The New York herald., 1877-12-16
WASHINGTON.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
Pill ao. WASHINGTON, Dec. Is, 1877.
ORIGIN OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE SALT
G,rHERERs IN Ell pAso COUNTY, TEXAS
UNITED sTATKs TROOPS ORDERED THERE
WHAT THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO
FEAR MOST. a8 s@0e.a8
Tho Of tho disturbances In Texas II salt de-
post FL Psso county. The disturbance is a riot.
Tho salinas have been used since the settlement
OF the country by all the people Of tho
region and by Mexicans from Chih uahua az
their for salt Tho lay open all comers
until in 1850 It was siocated" by a company which
tried toll from the people for tie salt they
gathered This was resisted universally that the
company ceased thers efforts and abandoned
the land free collection OF salt went on TIL
few months ago. whom the OF tho former
owners again claimed possession, and employed one
Howard their attorney collect tolls from the salt
gatherera Since then there has been an In
creastng excitement among tho people Of
tho neighborhood, and two or three months
ago therclwns riot. which was put down.
nunDER PRECIPrAr1s THE DIFFICULTY
Tho leader Of tho opposition to salt dues was a
man named Cordova, an Italian, who was local
politieiAa and political opponent OF Howard, and
being popular man had defeated Howard in q con-
test Tor local oice. Not long ago Howard Cor
dova IN . store and there killed him, which caused
more trouble and intensified tho bitternoss The
prssent disturbance has grown out OF these causea
Tns population Of El Paso county s largely Of Mexi.
can origin and there Is NO proof hers that tho Mcxi-
cans engaged In riotng arc other than residents OF
the county end citizens OF the United sta.es Ono Of
the Of possible excisement and trouble in
these border matters arises from this fact that
whom Moxlcans accused Of wrong or lawicss
conduct, they otenest inhabitants ctizone OF
Texas, whereas tho public wrongfully understands
them 10 be people from tho border Those who
indusriously fomsnting war feeling here avail
themselves constantly Of this confusion In terms
Tho Texas delegation have been excited all
day by tho reports OF the riot, and waited
upon the President during tho day With dispatches
from Governor Hubbard, asking for troops to help
put down sho lawlessness In these dispatches from
the Governor Of Tcxss there s however, NO pretence
that the trouble Ia moro than local riot
The President referred the matter TO the
Secretary of War, who ordered troops by
telegraph 70 tho pace or disturbance This
evening the Secretary OF War says that no serious
dinculty is anticipated; that the fighting is merely
about the Salinas, San Elzario, and that 1t is
conflict prsc,pitsted by Howard who has an interest
In these salt deposits.
A force has boon ordered from Fort Bayard, the
nearest post In New Mexico 10 proceed at once 70
FL Paso The nearest body OF United States troops
10 some eighty miles distant This column, consisting
Of some three hundred men, has been placed under
marching orders and will reach the scene OF tho rio.
In about two days. other troops will follow them IL
necessary from Fort Clark and tho nearest adjacent
military posts on The Texan frontier. In this drec-
tion the march will bo some two hundred and nfty TO
IN hu uudy rnilo ~ taka
fore they can 90 over II as IL is a rough. impassabe
country.
Tho Secretary OF War says that tho reason he
wanted TO have largo force OF the nted States army
on this Texan frontier was 70 prevent conflicts be.
tween the Mexican population and tho Tcxan militia
who are very much aroused and prcjudiced. There
has becn change In the orders about United States
troops following marauders into Mexico but simply
. modification OF them, 10 tho effect that tbcv
not TO cross over u there any Mexican soldiers
In sight who take up the pursuit. But the orders
OF the War Departments arc special and peremptory In
regard 10 tho State troops OF Tcxas who are
forbidden 10 cross over into Mexico, which none
but regular troops viii be allowed to do
The most serious apprshension arises from
the danger or the Texan militia precipisa.ing a
conflict, and It Is believed that tho only thing needed
to this end Is a show Of authority or coun,cnancc
from the United States government 10 encourage
them. 1t 10 known that General Armstrong, cousin
Of Governor Hubbard, and lato OF the Con-
federate army, has been for somo time en-
gagged in organizing militia forco OF cx-
Texan soldiers. to tho number OF 1000
intended 10 take part In tho socalcd preservation OF
order on the frontier and TO protect tho interests or
Texss II from these and similar organizations
tho United States has most to lear IN tho
preservation OF peace. The latest advlces from Gen
cral sheridan DO not givc any detais but init
that the United States troops will soon have tho
mob ana other dssurbcrs we'll in hand.
ATTEMPTS TO HEAL THE BREACH BE1wEEN THE
PRESIDENT AND SENATORS coNKLrSG
BLAINE AND orHERs-wHAr THE ANTI
HAYES MEN DEMAND.
Several Senators, among them Senator Cbrist,ancy.
have been for somo timo increasingly unensy at
the growing fracture IN tho republican party.
and have been busy In tho last forty.eisbs
hours In efforts TO heal tho differences
between tho President ard Senator Conk.
ling Thcy do not mect with much success Tho
President says TO tbcm that no Is not ut war with any.
body; that he Is doing bis duty. as tho constitution
reaures; that he has ~ feeling toward Nj. Conk
ling or any other Senator, and that Mr. Conkpg will
call 10 him At tho White House hs will
bc glad TO sec him and talk with him. That as TO tho
New York nominations he thinks IL necessary for tho
public good to put tho Custom House under different
management; that he selected, rs he thought
good mon TO take tho places OF Mcssrs Arthur
and Cornell, and that he is sorry and somewhat
that tho Senate did not think them good
enough but that he will try again ator tho HIS
duty he says, is TO select and nominate men who In
hts judgment, are 1T and capable for tho
places they aro TO nll Thcro his duty
ends. II belongs TO the Senate to st
in judgment upon his selections, and II 1t does not
agree with him, that is matter which ho cannot