Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-30

lieve that this House would prefer the
evidence OF gentlemen in the active
service of their country today to auy
testimony which might be given either by
civilians or by gentlemen who have made
their army records in the past history Of
this country.
Under dste Of January II, 1888. Gen
eral Stanley, in command of the Depart
ment of Texss, writes IS follows, in re-
Spouse to letter from me inviting his
opinion as to the necessity for the con-
tlnuance OF the post of Fort Brown:
SlR-In answer to your letter OF the 18th
tnst. have the honor to stase that the post of
coit Brown Is built upon reservation of 35sH
AcISs OF land immediately adjoining the town
OF brownsville, Tex, and situated on the Rio
Irande river, by river route sixty 6ve miles
Sau ny land twenty two n lies above inc mouth
VI vi mat river II Is the most southern pos OF
the United states, excepting Key West, Fla.
II Ia connected with Point Isl bel and ocean
naElSation by narrow-gauge railroad TWENTY
Two miles In len 9Th. Immedia ely opposite lie
sne Mexican city of Mstamoras which is forth
neu with earthwo ks, and where the Mexican
government usually keeps two regiments OF
Ioop', and the headquarters of Brigadier-
SehtrAI The post was established In 1916 by
General Taylor, at the outbreak of the Mexican
var, ana has been occupied by Unitsd states
iIo0p' ever since, exec ting the interval OF the
ClNL war, when IL was held as very important
posi- oy the Confederate authorities. The i'm,
pIoVeInents on the reservation consist OF about
tOiy buildings of more or less value. OF these
we've are of brick and substantial; the re
,nalh1er Of frame, in fair condition, but need
ing repairs. Fort Brown, as mi itary station,
- an absolute necessity, snd occupies very
., portant point Geographically sno strateglcal
~ on our Me1i an frontier. Granting that We
nnEe no desire for Me lican territory, and hop.
my thal We may never again have war with
ieiNiso' the necessity for this post still re-
There you have the testimony of the
commander of the department Of Texas,
IN conjunction with the testimony of the |
Lleulensnt-General Of the army.
General Stanley continues:
:, ihG nearest military post to Fort Brown is
/ or h'hS SoiJ, ITO miles by LAM, 800 by river,
and on the left bank of the Rio C4rande. The !
frequency of thefts # horses and cattle, and of
TIMES Times Oh violence to persons, and rob6eries OF
Ringgol1 and Fort Brown, has made II neces.
SaIy 10 keep up two special stations with de-
.achments of troops at each-one at Santa
hAtla, twenty i've miles from Fort Brown, and
Brown.
Mat4moIas oppo,ite to Fort Brown, has a
opuiaton OF 1890, and is the principal city in
ot 40 C0Of This state of Tamaul Is noted for
The turbulent, wdr-like and aggressive char
lcier OF It's people. 1t Is safe to say that one
.urbed the republic Of Mexico since their
Independence in 1872 have had their origin in
ms state. The great revolution thas placed
me present executive of Mexico in power
1ao its beginning right at Matamoras and
BROWNSVILLE. The central government of
Mexico hold large fo] &C Of soldiers In
Lamua ipss, and yet not year passes
Without rebelltOns, rObberies by wholesale, and
nVari.biy when inundated the discounted
party flee TO our side of the Rio Grande in
mood 10 appropriate anything they can lay I
heir hands upon.
For these reasons alone Fort Brown must
continue military post; its facilities for
and the improvements already
made upon the reservation, make it preferable
o any point on the wer Rio Grande Cling
he necessary conditions. Yours respecE-
ully, D. S. STANLEY
Ser eral. L. S. a.. Commanding De- :
partment of Texas.
have another letter to the same effect ,
rom the commander-in-chief Of the army
lated yesterday.
Mr.. Speaker, before taking my sest l
want TO call attention to one other mat
er. In the first place there are SIS 600 t
worth Of buildings on that site If the q
reservation be abandoned, those buildings
'elong to the owners Of the property. In
he next place there is. cemetery there;
nd in q letter from the commander (
hat 5000 soldiers are buried there I
WV cluCO L uaNC UECu iAGLlOeI VI tuIs 3
Ionse have seen large appropriations 5
made here for the maintenance Of national :
CEMETERIES. I have voted cheer 3
lilly for those appropriations, be- 8
ause I believed them to be right.d
lde by side as they fell in the moss covered .
dell 4
We have tenderly laid them a rest =
Who shall tell us day the blue from the gray q
BS the Gods that lie cold on their breast? o
loom the roses as red on the moss covered 4
bed :
And the me ckIng bird carols as free;
troops the willow as low on friend on foe; -
Sligo the zephyrs as soft as the sea,
lightly tread Ger the grave where we've buried
Scatter roses roses and garlands Ger all. I
we're they right. were they wrong, It's to God
they belong:
IT'S His 10 rel ct or receive.
'urs to honor the clay of the blue and the
gray; n
If it be true, Mr.. Speaker, that we
hould appropriate money for the main
ensnce of national cemeteries where
Jnion soldiers are buried, where Confed- q
rate soldiers are buried, does not the G
sme reason apply TO the maintenance 8
nd continuation of the cemetery st Fort .
'rown, where 5000 graves attest the fact :
hat their inmates died In the service of E,
heir country? Applause. :,