PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
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twelve months the inhabitants in this village have been contented and happy on account of the protection of their personal rights, the defense of their families against the Indians, enjoying prosperity and peace; and, having in mind such expressions, we believe without doubt that such must have been the instructions with which he was charged by the Supreme orders of a Government from whom such was to be ex- pected, and that he must have directed his intentions to such a noble object; but unfortunately, we ·have not seen their realization. On the contrary the people have not enjoyed these guarantees, and are making it known to Your Excellency, that before their powers were destrbyed by the same Hon. Lamar, they suffered oppressions of great magnitude, even to the point of seeing one of their own citizens assaulted in his own house. Can this be called protection of our personal rights? The barbarian indians, whenever they have wished, have committed robberies and assassinations, as is their custom; and although it is true that sometimes parties of American troops have been sent out to pursue them with the object of warning them by punishment. The case has not arisen in which this has happened, the cause being unknown. With the exception of one or two [cases] in which, accompanied by Mexi<)an citizens, they have succeeded in overtaking them recovering from them some clothing or jewelry of their use. In the interior of the town they frequently resent · offences; the residents complain that in their very sight and on opportune occasions, their property is taken away from them, likewise the cattle are carried off which the troops need for rations; when the proprietor comes up at once to reclaim the bee".es, he is paid whatever price he asks; when this does not happen, nobody is paid; it being worthy of note that the beeves that are caught and brought are killed, with the attendant circumstances that those which are not shot in the head are left wounded and exposed to die, and the proprietor loses all, as has happened and is happening. There is more: this conduct is imitated particularly by all of the American soldiers who have wished [to do so] and it is spreading greatly among the bad Mexicans who cannot be hindered on account of the total lack of the Administration of Justice, so that in a short time while this disorder obtains the army will be left without this help, and the people without the property which is the only means of subsistence that remains to th~m. By all which Hon Gen. the commission of the people, pray Your Excellency very highly that you will please answer this commu- nication opportunely- God and Liberty. Laredo, Mexico April 10, 1848-JosE MARIA GONSALES- JosE MARIA RAMON- BASILIO BENABIDES-Hon. General in Chief Wool of the American troops in Monterrey.- [Endorsed :] Mexican No. 2386. INHABITANTS OF SANTA ROSA TO LAMAR AND OTHER OFFICERS AT LAREDO [Translation from the Spanish J The Fellow Citizens of Your Excellency in the whole extent of this valley, together with the native residents of the same, request the honor of your presence and that of Your Honorable Officials at a dance which they have planned to give to night at the house of D. Firso Castillon,
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