No. 275.
Mr. Nelson to Mr.
Fish
No. 336.]
Legation of the United States, Mexico, January 10, 1871. (Received January
25.)
Sir: On the 4th instant I addressed a note to the
secretary for foreign affairs, in which I inclosed a copy of your dispatch
dated December 12, 1870, relating to the depredations committed by bands of
hostile Indians, chiefly located in the Guadalupe Mountains, upon the
settlements of the Rio Grande from Paso del Norte downward. I also inclosed
a copy of a communication from the Secretary of War to the Department of
State, dated December 7, 1870, on the same subject. In compliance with my
instructions, I asked the Mexican government to consent to adopt the
suggestions of the Secretary of War in respect to the said Indians, and to
authorize the government of the State of Chihuahua to communicate and
co-operate with the commander of the sub-district of the presidio at Port
Davis, and, if necessary, to permit the troops of the United States to
follow the Indians into Mexican territory and, with the aid of the Mexican
troops, to intercept the Indians in their flight. In view of the emergency,
requiring immediate action in the premises, I invoked the favorable answer
of the Mexican government with as little delay as possible, (A.)
On the 7th instant, Mr. Lerdo replied that, desiring to co-operate so far as
depends upon the executive in the plan proposed in my note and the
inclosures, the President has decided to authorize the government of the
State of Chihuahua to communicate with the commander of the sub-district of
the presidio at Fort Davis, and to co-operate with him toward the success of
the proposed plan, causing the forces which the governor of Chihuahua may
employ for the purpose to intercept the flight of and to pursue the said
hostile Indians who may flee to Mexican territory. With this object, Mr.
Lerdo says he has communicated this authorization to the governor of
Chihuahua, and also to the war department, recommending to the latter that,
in order to take advantage of the present winter season, the said governor
should be charged to lend efficient co-operation to the proposed plan with
all the forces at his disposal. In regard to the permission for the troops
of the United States to follow the said Indians into Mexican territory, the
secretary adds that the executive has not the power to grant it, as the
constitution of Mexico reserves that right to congress, which is not now in
session, but will again meet on the 1st of April next, and that if I will
then make it known that such permission is still desirable the subject will,
in that case, be submitted to that body, (B and C.)
In this connection I beg leave to call the attention of the Department of
State to the proposition of the Mexican government contained in the note of
the secretary for foreign affairs, dated April 16, 1870, which was inclosed
in my dispatch No. 216, (bis,) concerning the removal
of certain fragmentary bands of Indians from Mexico to their proper
reservations
[Page 611]
within the territory
of the United States. In that note Mr. Lerdo said that “the government of
Mexico can co-operate with pleasure in furthering the object of the
Government of the United States of America, an object both just and humane,
the preventing of the depredations which the scattered bands of Indians are
in the habit of committing on the frontier. This co-operation can consist in
this, that if the Government of the United States should think proper to
give notice of the time and place of the arrival on the frontier of the
agents who may be sent to visit and unite the scattered bands of Indians,
the government of Mexico would, at the proper time, place a force at the
point designated to give to such agents the aid desired.”
It is to be hoped that the Congress of the United States, during its present
session, in the interests of humanity and for the peace and prosperity of
the frontier, will make the necessary appropriation for the removal of the
said Indians from the soil of Mexico to their reservations within our own
territory.
Your obedient servant,
Inclosures.
A.—Mr. Nelson to Mr. Lerdo.
B.—Mr. Lerdo to Mr. Nelson.
C.—Mr. Lerdo to Mr. Nelson. (Translation.)
A.
Mr. Nelson to Mr.
Lerdo
Legation of the United States,
Mexico, January 4, 1871.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a copy of a
dispatch from the Secretary of State of the United States, dated
December 12, and also a copy of a communication from the Secretary of
War of the United States, dated December 7, both of which relate to the
depredations committed by bands of hostile Texan Indians, chiefly
located in the Guadaloupe Mountains, upon the settlements of the Rio
Grande, from El Paso to Del Norte.
The Secretary of War states that his Department is compelled to authorize
military operations against these Indians, which can only be
successfully carried on in the winter season; that they can be driven
from their haunts, but that they will flee to Mexican territory, and
that therefore it becomes necessary to seek the co-operation of the
authorities of the republic of Mexico. The Secretary of War further says
that if the national government of Mexico will authorize the government
of the State of Chihuahua to communicate and co-operate directly with
the commander of the sub-district of the presidio, whose headquarters
are at Fort Davis, in the State of Texas, permitting, if need be, the
troops of the United States to follow the Indians into Mexican
territory, and using the Mexican troops to intercept the Indians in
their flight, it is expected that a winter campaign will so cripple the
power and subdue the spirit of the marauders, as to afford sensible
relief from apprehension of danger and actual loss of life and property
to the exposed citizens of both countries.
The said Secretary is advised that the authorities of the State of
Chihuahua are favorably disposed toward the plan indicated, and that if
the necessary order and authority can be obtained without delay, for
their direct co-operation, it will enable the operations to be pursued
this present winter.
In compliance with the instructions of the Department of State of the
United States, I respectfully request that your excellency’s government
will consent to adopt the suggestions of the Secretary of War, in
respect to the said Indians, and to authorize the government of the
State of Chihuahua to communicate and co-operate with the commander of
the sub-district of the presidio, at Fort Davis, and if necessary to
permit the troops of the United States to follow the Indians into
Mexican territory, and with the aid of the Mexican troops to intercept
the Indians in their flight.
In view of the emergency which requires immediate action in the premises,
I beg leave to invoke the favorable answer of your excellency’s
government with as little delay as possible.
I have the honor, &c.,
[Page 612]
C.
[Translation.]
Mr. Lerdo to Mr.
Nelson
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico,
January 7, 1871.
Sir: I have the honor to reply to year
excellency’s note of the 4th instant, with which you sent me annexed
copies of a dispatch from the honorable Secretary of State, and of a
note from the honorable Secretary of War of the United States of
America, dated respectively the 12th and the 7th of December last, both
relating to the depredations committed by bands of hostile Texan
Indians, chiefly located in the Guadalupe Mountains, upon the
settlements of the Rio Grande from Paso del Norte downward.
In these two notes the necessity is set forth of undertaking military
operations against those hostile Indians, which can only be successfully
carried on in the winter season; the probability that, on being pursued,
those hostile Indians would take refuge in Mexican territory; the
necessity of seeking the co-operation of the authorities of the State of
Chihuahua; the convenience of their being authorized by the national
government of Mexico to communicate and co-operate with the commander of
the sub-district of the presido, whose headquarters are at Fort Davis,
in the State of Texas, permitting, if need be, the troops of the United
States of America to follow these hostile Indians into Mexican
territory, and using the Mexican troops to intercept them in their
flight, and the information had that the authorities of the State of
Chihuahua are favorably disposed toward the plan indicated.
Desiring to co-operate, so far as depends upon the executive of Mexico,
in the plan proposed in your excellency’s note and its in closures, the
President has decided to authorize the government of the State of
Chihuahua to communicate with the commander of the sub-district of the
presidio, whose headquarters are at Fort Davis, Texas, and to co-operate
with him toward the success of the proposed plan, causing the forces
which the said governor of the State of Chihuahua may employ for the
purpose, to intercept the flight of and to pursue the said hostile
Indians who may flee to Mexican territory.
With this object I communicate this authorization to the governor of the
State of Chihuahua, and also to the War Department, recommending to the
latter, that in order to take advantage of the present winter season, it
immediately charge the said governor to lend efficient co-operation to
the proposed plan with all the forces at his disposal.
As to the permission for the troops of the United States of America to
follow the hostile Indians who may flee into Mexican territory, the
executive has not the faculty to grant this permission, as the
constitution of Mexico reserves it to congress, which is not now in
session, but will again meet on the 1st of April next. Therefore, if
your excellency shall then make known that such permission is still
desirable, it will in that case be submitted to congress.
I have the honor, &c.,
