The New York herald., 1877-10-21
BORDER COMPLICATIONS.
EL PASO COUNTY TROUBLES.
The Cause of the Mexican
Outrage.

SAN ANTONIO. oc: 0, 1871
According TO the kilograms received rather abnor-
NAL state Of affairs is prevailing Ell Paso county,
Iexas, on the extreme Upper Rio Grandc The county
officials and Judge Charles H. Howard have been in
lhe hands OF Mexican mob that threatens the lives
and property OF the American residents numbering in
all. however only about thirty souls. The only
Two places IN the county worthy OF being
salled towns, ih.ta and Eizario, at this time
Of writing in tho hands of organized
force, partially recruited the Mexican side OF the
eyer, whose watchword is "Death to tho Grngosn
Sy the latest kilograms have here Judge Howard
and his fellow prisoners have been released Howard
having gone to Mesilia from which place he will
company detachment of United States troops back TO
III Paso county, with the avowcd purpose Of restoring
law and order. The dispatches are too vague
vey TO those not acquainted with the and the
people OF Ell Paso county any intelligent OF what
Is the real cause Of this uproar-hence these lines.
COUNTY
This country which is larger than the whole state
OF Massachusetts, is situated the upper Rio Grande
about hundred miles ana nearly due west from
San Antonio, the intervening country being almost
uninhabitcd and dreary waste. Formerly the United
States post, Fort Bliss, opposite the Mexican OF
FL Paso del Norte contained small garrison, but
ing to the necessity OF contracting tho lines better
protect the frontier 1t removed last year. tho
district Is now in the military department OF New
Mexico, General Ord having no jurisdiction over
1t whatever. AS already stated, the Mexican element
predominates there being but about thirty Americans
In all, who, however, usually managed to control the
local elections. Tho importance of FL Paso county
is owing TO tho wonderfully incomprehensibe major
iites II can be made 10 cast In State elections Owing
to the time honorcd custom Of importing voters from
tho bond tiae voting population docs few
hundreds yet there is positively telling how large
vote FL Paso can POLL mnttor which Is regulated
by the majority elsewhere in the district that is
bought to be overcome. This county. owing iso-
lated position, is virtually independent empire and
she local politician who manage to control
hc ignorant Mexican voting rabbe is its Governor.
This explanation Is necessary to make it understood
Why Hon. Louis Cards and Judge Charles Ii. Howard
ire mortal enemies. This disturbance In FL Paso
county most admirable illustration of the saying
shat thero is not room for two lions in and the
Same jungle
WHO ARR HOWARD AND cARDIsp
Judge Howard Is a Virginian by birth, young man
Of magnicent physical proportions who distinguished
himself IN the Confederate army by his daring and
coolness in many battles, skirmishes and Individual
rencontres with the federal troops Some OF
has exploits were marvels Of intrepidity Although
frequently wounded his health has suffered in tho
least After comparatively brief course of study he
grnsped the theory and practice OF tho law, and
short time he became one OF tho abest attorneys at
the San Antonio Bar. He subsequently removed 10
III fasO Wnere, c0mDnlng with Cards, tho republican
regime which controlled the elections and the county
Was overthrown. Howard was rewarded-thanks IN
great measure to Cardis-by the appointments of DIS
trict judge, which was rendered him by Governor
Coke. Being very ambitious icud arose betweon
him and Caruis
Louis Cards an Italian by birth and served uude
Guribaldi as q captain. He Is experienced poliI-
clan, being man OF great shrewdness and nerve He
understands the Mexican character 10 hence
It s not strange that he command votes their
services and, perhaps, their lives such influence
does he exert over hem In the contest for political
no as nm In nia.
pendent ior the Texas Senate, and beating Howard,
who was the regular nominee. There was a light IN
the streets OF Austin which Cards rather got tho
worst OF it, and there quite difficulty at
FL Paso which resulted in Howard being indicted for
hands of the Sheriff NJ the he seized by an
armed Mexican force, tied hand and foot. placed IN a
wugon and taken TO San Elizario.
CAUSE oY THE ANfMosITY.
In the first instance the Mexicans became exas-
perated ut Howard, because he and his
Governor Is. Zimpelman, banker, Of Austin located
land certificates on the salt lakes III Paso pro-
hibting the Mexicans from taking the salt, which up
u that time had been regarded as pubic property.
Tho importance oil these salt ponds Is owing TO the
fact that there being nothing OF the kind that part
oil Mexico adjacent TO Ei Paso county, large quantities
were exported TO quite a distance into tho in.
terror; in TACT, the large city Of Chihuahua, In
Mexico, obtains It's salt supply principally from
this Besides large quantities OF this salt
arc used in INNING, II being indispensable IN the
smelling operations, by which an amalgam OF COP
been already tod and in the light of the foregoing
facts no difficulty need be experienced in thoroughly
understanding the situation. IL should be
in this connection that Cardisis the subcontractor
the FL aso mail route, keep up which the govern
mont pays former Senator from Arkansas by tho
name OF Root no less thau $4,000 per annum. The
number OF letters that pass this route is
about eight week, and the number or passen-
gers notAnore than every fifteen days The Route
In danger OF being broken up by Indians ana Car
dis has made incessant application Tor troops. Tho
friends OF Howard allege that Cards is at the bottom
OF the whole trouble he having the double design OF
causing the Mexcans 70 murder Howard and thus
get rid oil rival, and ut the same time necessitate
the sending OF troops TO FL Paso, which would assist
him In his mail arrangements. " hat foundation thero
Is in all this ~ impossible to tell ut this distance
from the scene 0i action.
AS Howard Is at liberty there is doubt II he can
obtain some assistance but that he will great
deal OF history IN short time, unless the Mexicans
disperse, OF which, however, there Is any proba-
bility.