The New York herald., 1877-10-03
The News from the RIO Grande.

We have Mt last a perfectly authentic
account of what took place during the ex-
cursion of Lieutenant Bulls across the Rio
Grande in the latter part Of last week. The
sensational reports of the San Antonio news
papers are exploded, which is a great relief
to those who feared that blood had been
shed in IN encounter between American
and Mexican troops. Fortunately, there
has been no conflict of arms between the
soldiers Of the two republics, but this
seems to have been more due to acci-
dent than to any lack of n hostile dispo-
sition on the part of the Mexican troops.
Lieutenant Bulls expected to overtake and
capture an Indian encampment OF whose
location his superior officers had been ap-
prised. He crossed the Rio Grande with
something less than hundred men, but his
Mexican guide betrayed him by sending
word to the Indians and enabling them to
destroy some Of their booty and escape with
the greater part Of the rest. The conse-
quence was that Lieutenant Bulls sue
cecded in capturing only four squaws and
boy, with few stolen animals. Oar army
officers in Texas evidently had no confidence
in the friendly disposition of the Mexican
troops, for Colonel Shafter, with seven COM
panies of cavalry, crossed the Rio Grande
soon after Lieutenant Bulls and put himself
in O position to support Bulls and bring him
safely off in case of disaster. The reason
assigned by Colonel Shafter for this strong
supporting movement is that the Indian
camp was close to Mexican town contain
ing two hundred Mexican soldiers. OF
course those Mexican soldiers were pre-
sumed to be hostile, for otherwise the
strong supporting movement Of seven COM
panies would have been unnecessary. The
| event proved that it was O wise precaution.
A party of Mexican cavalry was discovered
following up the trail of Lieutenant Bulls
on his retreat, and he would undoubtedly
have had to fight if Colonel Shafter had not
been close at hand with force which over
awed the Mexicans. Colonel Shafter thought
it inexpedient to attack the Mexican cavalry
following in his rear, and in short time
they disappeared.
This brief history, which is the substance
of Colonel Skaters official report, is very
SubbcStANc. ~ 10 oAAy Oy eAo PAuuouoo "
General Ord in sending after Lieutenant
Bulls supporting cavalry force too strong
to be resisted that we have escaped bloody
fight between American and Mexican sol
diers Had the troops Of the two republics
been brought into collision the infamma-
tory effect on both sides Of the border would
have been deplorable. Public feeling on
the frontier is already excited to dangerous
pitch, and it would be regrettable if any
thing should occur to fan the fame. These
recent occurrences dispel some illusions with
which the country has been soothed during
the summer. Mexican cooperation III sup
pressing the border raids proves to be q
comedy very clumsily played. Whether the
Mexican government has been acting a
double and dcceitful part we cannot yet
Judge. If it's professions OF cooperation
have been made in good faith they only
demonstrate its powerlessness. What
avails it to send troops to the border
if the men, and even the officers
Immediately succumb to local feel
ing as soon as they reach the frontier?
Mexican officers have resigned their COM
mands rather than assist in the surrender
of criminals under the extradition treaty.
Mexican guides offer their services only
to betray our officers. Mexican troops
stand ready to fight our soldiers who cross
the Rio Grande at the first opportunity
when they can pounce upon an inferior
force This treachery and hostility will
not be abated but increased by what is TAX
ing place near the Rio Grande
This being the dangerous pass to which
matters have come on the frontier it is for
tunate that Congress is SO soon to meet. The
executive has proceeded quite as far rs it
can properly go without express authoriza-
ton by the Legislative branch of the
government The Mexican policy Of
the President may be right enough,
but the President cannot decide ques-
tions which are within the exclusive
jurisdiction of Congress- So long rs
his Mexican policy did not endanger peace
between the two countries it was very well,
but Congress alone has authority to change
our relations with q foreign government
from peace to war. When pacific remedies
are exhausted or prove insufficient it is the
clear duty of the Executive to stop, to COM
municate all the facts to Congress, and to
remit the whole question to that body for
its action. 1t is not merely question
whether the policy pursued is justifable
as between the two nations; it is ques-
tion which relates also to the partition
of powers between the different depart
ments of our government 1t NAV be
right to go TO war with Mexico, but Con-
gress alone has authority TO declare war.
1t may be right to resort to measures Of re-
dress which, if forcibly resisted by Mexico,
would lead to war, but such measures
should not be pursued by the Executive to
the extent Of embroiling the two countries
without Congressional authorization. Moth