The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-11-14
THE TROUBLES WITH MEXICO.

The frequent Mexican raids across
the Rio Grande into Texas and the
murder and robbery of her citizens
has long been a source Of much loss
and annoyance to the people of our
western neighbor State, and they
have at last grown weary Of enduring
the burden and propose to put stop
to the marauding, even if it be neces-
sary to force war between the Uni
ted States and Mexico. One of the
primary duties of the General Gov
eminent is to protect the States, and
each of them, from the invasion CT
foreign enemies, and the Government
at Washington should take speedy
action in the matter. The course Of
our Government in the dispute with
Spain over the Cuban prisoners was
cowardly and imbecile, and so far it
has been no better in dealing with
Mexico. Our relations with all for
eign powers should be such as was
that of Rome with all the world,
when to say 81 am e citizen Of Rome"
was to secure protection and immu-
nifty from insult and outrage in any
part of the civilized world. So it
should be with The American citizen.
Let Texas do her duty by calling on
the Government for protection, and
if it is not promptly furnished, let
her protect herself. She can get all
the assistance she may need. The
Constitution of the United States
guarantees to each State the right to
go to war to rcpel an invasion.
In this connection we have been
permitted to publish the following
extract from a private letter written
by Major John B. Jones, who has
command of the frontier Battalion of
Texas State troops, dated, Austin,
Texas, October 18th, and which full
ly explains the present attitude of
affairs, and shows that war with
Mexico is one of the probabilities of
the near future:
~ now think it very doubtful if
will be able to come to town at all this
winter. Everybody in Texas, and
many of the officials in Washington
expect war with Mexico. 1 have
been kept here by the Governor for
more than a month in anticipation of
it. l was directed by the Governor
several weeks ago to make conditional
arrangements to increase my command
to full regiment, and am in cores
pondence with several parties with a
view to raise four new companies. II
have six now.
The governor has assurances from
Washington that if war is declared he
will be called GU to raise five OF six
regiments without delay. He wants
me to be ready to put q full regiment
on the Rio Grande without delay. Il
have two companies there now,) and
says SHALL be Colonel of the first reg
iment, and will have command Of q
brigade if the Texas troops are organ
lied into brigades, and he has the APP
pointing of the brigadier- generals.
The Mexican Government has failed
to give up the parties who have been
depredating on this side os the Ric
Grande, as demanded by Gov. Hub
bard under the extradition treaty with
THAT country, and he has to day re-
ferred the whole matter to the Govern
ment at Washington, and called upon
it to protect our border FROM foreign
invasion, and punish our unfriendly
neiehbor, Mexico, for its violation Ct
international law and failure to COM
| ply with the extradition treaty.
i 1t only remains to be seen, whether
Congress, which meets next week, will
quietly submit to the indignation and
insults which have been heaped upon
our Government, as we'll as the rob-
bling and numbering of our people BY
the raiders from Mexico, or at once go
to war and punish them as they de
serve for the outrages which they have
been perpetrating on our border for
the last twenty five years.
Our people all over the State are
very much excited on the subject OF
the war, and applications are coming
in by the hundred to the Governor.
Gen. Slut and myself have authority
to raise companies, battalions, regi-
ments, brigades and batteries. Our
members of Congress are all in favor
of the war, if Mexico does not make
ample reparation for the outrages per-
| petrated on our border, and will do
everything in their power so bring it
on. The State Government has done
everything in its power and can now
only await the action of the Federal
Government in the matter. Two
weeks will probably detain the ques-
tion."