No. 289.
Mr. Nelson
to Mr. Fish.
Legation of the
United States,
Mexico, April 24, 1873.
(Received May 13.)
No. 727.]
Sir: In reply to your No. 330, of the 20th ultimo,
concerning a new attempt which is to be made for the removal of the Kickapoo
Indians to their reservation in the United States, I have the honor to
inclose a copy of a note which I addressed to Mr. Lafragua, under date of
the 22d instant, (A,) requesting the co-operation of the Mexican government
in this humane object, and of the reply of Mr. Lafragua of the same date, (B
and C,) informing me that the necessary order (D and E) had already been
sent to the governors of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure A.]
Mr. Nelson to Mr.
Lafragua.
Legation of
the United States,
Mexico, April 22,
1873.
Sir: Referring to my numerous previous
communications on the same subject, I have the honor to inform your
excellency that the Government of the United States has resolved to make
another attempt to remove the Kickapoo Indians from Coahuila to their
reservation within the United States. To that end it has appointed a
special agent, who has been instructed to set out upon his mission
during the month of May proximo.
The Government of the United States, in view of the grave difficulties
which attend
[Page 666]
the further
continuance of this tribe of marauders upon the Mexican frontier, whence
they constantly and with impunity wage a predatory warfare upon the
cattle-farms of Texas, hopes and believes that your excellency’s
government will take such measures as will not merely prevent the
recurrence of that interference of the local authorities of Coahuila
which frustrated a former effort of the same character, but will throw
the moral and material weight of your excellency’s government in aid of
the humane object in view.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure C.—Translation.]
Mr. Lafragua to Mr.
Nelson.
Department
of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, April 22,
1873.
Sir: I have the honor to reply to your
excellency’s note of to-day concerning the new agent appointed by the
United States to make an effort for the return of the Kickapoo tribe to
its reservation within the United States.
This department had been previously informed of the appointment of a new
commission, and had already taken the most efficacious measures to
insure that the governors of the frontier States should render it all
the aid it might need, as your excellency will see by the copy which I
have the honor to inclose.
Having thus replied to your excellency’s note, I renew the sentiments of
my very distinguished consideration.
[Inclosure E.—Translation.]
Order to the governors of the States of Coahuila and
Nuevo Leon.
Department
of Foreign Affairs, American Section,
Mexico, April 12, 1873.
To the Citizen Governors of the States of Coahuila and
Nuevo Leon:
Certain civil agents, commissioned by the Government of the United States
of America to superintend the contemplated return of the Kickapoo
Indians to their reservation in the United States, being about to arrive
on the frontiers of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, the citizen President has
been pleased to direct that you be immediately and very urgently
requested to render these commissioners all the aid they may need for
the pacific arrangement of this matter. You will also please immediately
inform this department of all the incidents which may occur in this
connection.
Independence and liberty!
