folio 35.—documentary evidence in the case of the murdered shepherds., October 30, 1874
folio 35.—documentary evidence in the case of the murdered shepherds.
To the Citizen Minister of Foreign Relations:
I, Toribio Lozano, a resident of Aguafria, in this State of Nuevo Leon, respectfully state that, having kept my sheep and goats in Texas, for breeding purposes, since the year 1861, I suffered a great disaster last year by the causeless murder of almost all my shepherds, losing in consequence thereof a large number of my animals. As these unjustifiable acts are due to negligence on the part of the authorities, who have declared Mexicans to be outside of the pale of the law of nations, I have here caused a formal statement thereof to be made, setting forth, at the same time, my just claims for indemnity. The same has been done by the relatives of the murdered shepherds. I send you the original documents relating to both matters, in order that the rights of the sufferers may be properly asserted.
The outrages which I have suffered are well known, as are many others suffered by Mexican citizens residing in Texas. The press of that State has referred to them at length, especially to my own case. It has unanimously condemned these acts of violence, but no steps have been taken for redress, and no measures have been adopted for their prevention in future. This conduct has forced our consul at San Antonio to address the present governor of Texas, from whom nothing has been obtained, save the declaration of his powerlessness to repress and punish them, and, I grieve to say, the outspoken assertion that Mexicans ought not to reside in Texas. If proofs were wanting in regard to the direct participation of those authorities in the commission of the horrible acts of which I complain, this alone would furnish sufficient ground upon which to base their responsibility. The journalists of the said State of Texas, taking this view of the matter, raised their voice against the barbarous policy of that functionary, and sustained my rights and the rights of those whose situation was similar to mine, as I prove by one of the numerous articles which have recently been published.
As you will see by my complaint, I only claim indemnity for those losses which I am able to prove; and I have abstained from all exaggeration, preferring any loss rather than to have any of the items presented by me rejected; among these items there is not one for any of the amounts given by me in charity to the widows and orphans of those who died while taking care of my interests.
The reading of the documents which I inclose will give a complete idea of the justice of my ease, and I therefore omit useless explanations, confining myself to urging you to seek to secure, as promptly as possible, the just indemnity which is my due, and at the same time an indemnity for the families of the victims.
I beg that you will report this matter to the citizen President, and that you will be pleased, in conjunction with him, to take such measures as yon may deem most suitable for the obtainment of full reparation from the American Government for all losses suffered. This is justice.