The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-06-21
President Lerdo Protests against
the orders Given TO Gen. Ord,

President Lerdo Protests gaInst
the orders Given TO Gen. Ord.
Editors Neto York World-There is
published to-day in the journals of this
city an order sent by the Secretary of
War of the United States to the COM
handing officer of the Department of
Texas, to solicit the Cooperation of
the local Mexican authorizes on the
Rio Grsnde line for the purpose of ar
resting the incursions o. malefactors
on either side of that line. This order
authorizes that officer, In case he can
not thus put stop 10 these incursions,
to cross the river whenever he is in sight
Of party of malefactors or on their
trace, and to pursue then even into
Mexican territory. The possible grav-
ity OF the consequences of this order,
and the fact that l am now in this
country, make it my positive duty to
inform my fellow-citizens of the course
hitherto pursued by the constitutional
government in regard to these frontier
troubles. On account of the com
plants made concerning damage done
on the frontiers the constitutional gov
eminent at the end Of the year 1872
named two committees of investigation,
one for the States of Coahuila,
Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas, and
one for the States of Chihuahua
and Sonora. The careful and
extensive Investigations of these
committees demonstrated with numer-
Gus and authentic proofs, that if dam
age has been done on the territory of
the United States, equal or greater
damage had been done on Mexican ter
ritory; that the chief bands of male
factors had been organized in the ter
ritory of the United States by individ-
uals not of Mexican nationality, and
that there were no grounds for interna-
tional complaint, since neither the gov
eminent of Mexico nor that of the
United States had been able to exer-
else perfect V, GLANCE, Notwithstanding
the efforts of both, over desolate from
tier hundreds of leagues in length.
The reports Of these committees in
Spanish and in English were officially
communicated to the government OF
the United States by the Mexican rep
resentative at Washington. A military
officer of the United States having
crossed the river in pursuit of a band
of Indians, this fact was at once pro-
tested against by the frontier authori-
ties of Mexico, and an official COM
plant lodged by our Minister with the
| government at Washington. That Off
Ger did not claim to have been instruct
ed by his government to do what he
did and the act was not repeated.
The Secretary of State of the United
States confidentially suggested to the
Mexican Minister at Washington the
propriety of an agreement authorizing
the troops of the two governments re-
ciprocally to pursue malefactors across
this river in the interest of both coun-
tries. AS co this, the Mexican govern
ment held that it was not authorized
by the Constitution to make such an
agreement, which might also lead to
other complaints and new difficulties
AS was but right and proper, however,
10 preserve good understanding be-
tween the countries, the constitutional
government instructed its officers on
the line to be rlgidly wstchful, to keep
up the best relations with the military
and civil authorities of the United
States, and to obviate all occasions of
danger to the tranquility of the from
tier. After this there were no new
grounds of dissatisfaction, the COM
plants either ceasing or greatly dlmin-
ishing.
1t is to be observed that the House
| of Representatives at Washington at
the end of the year 1876 declined to
authorize the Executive to send troops
across the river in pursuit of malefac-
tors. In the debate it was shown that
as the country was at peace with
Mexico, such course would not be in
conformity with public law. In the
order now given by the government of
the United States it is expressly said
that there is no desire felt to offend
Mexico, but on the contrary that the
United States hope for the cooperation
of Mexico. 1t is to be hoped that no
such case as the order contemplates
may arse, nor any cause of misunder-
standing between the two countries.
If unfortunately this hope should not
be verified, Mexico could not consent
to allow American troops to enter her
territory without submitting to viola
ton of her rights as sovereign and
independent nation. must say, there
fore, not only in my own name, but in
that of all the supporters of constitu-
tional government, that neither for the
purpose of restoring it nor for any pur-
pose can we fail to fulfill our duty in
| the presence of any peril to the auton-
only and the rights of Mexico. The
constitutional government will seek no
help save from the opinion aud the
action of the Mexican people holding
sacred above all things the honor, the
integrity and the independence of the
country.
SEBASTIAN LERDo DE TEJADA.
Nam