The Andrew County Republican. [volume], December 10, 1875, Image 6

About The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Missouri; Columbia, MO

                
mis nsi-:s:ii;xT'.s iii-:ssak.
JVoXilMI.l IKO.tl TUMUt I'.VUK.J
. A. re nctval of the appropriation for compil
ing the ollieial records ot the war, etc.
Tin; saw iii:-ai:imi:nt.
The condition of our Navy at this time is a sub
ject of tali-faction. It does not contain, it is
true, any i" the powerful cruising ironclads
which make fi much of the maritime strength of
some oUier nations, but neither our continental
situation nr our foreign policy repines that we
should have largo number of si. ips of this char
acter, while the situation and the uatuio of our
ports continue to make those of other nations
little dangerous to us. Cnderanycircumstanccs
our Navy docs contain, however," a consult r.tble
number of iron-dads oftlie nionitor class which,
though m.t properly cruisers, are powerful and
effective for harbor defense and lor operations
near our own shore. ; these all the su.gle
turreted one.-, fifteen in rummer, have been sub
stantially rebuilt, their rotten wooden beams re
placed iron, their hulls strengthened
and their engine.- and tnaciiinery thorough!;,
repaired, so that they are now in mo.-t
eflicaent (iniitioti and ready for sea as soon as
thev fan be maimed and put in commission.
The live double-turreted iron-clads belonging
to our Navy, by lav the most powerful of our
ship for lighting purpose.--, are also in hand un
dergoing complete repair, ami could be ready lor
sea in period? varying from lour to si months.
With then completed according to tiie present
design, and our two iron torpedo boats now
ready, our iron-dad fleet will be, for the purpose
of defeii-e it home, eipial to any force that can
be readily brought again-t it. of our wooden
navy aico, cruisers of various sizes to the num
ber of about forty, including those now in com
mission, are in the Atlantic, and could be ready
for duty as fast as men could be enlisted for
those not already in commission. f thCM. one
third are in effect new ships, and though some of
the remainder need considerable repairs on their
boilers ami machinery, they all are. or
can readilv be made, effective. These
constitute a fleet of more than
fifty war ship-, of which fifteen are iron-dads,
now in hand on the Atlantic coast. The Navy
has been brought to this condition by a judicious
and practical application of what eoiild bet-pared
from tlie current appr-pria'iou of the last lew
years aud from that made to meet the possible
emergency of two yearn ago. It has been done
'juietiy, without proclamation or display , ami
though it lias necessarily straitened the depart
ment in its ordinary cxiiewliturcs, and , as ?ar as
the iron -el ad are concerned, has added nothing
to the crm.-ing force of the Navy , yet the re-ult
is not the It .-s satisfactory, because it is to be
found in a meat increa-eof real rather than ap
parent force. The expense.- incurred in the
maiiiteuauce of an effective naval force in all its
branches are necessarily large; but such force is
essential to our position, relations and character,
and affects seriously tho weight oi our principle?
and policy throughout the whole sphere of na-virlresiuiri-ibility.
The estimates lor the regu
lar support of this- branch of the service for the
next year amount to a little U-.-s in the aggregate
tha.i those made for the current year, but some
additional apprpri.itionsaro a.-ked lor object
not include, in tae ordinary maintenance of the
Navy, but .dieted to tie of pressing importance
at this tuue. It would, in my opinion, be wise
at once to afford sufficient mean- for the immedi
ate completion of th. livedoubie-turreteil moni
tors now undergoing repairs, which must other
wise advance slowly and only a-- money can be
-pared Irom curreiit expenses, .supplemented
by these, our Navy, anued with the destructive
tveaiHins of lnoitern warfare, manned by our
seameu am! in charge of our instructed officers,
will present a foree'pow erf ul for the home pur
poses of a responsible, though peaceful nation.
T!IK COST OIK1CU llKfAKl'MI-XT.
The it-port of tlie Hostm-ister-General, here
with transmitted, gives a lull history of the de
partment lor the year just passed." It will be
observed, that the'delicie.icy to be supplied from
the Genera! Treasury is "increased over the
amount r "quired for the preceding year. In a
sountry so va-t in area as the Cnited States, with
large portion- sparsely settled, it must be ex
pected that this important service will be more
or le.-s a burden upon the Treasury tor many
years to c--in ; but there is no braiicirof the pub
lic service which interests the whole people moie
than that of cheap am! rapi I transmission of the
mails. The commercial advantage.- to be gained
by a direct line of American steamers to .south
American Mates will far outweigh the expense ot
service. JJy act of ongrcss approved March:;,
1.-75, almo-t all matter, whether properly mail
matter or not, may be .-cut any distance through
the mails in packages not exceeding four pounds
in weight for the sum of P' cents per pound. So
far as the transmission of real mail matter goes
this would seem entirely proper; but 1 suggest
the law be so amendedas to exclude from "the
mails merchandise of all description and limit this
transportation to all articles enumerated and
which may be classed as mail matter pioper.
Tim 1SI.ACK 111I.I.S.
The discovery of gold in the lilack Hills, a por
tion ot the Sioux reservation, has had the effect
to induce a large emigration of miners to that
point. Thus far the effort to protect the treaty
rights of the Indians of that section has been
successful, but next year will certainly witness
a large increase of such emigration. The nego
tiations for the relinquishment of the gold fields
having tailed, it will be necessary for Congress
to adopt some measures to relieve the embarrass
ment grow ing out of the cause.-, named. The
Secretary of the Interior suggests that the sup
plies now appropriated tor the sustenance
ol that people, being no longer obligatory
under tne treaty of Isi;s, but simply
a gratuity, be issued or withheld at his discre
tion. Tlie condition of the Indian Territory, to
which 1 have referred in several of my former
annual messages, remains practically unchanged.
The Secretary of the Interior has taken meas
ures to obtain a full report of the condition of
that Territory, and will make it the subject of a
special report at an early day. It may then be
necessary to make some "further recommenda
tions in regard to legislation for the go eminent
of that Territory.
the iwniNT-orrici:.
The steady grotvtn and increase of the business
of the patent -office indicate 111 some measure the
progre--of the industrial activity of the coun
try. Tne receipts of the office are in excess of
its expenditures, and the office ge icraily is in a
prosperous and satisfactory condition.
oru i'ri:i.ii:"i,AM).s.
The report of the General Land-office shows
that there were I'd acres less di-posed of
during thi- than during last year. More than
one-hall of this decrea-e was in lands disposed
of under the Homestead and Timber-culture
laws. Tlie causes of this decrease is supposed
to be found m the grasshopper scourge and the
drouths which prevailed so extensively in some
of the frontier slates and Territories during that
time as to discourage and deter entries by actual
settlers. The cash receipts were less by $i;'.'0,
'! than during the preceding vear. The en
tire surveyed area of the punlic domain is lS0,
J.TJ.Oaj acres, of which Ji;,o77,r:;i acres were
surveyed during the past year, leating 1, !."!, -171,7'Ji
acres still unsurveted.
THE TENSION" I'.UllUAU.
Tne number of pensioners still continues to
decrease, the highest number having been reach
ed during the year ending .lime oO, ls7". Dur
ing the last year ll,.V7 names were -added to the
rolls and li,:i77 were dropped therelrom, show
ing a net decrease of I, lid. Hut while the num
ber ol pensioners has decreased the annual
amount due on the pension rolls has increased
S I.47:i.SI.. This is n-au-ed by the great in
creascd average rate tT pension's, created bv the
liberal legislation of Congress. At the dose of
the last li.-cal year there were on the pension
rolls .1, s-.il persons, of whom 210..W! were Ar
my pensioners, I0.J.47S being invalids and 101,--'-s
widows anil dependent relatives; :;,!J0 were
Navv pensioners, ol whom l.'.'W were invalids,
and" 1,7-1 widows and dependent relatives;
'Jl,i::s were pensioners of the War of 1-1:!, Ij,s7j
ol whom were survivors and r,P"-"5 were widows.
Jt is estimated that $-2:,.".:;,),0cO will be required
for the pavment of pensions for the next fiscal
year, au amount $ !'.", out) less than the estimate
for the present year.
ii;)I.O;iC L EXfl.OKATIO.VS.
The geological explorations have been prose
cuted with energy 'luring the year, covering an
area of about iii.OtO square m'iles in the Terri
tories of Colorado, Utah and New Mexico, de
vuiopmg the agricultural and mineral resources,
and lurnishing interesting scientific and topo
graphical details of that region.
Till: IN'IUAN 'lUESTIOX.
The method for the treatment of the Indians
adopted at the beginning of my first term has
been steadily pursued ami with satisfactory and
encouraging results. It has been productive of
evident -improvement in the condition of that
race, and will be continued w ith only such modi
fication as further experience may indicate to be
necessary.
THi: CENTENNIAL.
The board heretofore appointed to
take
charge of the articles and materials per
taining to tne War, the Navy, the Treasury,
the Interior and the 1'ost-otlice I epari
nients and the Department of Agriculture,
the Smithsonian Institution, and the Commission
of Food fish, to be contributed under the legis
lation of last sc-sion to the International inhi
bition to be held at Philadelphia during the en
tennial t ear, I-7i.. ha-been diligent in the dis
charge of the duties which have devolved up m
it, and the propositions so far made, with the
means at command, give assurance that the
governmental contribution will be made one of
the marked ch.tiacteri-tic- of the exhibition.
The board has observed commendable economy
in the matter of the erection ot buildings lor the
Government exhibit, the c.per.-e of which it is
estimated will not exceed, say $-0,00(1. 'ihi
amouiirhas been withdrawn under the law irom
the appropriations of five of the principal de
partments, which lee .-ome of those depart
ments without siitlicient means to render their
re-peetive practical exhibits complete and satis
factory. The exhibition being an international
one and the Government being a voluntary con
tributor, it is my opinion that its contribution
should be of a character, in quality and extent,
to sustain the dignity and credit of so distin
guished a contributor. The advantages to the
coiint.-y of a creditable display are in au interna
tional "point of view of ine tir.-t impoi lance,
while an indifferent or unercditablo participa
tion by the Government would be humiliating to
the patriotic feelings ol our people themselves.
1 commend the estimates of the hoard for the
necessary additional appropriations.
The powers of Kurope, almost without excep
tion, many of the South American states, and
even the more distant Kastem Powers have man
ifested their friendly sentiments toward the
Cnited States, and the interest of the world in
our progress is evinced by the step taken to
join with us in celebrating tho Centennial of the
Nation, and I strongly re'-ommeud that a more
national importance be given to this exibition
b such legislation and by .-uch appropriation as
tvill in-iire it- success. It.- talue 111 bringing to
our shores innumerable Useful works of art and
skill, the commingling of the citizens of foreign
countries and our ow n. and the interchange of
ideas and manufactures will tar exceed any pe
cuniary outlay we may make.
IXK'I'ME.NIS TUAN.-MITI'Ell.
I transmit herewith the report of the Commis
sioner of Agriculture, together with the reports
otthe Commissioners, the Hoard of Audit and
the Hoard of Health of the District of Columbia,
to all oj which I invite your attention. The Hu
reau of Agriculture has accomplished much in
di-.-eininating useful knowledge to the agricul
turist and :uso by introducing new and useful
1 reductions adapted to our soil ami climate, and
arj worthy of uie continued encoiiragemei.t ot
the Govoii'ment. The report of the Commission
er of Iv.lucation , which aceomp-inie- the report
of the eeretar of the Interior, shows a gratify
ing progress 111 educational matters.
MOK.M'iN ri'LYV.AMI .
I have called attention to the anomalous, not
to sav scandalous, condition of affairs existing
in the Tcrritoiy of i tali, ami hate asked for de
linite legi-I nion tt correct it. I li it pol gamy
. t
should exi-t 111 a tree, enlightened ud Christian
country, without the power topuni-li so llagrant
a crime against decency and morality , seems pre-po.-terou-.
True, iherc is no law to" sustain thi
unnatural vice, but what is needed 1- a law 10
punish it as a crime, and at tne same time to fix
the status of the innocent children, the offspring
of this svsteni and of thepo-.-ibly innocents plural
wives; buta-an in-titution, polygamy should be
banished from the land.
While this is being done, I invite the attention
of Congress to another, though perhaps no le-s
an evil, the importation of Chinese women, but
few of w hom are brought to our shore.- to pursue
honorable or u-ef ul occupations.
LAWS KKdl l.A I I.Nd LANK SALE-.
observations while visiting the Territories of
Wyoming, I'talt, and Colorado during the pa.-t
autumn, convinced me that the ex-sting laws
regulating the disposition ot public lands, tim
ber, etc., ami probably the mining laws them
selves, are very detective and should he cardully
ainended and 'at au earlv dav. In a Territory
where the cultivation of the soil c;ni only be t'o -lowed
by irrigation, and this is not practicable,
the lands can only be used a- pasturage, and thi.
only where stock can reach water to quench it
thirst, and cannot he governed by the same laws
as to entries as lands et cry acre of which is an
independent estate by itself. Lands must be
hehl in larger quantities to justify the expense
of conducting water upon it to
make it fruitful or to justify utilizing it as pas
turage. The timber in most of the Territories is
principally confined to the mountain regions,
which are"held for entry in small quantities only
and as mineral lands. The timber is the prop
erty of the Cnited States, for the di.-po.-al of
which there is now 110 adequate law. The set
tler must become a consumer of this timber
whether he lives upon the plains or is engaged
in working the mines ; hence every man becomes
either a trespasser I "mself or knowingly a pa
tron of trespassers. My opportunities' for ob
serving were not sufficient to justify' me
in recommending specific legislation on
these subjects, bull do recommend that a joint
committee ot the two Jlouses of Congress,
sufficiently large to be divided into sub-committees,
be organized to visit all the mining States
and Territories during the coming slimmer, and
that the committee shall report to Congress, at
the next session, such laws or amendment- to
laws as it may deem m cessary to secure the best
interest of the Government, "and the people of
these territories, who are ih-ing so much for their
development, lain sure the citizens occupying
the territories described do not w ish to be tres
passers, nor will they be if legal ways are
provided for them to become owners
of these actual necessities of their positions.
UECArm'LATION.
As this will be the last annual message which
I shall have the honor of tr.in-mitti'ig to Con
gress befere my successor is chosen, I will repeat
or recapitulate the questions which I deem of
vital importance which should be legi-lated upon
and settled atthis session . Kirst That the State
shall be required to afford the opportunity of a
good coinnioii-sce.ool education to every "child
within their limits. Second That no sectarian
tenets shall be ever taught in any school support -(!
in whole or in part by the State or Nation, or
by proceeds of any tax levied upon any commu
nity; make Kducation compulsory so lar as to
deprive all persons who cannot read and write
from becoming voters alter the year Is'.n;
disfranchising none, however, on grounds
of illiteracy who may be voters at the
time this amendment takes effect.
Third Declare church and State forever
separate and distinct, but each tree within their
proper sphere, and that all church property shall
bear its own proportion of taxes. Fourth
Drive out licensed immorality, such as poly
gamy and the importation of women for illegiti
mate purposes. To recur again to the Centen
nial year it would seem as though now, as we
are about to begin the second century of our na
tional existence, would be the most fitting time
for these reforms. Fifth Knact such laws as
will secure a speedy return to a sound currency,
such as will command the respect of the world.
Helieving that these views will commend them
selves to the great majority ol the right-thinking
and patriotic citizens of the United States, I
submit the rest to Congress.
Signed " U. S. (J HAN'T.
ICxiiCEi it b Mansion, Dec. 7, IS7.1.
A litiioguai'HKD Chinese circular
on yellow paper has, according; to the
.Rangoon Mail, been extensively placard
ed over Uangoon. The following trans
lation of this document shows that it is
not of tin altogether comfortable na
ture: "Leong Yeon Kee, Governor of
Canton, brought three letters from Teo
Tsum Soo, a Minister of the Emperor
of China at Pekin, who has ordered that
forty-nine days be set apart to feast the
Chinese evil spirit. There will this
year be scarcity of rice and plent3" of
sickness. Evil spirits will descend to
examine and inquire into the sickness.
If people do not believe this, many will
die in September and October. Should
any people call you at midnight, do not
answer; it is not a human being that
calls, but an evil spirit. Do not be
wicked, but be good."
MEXICAN BORDER OUTRAGES.
IVotv American 'Citi.cus are I,Iuvtlerci
ami Kolibed Jiaitds of ICuiders Orjjm-ii-.cil
and lo-tcretl by t lie Vj'enltby Aa
livcrs OliicinI Kepon of ;-n. Oi'd to the
Necrclitry of V,'nr.
Mi:lfC.l:TKKS 1 i:i"A KTM KNT OK 'lY.X-
as. San Avium , Sept. H), isTo. Sin: I
hate the honor io report thai since I took
command d' thi- department in April la-t
the troop- -tatioiied therein have been kept
httsy scotit inir. building; telegraph Iin"-.
keeping po-ts in repair, ami attending li
other legitimate duties. Weekly target
practice lia-been 'kept up at ctery point,
and has re-uited in fair progress
where po-t and company commanders
hate taken proper intere-t in that ali-iiti-portant
branch of a soldier's education.
A campai'-'ii again-t predatory Indian- i
notv being t igorou-!y pro-eenteil by a col
umn compo-ed of six eompanie- of the luth
eat airy, two companies of the Jitii infantry,
am! I company of the '2lh infantry, under
command of l.ii-uieiiant-Colotiel Shatter.
'Jlth infantry. The Indian- against whom
Col. Shatter isoperatingprohablycami' from
.Mexico, and. after depredating; on the set
tlements of Nortlitte-teru Texa-, have re
treated to tlie edge of and into the
Slaked
l'lain-. So far hi.- parties have been sttc
ce lul only in de-troying one Indian camp
and material, and capturing a portion of the
stolen animals in their po-.-e.-sion. He tvill
remain in the lield a.- long a.- there is a
chance of linding Indians.
The mo-t important border dilliettlties.
however, from which the tve-teru port ion of
this department sutlers occur on the lower
Rio (irande, whore some of the mo-t promi
nent otlict is and -wealthy merchants of that
part of Mexico have " for some time been
regiiiarly engaged in the lutsim-- of lit ling
o'it parties to plunder the -lock ranches on
thi- -ide of tlie river, and when a- tva- to
be expected from the American.- there was
a di-po-ition not to submit to be plundered:
citizens tt ho dppo-cd or gave informal ion,
anin-t the raiders wi re mimb'rt d. Shortly
alter 1 tool; command of the department 1
receited report- of the murder in open day
light id -e oral prominent citizen- -one of
thet'ia I nited state- Collector, another a
l uiietl .-date- I'o-tma-ter and the robbing
ol their preini-es; also of an attack upon and
the killing of a patrol of soldier--, all done
by -ome of the armed band- of .Mexican
w ho. it tva- report d. v.ere contimiaUv run
ning large hem.- of American stock aero
into M'-xico. To -uch a degree were the
few Aineri.-in inhabitant- of tin con u: it -
bd.'eritig on Mexico intimidated l v the
i"rer,ueiit murders and threats. -igain.-t American-generally
by tlie-e raider- and their
friends and allie- among the large portion of
tagrant .Mexicans on our side of the river,
thai they, with the exception of one family,
lot: the country and lied to the towns.
i:i:u;. ok nuuio!:.
Throughout the valley of Hie Rio (irande.
from the mouth for a dt-tance of -JtlO mih -up
Hie river, and irom 1 10 mile- back from 1
it. crop-and herds hate been abandoned,
and people dared not travel except in armed 1
partie-. Civil law oii!-ide of the town- tva--ii-peiidcd.
and sheritl- and judge-reported
to me that it tva- un-afe to attempt to exe
cute proce--es ot law unle the ollieers of
the law were accompanied by soldiers to '
propteet them.
1'nder the.-c eireum-tautv- iim (lovernor
of the State applied through me and directly '
for a -utlicieiit military force to protect th-
trontier, stating hi.- inability to do -o with'
the mean- at hi- di-po.-al. 1 tva- directed to 1
inform him that it i- 1 he duty of tlie troop
on the Rio (irande frontier to protect ail the
oilicer-of the (ieiiera! Government , and a-'
far a-po-.-ible aid the State authorities in
protecting the people again-t organized
band-of marauder- from any quarter. "
which I did; at the same time I called at-
ieiiiion to the i:rave character of the inva
sion, and the importance of prompt and do-
eis-ve measures by the Government of the
I nited Staies. Tin State had but one small !
though act it e company of eat airy on that ;
frontier, and the Cnited States had live
q.iite -mall companies of t heittii cat airy scat
tered along the nter at a distance ox "iUO
miles. ;
The valley of the river for this distance is '
almo.-t a jungle twenty or thirty miles wide. (
with winding path- aitd roads cut through a 1
interval-. The -oil i- a rich alluvium, audi
even with the rude cultivation practiced by
the Mexican- produces a large yield of coi n,
cotton and -ugar-eane. A large number of ,
-mall ranches and Mexican huts, or jae-al-.'
are scattered along, generally nearthe
river. Tiie population of these is entirely !
Mexican. Their occupation appears to a
traveler along tlie road to be principally
screening them-olue- from the sttn in hot
weather and riding from ranch to ranch.
At nearly all the ranches ti-itcd by 111c 1 no
ticed a surplus of armed men. and that '.
lioi-se- were kept -addled. The American.- 1
s.iv it is impossible to discover who an hos
tile and engaged in raiding, for the popula- j
tiou is changing all the time and Mexican- '
from tlie west bank claim a re-idence on
either side, to -nit their convenience, and ,
claim immunity a- American ciiizeiis from
any interference by the military without due ;
pron of law. Thi- claim they can e-tab-li-h
by the easy procc-.- of .-wearing to what
ever i-ncec-sarv. so that a dozen or more
(in a-.-emble at a ranch in the United State
from Mexico or
lVrelice.
elsewhere and defv inter-
tin: i:aidi:i:s ok tin: i:to (;',:anii:.
In siiort. thi-valley i- the only part of
Texas where the Mexicans have continued
in po-se ion since the treaty of Guadaloupe.
and whenever Mexican troops, recruited
pel hap- from the prison or compo-ed largely
of criminals, have been sent to the Hio
Grande border, they hat e deserted almost en
ma-se, taking refuge on the ea.-t bank of the
river, where they join the rogue- who in
fest that country, and live upon either bank,
as it may suit their eomenionce. The hon
est Me.vicans who own ranches on our side
and have some few cattle and horse.- left are
more in dread of tlie .Mexican troop- on the
border than any one else. The river is no
obstacle to the raider-, for since the treaty
made its channel the line between the two
countries frequent changes have occurred.
uid point- of land hate been cut oil', and
now several pieces of .Mexico are found on !
this ride of the river. Those are used as ;
places of rendezvous for tlie larger raiding
parties, who can cro-.- at their leisure ami
Si Sarval ;
some unprotected ranch, perhaps a hundred I
miles from the river, kill anv who resi-t.
cast out as many cattle a-they need, and run
them to the river, where tame oxen from
the alexiean side are kept tied and without
water. The.-t being loo-ed go for the river
and home, leading th'' herd of stolen cattle
rapidly aero , where no rutted States au
thority has so far dared to follow, and where
the people turn out to welcome the success
ful spoilers of "los Americano-. "
Earlv in la.-t June, after I had. as above
stated, drawn the attention of tlie Govern-
meat to the grave character of these frequent j
violations of our soil, and the President had I 111 both cases the pirates were rewarded by trine of reason and revelation, and en
directed a small naval force, with light- ! promotion and honors. Patrolling; the , fi, ...,, t , l'i,.:
draught launches, to proceed to the mouth country along the Kio Grande witli a view ) nn tnc 'iat-l)lana 01 inc eclectic
of thi; Hio (irande. Adjutant-General Steele. I of intercepting raiders before they can Bible, which he is publishing in the
of this State, proceeded to the Kio Grande . reach the river with stolen herds in" their itrncb Pi-noL- te;'c -is Hi. Wnnl ,,f
to investigate the alleged invasion of that j possession. is as if we had tried to stop dep- , U 1CCk MC-scn'J7i a 1110 ),0'(lw
border. At his and my request .Mr.. Dwyer, j redations upon our commerce by the JJarbs Cod.
1 of this place, accompanied him as interpret-
it. tin his return, to suiuiiy queries of
mine he answered as follow.-:
i VIOLATIONS OK TIIK TKUATY.
StN ANioxto, .July.'i, 17.". General K.O. C.
On!, Cnited .-tates Army, Commanding Depart -
uieiit of Texas (."eneral : In compliance with
I your reipiest, I have the honor to reply to your
iiniiirie;i in reference to a 11 airs on the Hiotlraude
! border, .v ri itini :
I. Have you any reason for believing that IScn
'. oral Cortina i.-.-tiil in the .Mexican service?
This ipiestioii i fettled, as Ccneral Cortina has ! hut not legitimate enough for regular-to ap
, been sent under arrest to the City of Mexico j pit", tt ere compelled to botrav the iio-itioii
, "for ili-obedicnce of orders." 1 was informed :ll,',i the -trength of tin ir band.
ill Mat.tn.oras, -Mexico that Cortina was a Hrig- , j j .,,, f(,r .ii,.vinjr lIiat ,;,
adier eneral in the .Mexican Army, but, as he I , , , . r. ...!. ... . .- .1
; was not in active service, tva receiving h:tNr nier from i tie .d.-xtcan .oven m.-al or t he
, j,.,y. arrest of Cortina was due to the order for
', 1. Has he, as far as you ennhl learn, been sell- ' the movement of a natal force to the 31exi-
I ing came, i-ei, c-ic, 10 parties supplying que
spauirh ijovirtimeiit'r "
i Miring my visual jiro-.vnsviue, Texas, I met '
' Si'flii!' V:l"!iim.nr sl:viniO !i .--l:m!.-i!-l :l Irn.iei- t
' .........I ! I ....I.-.." ..... :rt...... .'.
! Yaguno told me he had come to Texas to buv cat- i murx adopted than simply sending; t roop
j tie to take to Havana. Cuba. enor Vaguifo.-aiil "" sailor- to look on while our people are
1 tome- ' 1 went .-nine tifty miles into Texas with : being de-poiled and murdered, for it is very
, the intention of purchasing beeve- irom some of et ideiit that the sailor-and -oldiers. iiovvet 11
1 the big cattle men of lexas.but 1 found out I
could do better in Matamoras, Mexico, and 1
returned there and bought the cattle I desired
irom C.heno." I asked who Cheuo was. He
replied, ' 'Cheno Cortina Juan Nepoiuuccno Cor
tina. Seuor Yaguno told me he had contracted with
Cortina tor :; n-'ii head of cattle, to consi-:
1 "''eves ami I,.iiio mixed cattle; that he
was 10 pay .-s 11 per neai, delivered at naguad,
Mexico.
s-enor Yaguno told me the steamer was then at
the Boca del Hio, waiting for the fir.-t cargo of
cattle. The name of the steamer, I believe, was
Irene of N ine.
:l. Did you learn how he furnished the cattle
and ttho.-c they were.-
.More than two-ihirds if not all the cattle fur
nished were Texas cattle. Cortina made the lirst
dclit cry 01 cattle at Hagiiad. Mexico. Sergeant
Hail, of Captain L. H. MeNallyV company, State
troops, an intelligent and most trustworthy man,
was sent, disguised , to Inspect the cattle at Hag
dad and on the lighters that were loading the
steamer, lie reported that the most of the cattle
shinned had Americnn ln:r.iil hr:mi!cil with
Captain If. lung's, of Santa Certrinles, Nueces
Conwy; capi. ienneity s, .ludge raruer s, and
other brands of citizens" of Texas.
I . Were any of his employi c.- killed while driv
ing across recently to Mexico; if .-, how many,
etc. , and who?
1 believe all the men killed by McNallv's com
pany of rangers mi the I ah day of .lane, !?70,
were employees of (.eneral 1 ortma.
An Inspector of Ctislomoof :he port of Hrotvns-
villi was aboard the lighti r whilst taking cattle
on the Mexican bank of Kio Hravo, and he made
an allidavit (which I believe is in tin; hands of j
Adjutant -1. eneral William Steel, at Austin, Tex- !
t a.-; , to the effect that he saw General Cortina '
siiperinteii.i in poivon tlie deuvery of catt:e at
Hairdad. Mexico, and that he recognized one
I'ancho f.op,,, one Guadrdnpe r-;:Ts.!, and:
.lo-e .Maria Akuin, alias Ahaia, wl.o v.ere with
(.
i t.i:a at the time.
f!i.
dead bodies of I'ancho Lope., Guadalupe, 1
.-a and others were r.t.ogni.cd among:
Kspin
tho-c killed by C.tpt-uinMcNaUy'scompanv. and!
it was well known that Algum. alias Abuja, ar-
rived at Matamoras severe v wounded, he be- 1
mi: the only one of the cattle thieves who es-
CTnese raiders were takir.g about -.0 head of!
line beeves to makeup the best load for Havana. !
.'). How many of the lower or more desnerate
Mexicans could Cortina murtcr to aid him in al
raid, and did you learn if a larsre party cro-sed
recently intending to attack towns and villages;
11 so, wny did tne attack tan, etc.?
iVom all 1 could a.-eeitain Cortina could easily !
rai-e at lea.-t -.'.i o I well armed men. " !
The raiders that depredated on the Nueces '
1'iver came from the Kepul lic ot Mexico. This '
i-not even ib nicd by Mexican citizens in Mata- !
monis and Camargo", Mexico. j
It was a positive inva-ioii of Texas. The raid
was to have been more extensive, as a great I
manv more raiders than tho-e who evenlmillv
came to the Nueces Hiver cm. ed the Hio (-irande
Hivcr ami met at a rendezvous in t!v interior of
'r..:n l.lll hli-!:itv in e.m-..(o;. o.-e..f 5. .lis-.
iI:e.u.1!..o,. l .Li..seiv-:.-io.v1iosH.Mi ..as-UMie.
command ol the expedition, tne partv broke up, ,
and mo-t of the raider-, returned to Mexico, bat
one of the chiefs got a partv to follow him, and
made the successful raid." having, within r.ve I
nmes in Corpus Christ!, stolen money, watches,
clothing, goods, arms and horses, and totallv
dCstroyeii by lire the store of Mr. Noakes.
Mr. Noakes wounded one of the raiders, nam
ed Goiiina, who was hung at Corpus Christi.
The raiders wounded a citizen named Smith at
Noakes" store.
I was informed by a Mexican gentleman, a
lawyer and man of standing in Matamoras, .Mex
ico, that he knew that Cortina had organized and
encouraged the raid in Texa- Kigt.t of the
raiders, on their return from Texas with their
iiooty. were arrested in Camargo and Mier. .Mex
I ico. Lverv one ot them was mounted on hor.-es .
bearing American brands, as reported by .Mr. j
Avery, the Cnited States commercial agent at
Camargo, Mexico. j
The raiders, from ail accounts, came prinei- 1
pally from Los Cuevas, Heynosa, La Holsa and
.Matamoras, Mexico. " ;
In conclusion, I would say that I gathered the 1
aliove information during" a tour of inspection j
and observation in conjunction with General '
William -Hecle. the Adjutant-General of Texas,
under official instructions of his Kxcelleucy Gen-
erai ookc.
I have the honor to bp, General, very respect- j
fully, t our obedient servant, ' !
Sig:iedl .losr.ru K. Owvki:. 1
HANDITS IN' CO.M.MtN'I) OK GO VIOLS' -tlHNT
liCAIIDS.
alajor Dwt er i- one of the mo-t n liable
men of tiiis city, and was urged by me to go ;
w ilh General ste'de. because he tvas friend- 1
ly disposed towaitls Me.xi. in citizens geuer- '
ally, and had expre ed the belief that the i
report-of raiding were much exaggerated.
and thought the Americans as much to j
blame a- the Mexicans. 1
1 have learned from a gentleman of relia- ;
bility that the present commander of the
( ustom-house guards at Mier. Mexico, is a
iiotor'nti- bandit, and led the partv that
murdered Mr. Lovell. in Jlav la-t. and
plundered the Tinted States Custom-inuise
at 'an.o. 1 hate reeest ed letter- Irom or . " " ,
coin cr-cd with nearly etery 'nited State-; Nothing more was seen or Heard ot
and State otlicial from Hrown-tilh" to Kio ' the turtle that vcar. Hut the next sen
Grande Citv. and without exception thev ; ,, . , . T
corroborate" the statements which I hate ! son II' was 111 n,s i?1"1'" 'h.v,
given. Tiie ( atliolie Ju'-iiop id" tiiat di-trict, i and looking into the brook, there, on
who has vi-ued. 1 sttppo-e. evert ranch I
from the i!razo- to Slier, and who doubtle
ha- tlie intere-t of native .Mexicans at heart
and at one time thought the Americans to :
bbime. !i lived mo 1 li-if 111 bi loiiiiion llni-i .
would be no neace in that countrv for our .
'eitiens until the Menu Madro should be
1 made the boundary line.
I I believe the r nited States is able to pre-
; sene the integrity of and enforce a proper
tt.tiu io; us 0011 soi: ituooui u..iunum:
its limits.
a vicouors and acgkkssivi: I'ot.icv hi':c-
(M.tti;N't)i:i.
j Tiie arrest of Cortina by the Mexican Gov
ernment, duo to the order of the ITcsident
sending a naval force to
the Lower Hio j
ecu followed up 1
(irande. could ea-ily have lt
bvan attack upon and breaking up of the '
iu-ts of robbers at I.o-Cuevas. (iuerreroand '
Ktr. " h"OW" lU JU-Mran I
it- well Known to the Mexican au- i
thoriiic.-.
1 .
It seem- tome that tlie circumstances of
the plunder ot the stock ranches on the Hio
: Grande are alino-t identical with the piracies
committed on our commerce at one time by
' the Algerincs, who lied in security to their
' own port- with their prizes. There the
, oll'en-e- were committed on the open -ea:
lu re the-, are committed with the same ea-e
(di tin open plain.
found :l CeMlR- -rib
In both ca-es the pirates j
! iiorts where" their expeditions were titled '
lUl men i.iliniira 111 IIIC
. out. namely. Algiers and Tripoli, etc.. for I
f'.w. tT.wi..
...... .-..... f ........ .. ...
-Mier, and Guerrero for the" Mexicans, and !
.ii.iL.ioioi.is, i.ri iisj j .un;u go.
j ly scattenuir our i rtti-ers :ilonr tin north
coa.-t of Africa with the view of iiUerceptin-.
some Algerine pirate before he could get
within three leagues of the land with his
American prize.
The siicee of Captain McNallv of tin
State troop- in striking the party of Cortina"
men in po 1 ion of stolen herds recently
tva-due to his accidentally capturing 'ttt
straggling robbers, who, bythe'ii-o of the
onlv ell'ectual mean- known in such ca-e-.
'.tit sninn r.
! A-Cortina was
not the onlv leader of raid
ing bands, and the other- are still at their
old lui-ine-s, some more eH'eetual means
willing;, can do nothing if confined to this
side of the river, and an order to make re
prisals, with the means to carry out tin or
der, has sometimes resulted in indemnity as
well as -ecttrity.
Copies of quite a number of affidavits and
of 1 statement- corr.boratitV of what I here re
port, and received from Cnited States and
State ollieials, have been forwarded by me
through the proper channel to tiie i?tate De
partment. Originals of a part of the.-t.
numbered from 1 to 10. are forwarded here
with. I am, re.-pectfullv. vour obedient
I servant.
K. O. C. Oi:n.
A.. Commanding;.
Rrigadier-Coneral C. S
A Knowing Turtle.
In a certain town of Connecticut 51
man had planted his garden, and very
near the water Avas a bed of encumber
In the brook there, close by. a large
turtle made his home, ami he would
frequently stray for hours on a large
rock to sun himself. Now. tins turtle
liked cucumbers sis well as boys ami
girls liked peaches. .Every night he
would go out among tin? vines, and
make his supper from the fruit. Every
morning the owner of the garden went
out, and found his best cucumbers,
which he intended for his own dinner,
eaten. i ms displeased lnm very muctl.
u 1.... ,r.... 1 . 1. v....
m-i 11.41.-, "" '"' ""s""11! i"1
tne old turtle that knew en'uirn to tuck
. , , , , ,'.
out the be-t cttcumoers. lor Ins supper,
knOV'' enough to keep out of traps. The
man put lip "scare-crows ;M but the
. : ,. . , . ., ,
turtle wasn t airaut. rA'ery Ulgilt lie
went out of his mud-house, by traps anil
under scare-crows, and feasted till he
could eat no more, lint one morning
he stayed too late. Air. Wilson, who
owned the garden, arose very eurly.and
there he saw the thief scratching his
tvaj" to the brook as fast as his scaly
; claws could CaiTV him.
,' ,, ,
i All". WllSOtl SUW 110 UlUSu C
it en
the
turtle OV lOSC IlIS CUCUmOefS. ilC
watched fr him very closely the next
- i . , 1 ,
nig;ht, and JUSt as he was enjoying a
p.o.itl,!,,. bo nut his foot under
him and turned him over on his back.
The old fellow clawed and struggled,
and snapped with his seisjors-like jaws;
but it was of no use. lie had been
stealing too long to get away easily-
Ah. Wilson put him into a barrel, won
! . , ,.
deritur what he should do with him.
Tht next day, as Air. Wilson was go
inr to drive over to the store in the
neighboring town, he thoiurht he would
put the troublesome turtle into his
wagon, and carrying him off.
xow he had read of people's cutting
! illM,,,. . ,. ,i,0 i,.,,.i- ,.f f,.,.fi, . .,,,,!
,.tci 011 te "MW ot tt.t tie.-, .hid
Iettnur
them iro, lindinir them airain after manv
vears. He thoujrht he would trv it. So
he took hi knife, and cut '"A. W."1 in
the turtle's back. And he cut a '"Miuare
aim compass muter ms inuntis. Jie
was -ure he should know that turtle if
he ever saw him again. Then off he.
drove, with his prisoner at his feet, in a
basket. When he got about set en miles
from home, he came to a bridge which
cros-ed a river. Here he stopped and
j tjir(W Ah. Turtle into the tvater.snvin"; :
; , '"'.'
"'1 gues you will not steal out oi
rarden airain verv soon."
tin; .-tone watch-tower, was the otd tur-
tie aiiain.
gain.
The very same ; a little larger than a
dininir )late now, but with "A. W.'
J :m(j "square and compass" on his
'11
j :u'k.
j Seven miles afoot! Isn't that pretty
well for a turtle, boys? Who taught
him to love his old home in the muddy
brook? Who showed him the way back ?
What kind of "guide-boards"' has God
up in the water and the grass to
. . .
lu,ull ulL U1U 10:1,1 l" :i t"''
I wonder if he sunir "Home. .Sweet
tt ... ,1...
Homeronthewayl-r,;,
. Ax Eclectic Church has been formed
by the I!ev. Alpheus l'ickell, tif Urush
Creek, Towa. The Eclectic Tope claims
to be infallible. lie proclaims only a
limited punishment in the future life :
(len;es tIie (ioc.lr;ne 0f tw Uosurrection
as taught by the orthodox churches;
ndoe-; the- m-nmis-o nf tho 1?
"
of Christ; pronounces bigamy the (toe-
B