The Mesilla Valley independent. [volume] (Mesilla, N.M.) 1877-1879, 1877-11-03
PROM Ell PAsO COUNTY.
SAS ELEzARIo, Texas.
Oct. 25, 1877. I
EpIT0R MEsrIIA INDEPENDENT,

MEsnIA, New MEXICO;
SIR: Up to the present time numerous
and conflicting accounts Of the sedition in
this county have been sent of and published.
Some representing the disturbance as Of a
serious and dangerous ckRFacteF; while Others
assest that IT does not amount 10 any Thing
serious, and that all excitement would soon
cease, ard quiete be restored.
Your correspondents, who hare been In
the midst of the disturbance from the COM
mencement, consider II Of grave and dan
gerous character. For many daxs the nexa-
Iutiouists have been holding almost nightly
meetings in secret. 1T which we. and the out
side world do rot know shat is prUVSy,seJi. or
what transpires. Day before yesterday they
sent three delegates from each Of the four
precincts IN the county tn county meeting.
or so called convention, held at Ysleta the
county seat ~ which il was determined TO
compel the County Judge to resign, and TO
appoint another COanty Judge in his place
At the dictation Of the mob, in their interest
and obligated to perform the will Of the re-
volutionists The conditions to he exaeted
of the new Judge weec. than RE ahould pro-
secnte Judge Howard with the utmost FigoF
fer the killing Of Cards, and take NO steps
towards prosecuting the rioters. AT fhe
meeting we are informed TINT these was
quite large attendance Of outsiders. msstly
sympathizegs with, or members Of the revo-
lutionary organization paEisg the progress
Of the meeting ono gentleman got up. and
calling the attention Of those present, said
. You must remember gentlemen that you
are Amerc1n citizens :" Immediately near
ly the whole meeting jumped to their feet
and exclaimed excitedly No. Nol We are
not American riitizeusa We are Mexicznx ts
the death.
The reyolutionists are frequently heard to
say that they will pay DO more taxes, that
the53 viii be a-ta fools no longer, and
that the government hereafter May support
itself These facts show the temper and
animus Of the mob There Is no power in
the county TO enforce the laws, the taxes
cannot be collected, and the civil officers Of
the county cannot perform their lawful du-
ties when they come in conflict with the
views and will Of the mob
Although there are none of us against
whom these people have any serious personal
prejudices. yet heing Americans. cur situs-
ton here in their midst, without any protec-
tion Whatever We regard as being extremely
critical and dangerous, There are only 0
Americans in this town, with a population Of
about 1900 Mexicans. In case var was to
break out suddenly with Mexico, and all
know the prccaFious condition OF our rcla-
tions with that Republic, We do not know
dredls Of men ON the other bank Of the Rio
Grande Of the peIado class. besides our own
disaffectcd, who are prepared and waiting for
war to commence, to make raid on this
county; and II is impossible to tell, judging
from the character of that class, and their
strong national prsjadiccs, to what lengths
they would go. Although they might not
massacre as, that they would rob Hs there Is
scarcely doubt
Our State and general government hare
hitherto manifested singular apathy and
indifference 10 our situation Besides the
ol,ligatinn Of thr government 10 protect her