The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-19
CLAIMS OF THE TEXAS STOCK RAyERS.
Representative Schleicher on the
Existing Middle.
ATTITUDE OF PRESIDENT LERDO.
Positive Denial OF the Reported
Secession Scheme.
[Dy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. I


WASHINGTON, Juno Is. 1877
The HxRARD representative waited on Mr. schleicher
this evening" ~ his residence Capitol Hill, and
found him just about unfold his copy OF to.day's
paper. Being prompted BY n statement Of the
spondenrs purpose, Mr.. Sehccner rapidly possessed
himself Of the tn- hEKALps despatch from
Now Orleans and letter nom CINCINNATI and, in
answer to the correspondents questions proceeded to
discuss tho several subjects as iollows:-
CORRESPONDENT What truth is there IN tho report
shat fresh statement OF claims is being prepared
present to Mexico?
NJ. ScaLElcnER-To understand this matter VIC shall
have to 10 back some time Tho raids the Rio
Grande bavo been going since 1866 Six years
afterward, IN 1872. committee was appointed by
Congress to taKo testimony concerning the losses by
these raids This com mttee was known the Robb
committee, from tho name Of the chairman, hon. Mr..
Robb The committee made the total amount Of the
claims exceedingly high by estimating, not only tho
actual losses but the constructive losses by interest
and increase great deal said against this
method Of finding losses and there other allega-
lions discrediting the action Of the committee Some
persons who had borne the heaviest losses did not
appear before the committee because Their work was
20 extravagant that people lost faith their power
enforce collection OF the claims. The amount of these
unstated losses very large
ACTION OF THE STOCK RAIsEks.
About the time OF tho meeting Of the Forty-fourtn
Congress the condition Of tho country such that
the inhabitants including all the claimants fct SO un-
safe in their life and property that they sased
TO postpone the consideration Of their pccunary claims
and lot their representatives Congress unite their
whole efforts in getting protection from tho United
States government Stock raisers had found it inn
possible 10 live in the country, lett their
ranches or farms and moved into the cities
for safety. Murders were of constant occurrence.
Under these circumstances never attempted during
the entire two sessions OF Congress- bring up the
matter Of these claims but confined myself altogether
But lately have bad many appeals from my const,t-
ucnts to have their claims acted upon.
ESTIMATING TIE LOSSES
On examining into the matter found that only
portion OF the Robb committee testImony-uamey,
the adavts OF good witnesses proving losses
could be used IN arriving at honest and fair
estimate Of the actual losses To complete
the statement OF losses for two classes OF
claims new proof has to DO taken, first for
those claims not proved up before the Robb
committee, and second, the losscs from the year 1872
when the committee closed their labors. until now.
ssve advised all she parties my disrio. concerned
to prepare their proofs Tor the next meeting Con-
gress The proofs will be taken only Of actual losses
from she best GLASSES Of and by lawyers OF
the best standing, SO that they will before Con-
gross In as strong condition such testimony can
mako them. The party in Washington, therefore, re-
ported TO DO collecting these proofs has nothing
ever to do with the State Department tho admin
istraton, % has been mentioned In the HERALDs
uespatch from New Orleans. 1 myself and those Of
my constituents who interested in these claims
and their attorneys the only parties moving IN the
matter | may possibly conclude to advise these
parties to present their claims the State Depart
ment but have not yet consulted with them as 10
my doing so.
LEgDo's POSITION
CoRREsroSDESr-The New Orleans despatch says
that the Of tho northern portion OF Mexico
is among the contingencies OF the present In
Mexico. What is your notion about the matter?
Mr.. ScHIEicHER-All rumors that connect Lerdo
with any secession movement OF Northern
Mexico show upon their face that they are
not only entirely unfounded, but that the
parties originating them have no conception
OF circumstances In Mexico Mr. Lerdo does not at all
despair of becoming President Of Mexico again. The
only successful movement that has been made Tar in
bis favor IL the revolution OF Alvarez in the State of
Gucrroro, which State Is In the extreme south Of
Mexico In the northern States Lerdo no personal
strength. HIS slightest connection with any seces-
sion movement in the northern States would DO
like tho beginning OF . drama With the suicide
OF The hero. He could never show his
lace again In the central and southern ror-
lions OF Mexico, where his main strength
les HIS adherent. Alvarez, living in tho southern
part OF Mexico, would kill him on sight II he had tho
chance. Lerdo appreciates this much that no in
ssts that the rumor referred was started by his
enemies 10 ruin him Mexico. He is ever AFRAID
Of tho slightest expression OF American sympathy Tor
him, knowing the extreme jealousy of the Mexican
people and their fear OF American 1libustcra To
my knowledge there is not the slightest founda-
ton Of truth all this talk about Mcxican secession
II such thing should como II would naturally
arise with prominent Mexcans natives Of the north
States, because the connection and communication
those States and tho OF Mexico is very
feeble and slight.
MEXICAN SECESSION.
CoRREsroSpExr-What do you think OF the PROPOSE.
ton mentioned in to-day's HERALD to exchange these
CLAIMS for u slice Of Mexico?
Mr.. ScHLEIcBER-It is a nero speculation, based
upon tho situation Of affairs know Of no ono in the
administration who proposes SUCH method OF ADJUST
ment, but It is an idea which naturally arises II Is
known that Mexico will owe US great deal OF money
and as she has not the peculiarly means to settle with
US, but has plenty OF land naturally overy.
body that she be induced to settle by giving US
part OF her territory. But am not aware Of any
plan for TINS kind OF settlement. There is much in
tie views OF your concerning chihuahua
aud sonora Those States very thinly populated.
In time Of spanish dominion in Mexico Chih uahua
especially was very wealthy State She bad . large
population, Immense wealth In cattle and sheep and
probably tho richest mines In Mexico; but alter the
extipcton Of Spanish rule the lndians-the Co
manchcs, Apachcs and Lpans-began regular incur.
sons the State, killed tho stock as we'll as tho
people and devastated the large haciendas so that
finally the whole open country was abandoned and
only the population OF tho walled towns remained.
The Indians would mako thor excursions in
parties OF Eve hundred to one thousand. The
enal result was the complete Impeachment
and dcpopulation OF the country. The Mex.
can population that remained have not shown any
rccupcrative power that the State still remains