194
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1850
through Point Isabel, and exchanged for specie, hides, wool, &c., to the same amount returning through the same channel. Point Isabel, as is well known, is the port of entry for all the trade of that section of country. Goods, money, and other prop- erty, often to a large amount, are stored at that place, en 'route, each way. Until some time in April last, the Government has had a greater or less number of troops stationed at Fort Polk; but, some time in that month, it is understood that an order was issued for the evacuation of this place, and for turning over the public buildings to the use of the custom-house. This proceeding is thought by the well-informed to have been unadvised and impolitic, and calculated to endanger the safety of Point Isabel, by its being exposed to attack by the Indians and other marauders, known to be lurking in that neighborhood, in considerable numbers, and who have on one or two occasions, attacked and robbed the trains or wagons between Point Isabel and Brownsville. A good deal of anxiety is felt by those directly interested in the trade and prosperity of this section. This step of the Administration, at least, requires some ex- planation, and it is the subject of the resolution to see how far the frontier has been exposed by the removal of the troops from Point Isabel. I only ask for information, without any view to an open dis- cussion upon the subject. There is certainly no difficulty on the part of the Indians or other marauders, in marching past Fort Brown and taking possession of the whole of the lower portions of the country. If caravans have been attacked below that point, it argues that the fort gives no protection to them, if they can march round to Point Isabel. I should imagine that if troops were necessary at any place, it would be where the population is small, as at Point Isabel. I think it would be a miserable policy to march the troops to Brownsville and leave Point Isabel unprotected. At Brownsville there is a population of some thousands. If the country about Point Isabel is a mud flat there is nothing to maraude upon except the custom-house, and for this reason, it seems to me, there is a greater necessity that troops should be stationed there than at Brownsville. As to the policy of locating a custom-house at Point Isabel, I defer to the superior judgment of the Senator from Mississippi. He, however, agrees with the officers controlling that department, and I shall not interpose my judgment against theirs.
Powered by FlippingBook