Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-08-15

II sensible report:
CONSTITUTIONAL AMY,
HEADQUARTERS OF TITS Lane OF T, l. NtRrH,
SoNrERkY, Dune 80, 1871.
To the Minister Of Var:
On my way to this city | received the
instructions which the Federal Govern
ment communicated TO me by telegraph.
through General Canales, and in view of
their Importance | sent Il courier to
General Ord, advising him that | would
communicate to him the instructions |
bad received from my Government by
means of a commissioner, as ordered
by your department. The Commissions
er ad hoe, Mr., Bibiano l.. Villarel, is pre-
pairing for his journey and will surely
be on the road to-day OF tomorrow.
During my stay in Piedras Negras |
was visited by General Ord, military
commander of the American line, for
the purpose of comforting rs to the best
means of preventing the depredations
that are made for the object of robbery
and which are experienced on both sides
of the Rio Grande.
General Ord saw me at my quarters;
| returned his visit, going to his. | Wis
tied his camps III the vicinity and we
held a conference.
He claimed that the forces of either
nation in following the trail of robbers
might cross into the adjoining territory,
reporting their operations TO the author
tiles of the respective countries, for
their information and aid; and, in order
the better to support his position, he re-
lated TO me the case III which he had
permitted a Mexican force of Sonora to
continue its pursuit of a party Of Indians
into American territory, besides aiding
our forces with his troops and furnishing
them the supplies they needed.
In reply | informed the said General
that the authorization which we were
discussing could not be granted by either
him or me, in virtue of our own power,
not even with the acquiescencc of our
Governments, if it should not have the
appreciation of the respective Chambers
or Congresses; and much less could |
do anything in such n difficult question,
as ! had nc express authority to deal
with 1t IN any manner; that the pursuit
of banditti being Il prime duty Of the
authorities, and even of private citizens,
and to stop the complaints which, with
or without foundation, are frequently
made by the press of both countries in
regard to the conduct of the authorities
of the two nations, | would take every
measure for the purpose of Furnishing
the crimes that might be perpetrated on
the American side 10y inhabitants or res
idents of territory, s%tationing troops
Of the line at convenient points and or
ganizing vigilant forces to patrol u
deserts.
| also assured him that if those sta
tons or forces should be appraised in
good time of incursions made by Mex
leans to the left bank of the Rio Grande,
they would afford the best results in APP
pretending the delinquents, rs they
would operate i'll a country well known
and against persons known TO them,
thus guaranteeing the security of honest
travellers or residents, who might easily
be COMPOUNDED with banditti by strangers
having no acquaintance with them.
With this and the promise to COM
municate to General Ord the instructions
| might receive on the subject from my
Government, and with the promise
which he made on his part TO prevent
the organization of bands proposing the
invasion of our territory, even if under
the pretext of a political object, We ter
minated our conferences.
! should add that in the conferences
General Ord constantly manifested that
his Government did not propose any act
hostile to our country.
On my return from Piedras Negras |
left some regular forces stationed on the
Sabinas River, and being convinced that
the Lipan Indians are Il constant threat
to our security, and by their dcprcda-
tons on the left of the Rio Grande might
even complicate our relations with the
neighboring nation, | gave orders to
Colonel Nuncio to apprehend and hold
them rs prisoners at the disposition of
the Government. These Indians are
the remnants of the tribe, who, on ac-
count of their trcachery, were almost
cxterminated 10y the late GeneralIuazua.
They are still as tre&cherous as ever,
and always lazy, except when engaged
in robbery, which constitutes their only
patrimony.
My opinion is that. having been APP
pretended, they should he taken to the
interior, there distributed among work
shops or charitable institutions, where
they could be educated and taught trades
suitable to their sex and age. -.
also ordered the organization of Il
force of mounted auxiliary troops, at
the Governments expense and well
paid, to perform the service Of the line
Of the Rio Grande. This force being
composed Of volunteers, well paid, and
consisting of men acquainted with the
country i'll which they are to serve, will
be the one that will principally comply
with the offer ! made the American Of
4 -. - ~ :. Ala..n IL .-...----