Weekly National Intelligencer

From the New Orleans Picayune of April 5.

The advices from the Rio Grande relative to the movements of certain freebooters upon the defenceless towns of the Mexican frontier are such as to call for the immediate attention of the Government, and cannot fail to awaken a feeling of indignation among our citizens. That a party of armed men should with impunity cross the river from our territory, and, seizing upon the authorities of a Mexican village, string them up until they have consented to pay a certain sum of money, is very suggestive of the pertinent question, are we good citizens? It is not sufficient that the press and the people raise the voice of condemnation against these evil-doers, the Government must move in the matter, and make an example of some of these chiefs. The system is too barefaced to be tolerated. The catchword cry of "struggling for liberty" is given up; there is not even a semblance of discontent among the Mexican people. A parcel of outlawed or renegade Mexicans take refuge on our side of the river, and under the protection of our flag gather together a band of pillagers with which to sweep down upon some small defenceless towns, making good their retreat while night yet protects them. We cannot blame our neighbors if they retaliate. The instinct of self-preservation is the strongest impulse in the bosom of man, and while our territory affords a refuge to these lawless bands, and our authorities suffer them to range, steal, burn, and destroy with impunity, we cannot claim from the outraged sufferers that they should bear with us. The fair fame of our country is wantonly sullied, and the true progress of our institutions is retarded by these freebooters of the Rio Grande. We hope the United States authorities will soon lay a heavy hand upon them.

We subjoin letters from our attentive correspondents:

"Brownsville, March 29, 1853.

"Messrs. Editors: The following is an extract from a letter received to-day from a gentleman residing in Edinburg, and as it contains a fair statement of an event which has recently taken place on this frontier, I transmit it to you for publication:

"Edinburg, March 28, 1853.

"Sir: We are threatened with an attack on this place by a band of men from the vicinity of Reynosa, in retaliation for an outrageous act committed by a party of Americans and Mexicans, under the command of Major Norton, on the inhabitants of Reynosa, on Saturday last. He entered the town on the morning of that day at the head of some fifty men, and made a demand of a large sum of money in the name of Carvajal. Finding money scarce, he limited his demand to four thousand dollars, and that amount he demanded of Francisco Garcia and Trinidad Flores. They sent for me, requesting me to bring all the money I had. I did so, and on my arrival found the above-named men prisoners. I finally effected an arrangement with Norton to release them for $2,000. We are now threatened with the destruction of this place."

". The party referred to in the above letter is a portion of the force now being organized under Carvajal for a foray against the Mexican frontier.

".The American portion of this force has been recruited principally from the companies of rangers recently discharged from the service of the State. The Mexican portion consists, as far as is known, of a portion of those persons who were formerly associated with Carvajal, and formed what was called at the time 'the Liberating Army of Mexico.'

"Brownsville, March 30, 1853.

"Gentlemen: Presuming that an account, although a hasty one, of the filibustering operations along the Rio Grande will not be unacceptable, I send you a few lines in relation thereto. Carvajal, the second Washington, as he styled himself just before he ran away from Matamoros, is again in arms, robbing and plundering the frontier, and unless a strong arm is interposed for our protection the scenes of two years ago will be renewed. Some time before the Texas Rangers were disbanded it was known that Carvajal was intriguing with them to join his standard, and it appears with considerable success. They were mustered out of the State service about the 6th of this month, and as soon as they could be united a plan of attacking Reynosa was formed and carried out a few days ago. A Major Norton, who lost an arm at Matamoros, and at present a justice of the peace, took possession of Reynosa on the 26th instant, with fifty or sixty Americans, mostly disbanded Rangers. He demanded a large sum of money in the name of Carvajal, and as the article was somewhat scarce, he strung up the alcalde until he turned over the money, when he returned with his plunder on this side of the river. It is reported that one or two Mexicans were killed by way of pastime. Carvajal is said to be above with a much larger force threatening Camargo. He is supposed to have about one hundred Rangers with him and a large party of renegade Mexicans. The movement is a marauding one, which adds tenfold to its enormity. The Mexicans threaten to retaliate, and an express has been received from Edinburg for military protection. The commanding officer of Fort Brown has sent up a small detachment of foot, but they will be of little service. We want protection on the Rio Grande. There is an entire regiment of mounted rifles somewhere on the prairies, which should be along our river. From Ringgold down, a distance of some two hundred miles, there is not a single mounted man."