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But aside from the complications arising from the presence of the hostile Indians in Mexico, there remains the more important question of the continued depredations on the Texas frontier made by the Mexicans themselves. So far as i have knowledge, the Indians have never operated below Laredo. All the cattle - and horsestealing below that point, and it embraces much the larger operations and much of that above, is committed by Mexicans themselves.

         It is quite as important to the peace of that frontier, that the Mexicans be restrained from these robberies, as that the Indians should be.      Suppose the question of the Indians to be settled by their removal or by permission for our troops to follow them into Mexico, will the Mexican Government permit us to follow into Mexico and punish their own citizens, engaged in the same nefarious traffic?
         It is very doubtful, yet it must be done, or the robberies will not cease so long as there are cattle and horses left on that frontier for them to steal.
         The Mexican Government if inclined to so so, cannot stop it, and it has not the power.  I have received the communication from the State Department, sent me from your Headquarters, containing a despatch from the Mex. War Department stating that orders have been given by it, to have the cattle-stealing on the Rio Grande frontier watched and restrained.  To one familiar with the actual state of affairs in Mexico, such an order is simply amusing.  It is well know here, that such an order to the Mexican States on the Rio Grande would be about as much regarded as one of mine.  From latest information on the subject, not a Mexican federal soldier was East of the Sierra Madre, Except one small battallion of Infantry at Matamoras.  The only other Mexican troops on the Rio Grande are 50 or 60 State troops of Coahuila at Piedras negras, opposite Fort Duncan.  What prospect is there then with such a force, to effectually watch and restrain a traffic, which constitutes the principal occupation of the great body of the idle and disorderly population of that frontier, receiving, as it does, the countenance and protection of a powerful General of the Mexican Service - Cortinas-, powerful from the very fact of his controlling this ill-disposed and unruly element.     General Cortinas lives near the Rio Grande, about midway between Matamoras and Carnargo, and the fact is fully recognized there that he is more powerful in the State of Tamaulipas, than either the Federal or State Governments, so that whatever action the Mexican Government may take on the question of our frontier relations, unless it is approved by Cortinas, it cannot be carried out on the part of the Government.  You must be aware of this yourself, and I hope the Government will understand it too, when it comes to negociate.
         The real Mexican Government, so far as affairs on the Rio Grande are concerned, is whoever controls the great crowd of idle