RICHARD COKE, Governor of Texas to Ulysses S. Grant, March 30, 1875

Governor Coke to President Grant.

Sir: The depredations of organized bands of robbers from the Republic of Mexico have of late increased in frequency and atrocity to an extent which threatens the depopulation of the lower Rio Grande country. The alarm in the country between the Nueces and Rio Grande consequent upon these raids, in which our people are ruthlessly murdered and their property forcibly taken by these foreign desperadoes, is wide-spread, and unless relieved by some assurance of protection, must result in a general break-up of the settlements. On the 26th of this month a large party of these robbers penetrated the interior as far as within eighteen miles of Corpus Christi, robbing stores and ranches and murdering and capturing citizens, and capturing and destroying United States mails. I appeal to your excellency for protection for the people of that country against these invasions of outlaws from Mexico, since they have been of almost weekly occurrence for several months past, and are increasing in force and boldness.

The citizens of that country have been compelled, for the most part, to move to the towns for protection, and no security exists outside of these corporations for life or property, and the people in the towns even hold themselves in constant readiness for defense.

I trust that your excellency will deem it proper to give security to-the people on the Rio Grande border in view of the assurance I now give you that an extreme necessity exists for it.

Very respectfully,