No. 425.
Mr. Cadwalader to Mr. Foster.
Department
of State,
Washington, March, 31,
1875.
No. 207.]
Sir: Referring to the instruction to you, No. 206,
of the 29th instant, which was accompanied by a copy of a telegram to the
Post-Office Department relative to the burning of the post-office at Nueces,
in Texas, by marauders from Mexico, I now transmit a copy of a telegram from
the governor of that State to the President craving protection against
similar acts. This will, of course, be given to the extent of the power of
the Government. It is expected, however, that the Mexican government will
restrain such trespassers, so far as it may be able so to do, by the direct
application of force, or deter a repetition of their outrages by the
prosecution of the leaders of the raids according to law.
I am, &c.,
JOHN L. CADWALADER,
Acting
Secretary.
[Inclosure in No. 201.]
Governor Coke to President Grant.
[Telegram.]
Austin,
Tex., March 30,
1875.
Sir: The depredations of organized bands of
robbers from the Republic of Mexico have of late increased in frequency
and atrocity to an extent which threatens the depopulation
[Page 892]
of the lower Rio Grande
country. The alarm in the country between the Nueces and Rio Grande
consequent upon these raids, in which our people are ruthlessly murdered
and their property forcibly taken by these foreign desperadoes, is
wide-spread, and unless relieved by some assurance of protection, must
result in a general break-up of the settlements. On the 26th of this
month a large party of these robbers penetrated the interior as far as
within eighteen miles of Corpus Christi, robbing stores and ranches and
murdering and capturing citizens, and capturing and destroying United
States mails. I appeal to your excellency for protection for the people
of that country against these invasions of outlaws from Mexico, since
they have been of almost weekly occurrence for several months past, and
are increasing in force and boldness.
The citizens of that country have been compelled, for the most part, to
move to the towns for protection, and no security exists outside of
these corporations for life or property, and the people in the towns
even hold themselves in constant readiness for defense.
I trust that your excellency will deem it proper to give security to-the
people on the Rio Grande border in view of the assurance I now give you
that an extreme necessity exists for it.
Very respectfully,
RICHARD COKE,
Governor of
Texas.
His Excellency U. S. Grant,
President of the United States.
