National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-06-01
GEN. PILLOW ON MEXICO.

Two States of Mexico-Hs believes Prcsi-
don't Hayes Is Thoroughly In Earnest, and
Gives Him His support.
As already stated In these columns General
Gideon J. Pillow, ts Mexican and Confederate
fame, has addressed q letter to tho frcsf;a-...
regarding two points; First tho Southern
policy, and second, the Mexican border
troubles. Respecting the new Southern policy,
Gen. Pillow told the President that II was a
hazardous step for him to take In the begin
ming Of his administration. but that IL was one
calculated to win the confidence and esteem Of
every Southern man. Whether 1t be under
the banners Of the Republicans, Democrats or
wings, It must come that tho entire South will
support him.
lie recountcd the fact that Horace Greeley,
although in his carly life was the avowed OPP
poncnt OF the South, yet when he came to see
the wants and misery brought upon them by
the late war, was willing to take their
hands In friendship, he received almost the
unanimous votes of the white element of the
South. He concluded that part of his letter
by affirming that he was thoroughly in sym
pathy with the President In his policy towards
the South. In the other part of his letter ho
gave his views ut length regarding the dopre-
dations along the Texan border.
From General Pillows long experience In
the Mexican war, and his great familiarity
with the territory of both Mexico and Texas,
his views upon the subject Of depredations
were considered peculiarly interesting at this
time, and In response to request for state
mcnt containing as near as possible the sub
stance of that part of his letter to the Presi-
dent regarding tho dcpredations. General Pill
low addressed us the following:
WASHINGTON CITY. May o. 1877.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN: In compliance with
your request, in our personal interview of yes
terday, to give you such facts and such knowl-
edge rs possessed of the Northern States Of
Mexico, and such views ] have as TO the
proper means to put an end to the border
troubles of Texas, on the Rio Gnnde, submit
to you the following letter, hurricdly written,
with liberty to make such use of It Us you
think proper:
american army from MntamOrR on the Rio Grandc
through the Mexican states Of New Loon and
Iamaglipas, Papay. san Fernando, San Martcn,
Victoria and Santa Barbara to Tampico, About
300 miles OF the march was through the heart OF
these States and through country fine ~ ever
saw In latitude 1t Is the same AS Cuba 1t is equal
10 cuba In It's adaptation TO the produrtion of sugar
and all tropical fruits. The table lands produce
fine wheat and the finest oranges in the world.
DESCRIPTIVE OUTLINES.
From Victoria, the capital OF Tamnulpas to
Tampico, the ronte Of marrh was along the eastern
was between 10 and 3O miles This mountain,
commencing whore Ill cut through by the Panuco
chain Of baltic Stone about SO feet high, with its
eastern face. perpendicular wall for about COZ
miles to Saltilo, whence 1t bears further towards
the south. II wis In front of SatillO that General
Taylor fought the battlcOf Buena Vista. In It's rear
isMontcrey strongly fortified city and capital OF
the S,nle Of New Leon. Starting at Tampico on
river, and running up this river about 90 miles,
we come to the point where the river cuts through
the mountain. This stream has fine banks Is about
an yards wide and Is deep enough to float large
mnn-ofwar. The bara its mouth has about thlr.
teen feet Of water; with good anchorage below and
All Of I..l. al...p..
gathered his whole fleet of sea steamers and trans.
ports for a grand review.
PROSPECTIVE BOUNDARY.
The Panuco river would constitute fine national
boundary, and II Is the south boundary Of the State
Of TamaulpaS thence with the Slcrrl Madras the
mountain extends % Saltilo with not break ex.
Cept mule path at Santa Barbara and at Victoria.
These passes are about 800 feet above the level OF
the SEA, and are so narrow and difficult of access
that nothing but mule can cross over and through
Thorn Tho Mexican troops occupying Victoria and
Santa Barbara made their retreat and escape
through them, Ifthey were fortified and defended
by a field battery, they could successfully de-
fend an assaulting force of 2O0OO troops,
ran steamer up the Panuco river, and trav.
ersed the eastern base Of this mountain for nearly
its entire length to Saltillo.
reported the character Of the country over
which had marched and the character Of the Pan
uco river ind the chain of mountains the finest
natural formation for a national boundary on this
continent to President Polk.
When Nicholas 2. Trist was sent with General
SCOTS army, making Vera Cruz its base of opera
t,ons anil the CITY Of Mexico Us objective point
boundary In treaty OF peace without It met my
approval, and he directed me to protect the honor
Of his Administration and of the Government and
u make the Panuco river, the Sierra Madre noun.
tain to Saltlo, the boundary, This was made a
she quo non OF any treaty Of peace In my instruc
tons as the confidential commissioner Of the tUv.
ernment From the pass at saltlo the wish of the
President was TO run nearly north to the Gulf OF
California; but he left discretion with the commits
sioncrs as In the direction OF this line and
tent TO pursue the main chain OF the mountain to
the points where its direction would intcrscc the
Gnlf Of California and the table lands The noun
hlnS In Northern Mexico arc rich In gold aud sill
mountain to the City Of Mexico is the finest wheat
growing country ever saw.
TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGo.
This great natural formation was not secured as
the national boundary between the United statcs
and Mexico for the reason that Mr. Trist disre
gnrded his instructions, and | was disabled fol-
SaEb he u S q MS S and
regarded the recall. followed the Mexican author
ties into the interior, and finally fixed upon the
present boundary by the unauthorized treaty Of
The Rio GNnde constitutes the western boundary
Of Texas In its tortuos course for nearly go miles
These two border Mexican States fun OF robben
AMI thieves General Ampudias' command OF cav.
airy and larEe part Of General Aristss army wa
Se o nnds eSecpt ann IN q hrh
GSsbc& GTT sss snysh5 The in band;
Ibm hthu W lobt lHty morse
men, mounted on horses descended from
the, Arabian horses introduced by the Span,
iards They are rs inst the deer and Of wonder
ful powers Of endurance. The robbers will rarely
be overtaken by our cavalry. When pressed they
will dash through the chapparal and through the
Rio Grande river anywhere, and when across the
river they will scatter and elude all pursuit. fol
they know all the fastnesses OF the country to the
mountains.
EFFECT OF THE PROPOSED REMEDIAL PLAN.
If pursued by our troops into the Interior oui
troops could not distinguish robber they were pur.
suing from Others OF the peon population. The In
yasion by our troops Will exasperute the better elias
of the population OF the country TO such an extent
that II Will cause the overthrow of the central Gov
ernment which allows H. and will If continued
lead In the end TO war between the two Govern
| ments.
purpose OF the President to direct our truops tC
pursue these robbers and, If possible punish them
II Is an experiment and is worthy the trial But
| am satisfied that II will be but a temporary expe
dent 1t may check the inroads of the robbers
while our troops are In force upon the lcf bank OF
the river but as soon as the Government withdraw
Its force or materially dimnlshes II they will re
turn or transfer higher up or lower down the river
| and country their field of depredations. The Gov
army forever on that frontier, These robber band,
have for twenty years lived of Of Texas; have laid
waste the river country for many miles In Texas
have supplied the northern cities of Mexico for 4
large portion Of that time with beef and have car
riCd on large export trade in hides from cattle
| stolen from Texas. To keep up an adequate force
TO protect the people Of Texas for twenty years Il
come will cost the Government many millions o
dollars.