National Republican., 1877-10-04
NIEXICo.

Ht uut5blVh VI Jul ittttttib WIN nHts'NV
Is one of absorbing interest, and il should be
discussed calmly and dispassionately, with
the view of arriving at the proper solution.
To do this we must go back many years,
and sec what produced the condition of af-
fairs now existing on our border, and the
cause being found, through it discover the
remedy to be applied.
The Anglo-Saxons who were attracted TO
the Mexican State Of Texas by the richness
of its soil, the mildness of its climate, and
the glowing, rosc-colored promises of the
Mexican Government, soon found that
while the soil and climate were all that was
claimed for them, the promises of the Mex
leans were totally unreliable. Instead of
freedom and protection which were prom
ised, tymnny and oppression were given.
These settlers belonged to race that had
never submitted to tyranny, from the days
when the barons of England extorted the
Magma Chu1a from the unwilling King
John to the time when the har-
bor of Boston was made a pot to
hold the tea tyrannical Government
attempted to force upon on unwilling peo-
pie. The new citizens Of Texas were
the freest of the free; coming from the bor-
der where the restraints of law were more
lax than in older States they even held its
authority lightly, and when SANTA ANNA
attempted to tyrannize over them they
never stopped to count the cost, but at once
declared their independence, and by force
OF arms maintained il. From the day when
the Mexican authorities were expelled from
Texas the frcebootcrs on the Rio Grande
commenced prcying upon the citizens of the
new Republic. But few years passed
when the Lone Star flag was lowered and
the Republic of Texas became State Of
this great confederncy. A. soon rs this was
done it became the duty of the United
States to protect the border, and troops were
dispatched to the frontier for that purpose
They found the whole line infested by Or
ganized bands of thieves, who, under the
protection Of the Mexican Government,
were continually crossing the border muir
dering and robbing the citizens of Texas
This could not be submitted to, and after
repeated rcmonstrances and repeatedly bro
ken promises the result was war between the
United States and Mexico. In few months
fifty thOus md American soldiers had pos
session OF the entire country, and the COM
mander-in-chief of the army had his quar-
ters in the capital city. The whole OF Mex
leo was PROSTATE at our fcet-a conquered
nation.
Gen. SCOTT, with keen appreciation OF
the Mexican character and q comprehensive
view Of the future growth of this country
proposed treaty of peace by which the
Mexican Government was to ccde to us the
States of Upper aud Lower California, So
nora, Sinaloa, Durango, Coahuila, New Mex
leo, Seuy,' Leon, chihuahua, with portions
of Tacatccas, san Luis Potosi and Tamau,
lipas, which would make a border line only
$50 miles long and which, with the exccp.
ton of a short distance in Tamaulipas, ran
along mountain range equal 10 the Bal
kans in deicnsiblity, for there is one less
pass in H.
The politicians became alarmed, and SCOTT
WAS suspended from his command, and d
politician, NICHOLAS TRIsT, was sent TO Mex
leo to arrange the terms of peace. The re-
suit was the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
by which the present boundary line was
established, and small portion of the ter.
ritory that SCOTr proposed to take was ac.
copied rs nn indemnity. BY that treaty
Mexico solcmnly bound herself tn prevent
the ruiding over the border which had
caused the war This treaty was signed in
1S47, now thirty years ago, and except dur
ing the time Of the great rebellion, wher
Mexico was virtually in league with the
confederacy, not a single effort has eve
been made by the Mexican Government IL
carry this clause of the treaty int,
effect, until since the order was ISSUED
to Gen. ORD directing him tC
pursue the maraudcrs on to Mexican soil |
necessary to secure their capture. Hun
dreds, yes, thousands of American citizen
have been murdered and millions of dollars
worth of property stolen during these thirt.
years by men wearing the uniforms of Mex
lean soldiers, commanded by officers hold
ing commissions from the Mexican Govern
mcnt, ana not one oil these mas ever beel
punished. Herds Of stolen cattle and horse
have been driven into the plaza OF Mexican
towns, and the prey divided in the presenc
of the alcaldc and commandante, they per
haps receiving their percentage. The coun
try between the Nueccs and the Rio Grand
has been almost dcpopulated, and whcr
once roamrd thousands of horses and cattl
the coyote is now almost uninterrupted.
The Government Of the United States ha
submitted to this condition of affairs f0
thirty years. Had the provocation occurre
upon our Northern border it would not hay
been submitted to thirty days. There hay
been some plausible but iallaCious reason
advanced why we should not with tn
strong hand Of power prevent these cor
tinued violations Of our territOry-this cot
tinuous murder and robbery of our citizens
the main one being that We are strong an
Mexico ia weak This is true, but the SAN
reasoning would prevent II man from Il,
stroyinga mosquito that was buzzing aroun
his head or biting his fcot. There is Meth,
Rsnsa nor mapnnnimity in listening TO