The New York herald., 1877-12-24
The Great 0utory Regarding Texas
Border Troubles.
EFFORTS TO AROUSE A WAR FEELING.
General Sherdan's Testimony Before the
House Committee
OF OUR NATIONAL VESSELS
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
wAsuSoros, Dec %. 1877.
THE RIO GRANDE RAIDS AND HOW THEY HAVE
BEEN RxAodERArED--TKsTIM OF GEN
EuAL SHERIDAN BEFORE THE HOUSE MILL
TARY COMMITTEE
1t begins 10 bs more and plain that all the
cen. oucry abou, Mexican outrages and robberics Ia
Texas was the sham and pretenco intended 70
omen The way for . war against Mexico, which would
have been a public scandal and crimc. The testi-
mony OF a number OF military officers before tho
House Military Committee shows most positively that
for at least year eighteen months past tbore has
been no trouble on settled parts OF the ironlicr
there havc been raids by Mexcans into Texas and
there been tho least excuse for threatening
war With Mexico II was reported tho othcr day hore
that an onicer serving tho border had said that not
u hoof OF cattle had been stolen from Texas since
the beginning Of the present administra-
t,on. and General Shcridan's testimony, the
material parts OF which arc given below
literally bears out this assertion He commands the
department which includes Texas, and oil reports OF
border troubles mnde to him. His testimony was
therefore interesting Of all that was given.
II will be seen that he knows OF no raid from tho
Mexican sdc into Texas during the last year or since
tho Daz government camc into power, though he has
tho impression, but no knowledge at all that few
cattle havo been stolen. The only crossing he had
knowledge OF was occasion during the summer
when revolutionary forco under tho notorious Pedro
Valdez was formed in Texas crossed from Texas and
invaded Mexico 1t was mot and defeated by Mexican
troops who pursued the invaders back into Texas,
and beat thcm again our SOIL Butin this affair the
nrst invasion came from our side, and the Mexican
government had cause Of complaint against us.
General Sheridan's testimony is confirmed IN detail
by General Ord and other officers the border. But
as been raids one wonders what all the
desperate outcry and fuss about Mexican Invasion
dur ng all the past summer has beon about II looks
like u up job, the public mind was kept In con-
slant agitation with reports OF tho grossest and un
ceasing outragcs the Texans Tho following Is
General Sheridan's testimony
BY General Banning-What is your opinion as to
the wisdom OF authorizing tho following OF raid
ers on fresh trail the borderS A. would not
ike 10 express a judgment on that; have thought
heretofore nat was the only thing that We could re-
sort TO TO stop these raids and came here at one time
prepared mend that course, but have always
that there ought TO DO somc international Of
fort made to have those depredations stopped
that Mexico could enforce IT, from your knowledge OF
tho population upon the border? A. think they
could tho only trouble would bc The danger OF revo-
lutions aud tho confusion resulting therelrom
O. DO you think they have tho power TO enforce u
"A.
ou.ons that so often occur IN Mexico make It very
difficult to enforce any special conditions on tho
frontier.
tho Rio Grandc DO you think that there are posts
enough there nowY a ! think & there could be add
- = Between what pontsP A. Between the mouth Of
Devii's River, winch Is north OF Fort Clark probably
one miles, and the mouth OF the Rio Grande.
q. Would you suggest new post north OF Fort
Duncanf A. Yes, SIR; there should be one north Of
Fort Duncan, about one hundred ana nity miles,
should Judge
BY Mr. Bragg-- General Mason told that there
was large New Mexico, and that upon
that reservation there about two hundred war
rors no sometimes down into Texas ana raIded
both IN Texas ma Mexico ana that they had twice
becn followed and attacked by Mcxicans and dlscov
cred 10 be our Indians; and he thought, Perhaps II
they removed would remove one OF the causes
which tend 10 rr,tate the feelings Of Mexican nhab
tants on the border. A. do not think there has
been much raidiog IN Mexico from our Indians on the
Stanton Reservation; there was report some timc
ago that of those Indians had gone over 10 Mex
leo and committed dcpredations, and that they had
been followed Wy band OF Mexicans TO our side; that
tho Mexlcans were beaten aud driven OFT, but that
they were afterward reinforced aud came back and
attacked the Indians and Killed several oi thcm Dut
doubt whether that has been confirmed; NJ least
have han Official information sufficient 10 make mo
doubt that Il WAS the case.
BY GoneI Ial Banning-Have not the raids oy Indians
an Mexican outlaws been less frequent curing tho
Inst year than during previous yearsf A. That would
be pinniug me down illte too close, without exam
iping the records but willing say that they
have growing less and that SO far as my present
impressions 60 they have been less for The last TWO
years
O. Has not tho disposition OF the Dinz government
toward the United States been good aud IN the drec
ton OF prev these radsY A. So far know from
official correspondence General Ord aud the Mexican
authorities have been ON very anicable terms. and
they seem cooperate with each other
O. Have you ut tnis limo In your mind any raid OF
either Indians or Mexicans WITHIN the last year by
which any property OF citlzeus Of the Unucd states
was carried awayY A. have not any In my mind,
but think there have been raids within the last year
IN which cattle have been takcn
q. Have you III your mind any case In which In
dians outlaws have gone from our side into Mexico
witnin tho Iast two ycarsY A. havc no direct
knowledge OF any such case.
Q Have you had such crossings reported TO you,
| any complaints and statements OF them from yuur
| onlcors2 A. l havc had tho official reports OF tho
! crossing OF troops
u l do not mean troops; mean thieves or rascnls
| from side A. No, SIR.
Q. Have you had any information OF Mexicans fol-
lowing back side bands that went to Mexico
IRON TexasS A. Yes, sir; within the last six
months
| q Bands that went over there from our side TO
| steal? A. No, sir; think they followed revolution
nry band tnat went over under . man named Valdez
! they attacked ana drove nim over TO our sido and
FOL owed him ana attacked him again thcrc, and no
went down Fort Clark Tor protection ana snrrcn-
dcrcd TO our troops that very soon Dfyor tho
Issued to people 10 cross the Rio Grande
| IN pursuit OF raiders
| the United StatcsY A. The Mexican troops did.
q. Can you adviso the committee at tins time OF
| any raid Dy Indians or Mexicans into tho United
States sincc the Daz government has been control
| In Mexcof A. | have had official notification that
raids were ontcm plated by the Llpnn Indians; do
not know whether have had any official information
OF their having carried out that intention, though
have seen reports the papers 10 that effect .havo
had official information that s0mo few Mexicans csmo
over aud joined tho people Of III Paso In tho sait
trouble.
O. The people OF FL Paso-l moan tho citizens living
! there--aro mostly Mexicans, arc tncy mott A. Yes
q. And q large portion OF tho people along the
border on our sdc arc MexIcanS A. Yes.
GENERAL WAS HlNGTON DISPATCHES.