Mr. Seward to Señor Romero
Department of State, Washington,
June 2, 1866.
Sir: Referring to my communication to you of
the 22d of April last, I have now the honor to enclose herewith a copy
of a letter of the 30th ultimo, received from the War Department, and of
the report of General Weitzel, which accompanies it.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, your obedient
servant,
Señor Don Matias Romero, &c., &c., &c.
No. 1.
[Untitled]
War Department, Washington City,
May 30, 1866.
Sir: I am directed by the Secretary of War
to herewith transmit, agreeably to the request made in your
communication of the 18th ultimo, a copy of the report of General
Weitzel with reference to the sequestration at Clarksville, Texas,
of certain goods claimed by the Mexican liberal government by the
right of seizure, and confiscation.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
THOS. T. ECKERT, Acting Assistant
Secretary of War.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State
[Page 159]
No. 2.
[Untitled]
Sir: In answer to the letter of the 25th
ultimo from your office I have the honor to report on the subject
referred to in the enclosed papers as follows:
Immediately after the capture of Bagdad, in January, plundering
began. The goods thus plundered were immediately brought over to
Clarksville, on the Texas side, and the revenue officers,
notwithstanding the greatest exertions, could not protect the
revenue. The collector of the district immediately called upon me
for assistance, which was granted at once. Colonel Mejia, who was in
command at Bagdad, informed me several days afterwards that
plundering still continued, and the goods smuggled across to our
side, and at his suggestion all goods that came across were held, to
give their owners a chance to reclaim them through the civil
authorities of Texas. While this arrangement was in force the
lighter load of goods referred to was brought over to Clarksville,
and was at once claimed by the owners, (citizens of Prussia.) The
goods were attached as stolen property by the sheriff of Cameron
county, and the case tried. Colonel Mejia had counsel. The State
laws of Texas grant the courts of Texas power to try such cases, and
seem to have been specially made for cases of this kind, and to
protect the inhabitants of Mexico. I was relieved before the case
was decided, I believe. The military acted in this matter as an ally
or support to the revenue officers. It did not sequester the goods.
My only desire was to keep clear of the whole thing. I sincerely
believe that no wong was done to the Mexican liberal government, as
all honest people, who know the case, will testify. The revenue laws
of Mexico do not require a lighter to have papers or a clearance
from Bagdad, because all vessels which sail from the Rio Grande are
loaded by means of lighters. The goods on the lighter Helena were
represented to be in transitu to Vera Cruz, and I firmly believe
they were. They were moved up the river, I was told, to escape the
shells of the French man-of-war. Mr. Charles Worthington, collector
of the Rio Grande district, can probably more fully explain this
matter and the action thereon. I know he tried only to do his duty
in this matter.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. WEITZEL, Captain of Engineers and
Brevet Brig. Gen, U. S. A.
Brevet Major General L. Thomas, Adjutant General U. S. A., Washington City, D.
C.
