ernment, but without much apparent effect.
| Tho military force Of this government dis-
posablo for service in that quarter 10 quite
inadeauate to e6ectually guard tho line
even ct those points where tho incursions
are usually made. An experiment of IN
armed vessel ON the Rio Grande for that
purpose 10 on trial, and 1t 10 hoped that, If
mot thwarted by tho shallowness Of the
river and other natural obstacles, il may
materially contribute to the protection OF
the herdsman Of Texas.
Tho enumeration OF all the clearly proven
outrsges committed since 1869 by Mexican
robbers upon American citizens would I'LL
volumes. I win merely give few samples
from tho several official reports from 1869
to the present time. w. p. Neal and two
others, murdered by Mexicans near Browns
vile in 1869. Captain N. P. Spear, William
Robinson and John Cox, murdered by Mexi.
cans near Rio Grande City in 1869. The
sheriff of Hidalgo county, Texas, wounded,
and three Texans murdered at Grangeros
rancho in 1861. Four United States soldiers.
absent from their company on leave and
unarmed, were murdered by . party of
Mexicans at St. Martins rancho in 1864.
Tho same party wsylaid and murdered .
courier of the Fourth Wisconsin Volunteers
and shamefully mutilated his body.
DR.. Cleaveland, murdered near Browns
vile, 1870.
John Clark and Patrick Fox, murdered
in 1871.
Joseph Alexander, murdered BY ono Of
Cortina's mounted men, near Brownsville,
lS72-was shot while riding in carriage,
the Mexicans firing without the least provo
cation.
During tho month Of March, 1879, An
armed force Of Nexicans crossed tho Rio
Grande in Duvsl county, and engaged reg
ularly in killing and skinning cattle belong.
ing to Texans in the neighborhood, but fed
aeross the river, carrying some 200 hides.
upon the approach Of an armed force of
Texans. Once across the river they were
safe from pursuit.
On the eighth Of juno, 1873, the Office Of
United States deputy collector Of customs
at Carrigo, Zapata county, was robbed BY
party of mounted Mexicsns, who escaped
to their safe retreat across tho river before
IN adequate force could be organised to
resist.
And this sort Of thing has been going on
for years, and 10 at the present time worse
than ever.
Lieutenant General Sheridan says NO
force that the United States can at present
concentrate ON the Rio Grande can prevent
tho outrages unless the commanding officers
are authorized to act, to pursue and punish,
or, at least, capture the robbers. & 1t IL
scarcely worth while to send troops to tho
Texan frontier, for 90 long - tho existing
law and treaty stipulstions are IN force
they can not act when there.
As remedy for this condition Of affairs,
the Mexican border committee will on
of the present week present tho
following joint resolution in tho House,
and unanimously recommend it adoption:
Resolved, That for the purpose Of giving
efficient protection to the country between
the Rio Grsnde and the Nueces river, in
the State Of Texse, from cattle thieves, rob-
bers and murderers from the Mexican side
Of the river, the President of tho United
States be and hereby 10 authorized and re-
luired to station and keep ON tho Rio
Arande. from the mouth of that river to the |
northern boundary of the State of Tamauli-
pss, above Laredo. two regiments of cav
slry for field service in addition to such in.
5autry force - may be necessary for garri- |
Ion duty, and to assign recruits to said regi- |
nents 90 - to fill each troop to number leo |
,rivstes, and they shall be kept up to that |
'trength a. long - they shall be required |
n that service.
SEC 2. That in view of tho inability Of |
he national government of Mexico to pre-
rent the inrosds of lawless parties from
Mexican soil into Texas, the President is
lereby authorized, whenever in his judg.
nent it ehall be necessary tor the protec-
ion of the rights of American citizers on
he Texas frontier above described, to order
he troops, when in close pursuit Of the rob-
'ers with their booty. to cross the Rio
arande, and use such means a. they may
md necessary for recovering the stolen
roperty and checking the raids, guarding.
sry injury to pescesble iuhsbitants of
kexicO. g. SCHLEICHER,
L. @. C. LAMAR,
A. s. WILLIAMS,
N. P. BANKS,
&A HNRLRIIRT