The federal government of that republic appears to be so apathetic on this
subject, or so powerless to prevent such raids, that sooner or later this
Government will have no other alternative than to endeavor to secure quiet
on the frontier by seeking the marauders and punishing them in their haunts,
wherever these may be. Of course we should prefer that this should be done
with the consent, if not with the co-operation, of Mexico. It is certain,
however, that if the grievance shall be persisted in the remedy adverted to
will not remain untried. It is not, however, expected that for the present,
at least, you will make a formal representation to that government to this
effect.
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Schuchardt to Mr.
Fish.
Commercial
Agency of the United States of America,
Piedras Negras, December 26, 1872. (Received Jan. 14,
1873.)
No. 94.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt on the 25th of December of your dispatch No. 35, dated November
2,1872, relative to the immigration of hostile Indians from the United
States to Mexico, and the views of the honorable Secretary of the
Interior on this subject. Said dispatch was directed via Santa Fé, N.
Mex., which accounts for its delay on the road.
A short time after I wrote my No. 87, dated September 1, 1872, this State
(Coahuila) has returned to her constitutional condition, and the office
of gefe politico is abolished. The gefe politico of this district, who
at the time treated with those Indians, has since retired to private
life, and there the question about their admittance into this country
rests. The actual government of this State, it seems, has not taken any
notice of the matter, as I am not aware of any measures taken by it to
prevent the Indians from coming, or to compel them to leave the country,
or to move farther to the interior of it.
The apprehension expressed by the honorable Secretary of the Interior
that these Indians desire to go into the States adjacent to the United
States for the purpose of establishing a city of refuge, to which they
can flee after committing depredations
[Page 644]
and outrages upon citizens of the United States,
has already proven well founded. A month ago a party of these very same
Lepans and Comanches (as such they were recognized) made a foray on
Texas, swept the country east and north of Laredo clean of horses, took
some cattle, and also captured several boys, of which one escaped; after
this they recrossed to Mexican territory and encamped on a place called
“Los Arboles,” whence they came to the Mexican town “El Remolino” to
dispose of their plunder.
It is the custom of the country that, by direction of the government, the
horses of the Indians are from time to time branded with the brand of
the corporation, and thus declared good and transferable property, and
then they can be bought by anybody.
The Indians, after a raid, once on this side of the Rio Grande, feel
secure, knowing very well that they cannot be pursued by our troops
across the line. The Mexican government, who is not disposed or is too
weak itself to prevent the raiding of the Indians into the United States
territory, at least should not object to the crossing of our troops when
pursuing them into their places of refuge in Mexico. The Indians once
knowing that the Rio Grande is not any longer an impediment to our
troops to keep on the pursuit, even across the river, they very soon
would agree to go to a reservation; and as they know well that they
cannot expect much from the Mexican government, they probably would
surrender to the United States. As it is now, it seems natural that the
Mexican government is responsible for what depredations the Indians,
harbored in this country, commit in Texas.
I am, &c.,
WM. SCHUCHARDT,
United States Commercial Agent.
