Mr. Hart to Mr. Floyd.
EL Paso, Texas, February 7, 1859.
Governor; I have the honor to call your attention to occurring events on this frontier touching our relations with Mexico. The church party at last accounts, which I deem authentic, were organizing a column at Guadalajara to march on Chihuahua and Durango, to occupy these two States for their party. I believe no resistance will be made, as these two States are without resources, having exhausted themselves to hold out for the liberal party. Under these circumstances, American citizens like myself are exposed to serious loss by disorders which may occur on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. In Chihuahua I have large interests in personal property, merchandise, and real estate there, and without special orders from your department I know that the present commanding officer at Fort Bliss will not interfere to save our property from damage and loss, although our troops be garrisoned within sight of such spoliations. This should not be so, and the officers in command of this part of the frontier should have orders to interfere, if necessary, to save our property from injury it not from destruction.
If the church party become uppermost, we have nothing else to expect, as they are inimical to us, while the liberal party now in power in Chihuahua are comparatively friendly; at least they are far from injuring our persons or property.
What our naval vessels in foreign ports do to protect American citizens and their property, the same is the duty of our troops stationed on this frontier, to interfere to the same end, and I have the honor to request that you will see that the commanding officer at Fort Bliss receive such orders as will direct his interposition, if necessary, to give safety to American citizens and their property in the towns on the other side of the river, almost within hail of Fort Bliss.
I remain, governor, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. Hart.
Governor John B. Floyd,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.
Since the date of the above Durango has succumbed to the church party, and Chihuahua I fear will have to do the same very soon.
S. H
A letter in Difficulties on Southwestern Border, House Documents, Volume 126; Volume 128, United States House of Representatives, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1860
During the 12 years following the Mexican-American War there were present on the frontiers of Texas and Mexico many factors that tended to create disturbances. The topography of the country, the sparsity and general character of its population, the lack of an extradition treaty and of sufficient national authority, wild Indians of uncertain abode, the Mexican tariff system, all caused friction and gave encouragement to lawlessness which not only retarded the development of the region but often threatened to interrupt friendly relations between the two republics. [Border Troubles along the Rio Grande, 1848-1860, The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. 23, No. 2 (OCTOBER, 1919)]