Mr. Campbell to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 14, of the 14th instant.
I have heretofore informed you, by my despatch No. 11, of the 12th instant, that the specie referred to has been restored to its owners; but not without subjecting them to heavy expense and a damaging delay.
Although nothing further seems to be required of me by the department in regard to this matter, I hope it will not be deemed improper to give the reasons why I considered the transaction of sufficient importance to submit it in detail to your consideration.
The specie was the proceeds of arms sold and delivered by the claimants to the liberal government at Tampico. The export permit given them by the [Page 349] customs authorities was taken up when the vessel crossed the bar at the mouth of the river and sailed into the gulf, by the proper revenue officer, according to the requirements and uniform usages of the government at that port. Evidence of these facts was submitted to the authorities at Matamoros. I could not perceive any right the Mexican government could have to board the schooner when sailing on the high seas under our flag, by a naval or military force, and seize the property, much less when she was wrecked on their coast, and her officers and seamen were sick. It was not so much the value of the specie as the principle involved that induced me to trouble you with the details of the case. Besides, the conduct of the authorities at Matamoros, and the surrounding circumstances, were such as to cast suspicion on the integrity of their motives.
My information, recently derived from the owners of the specie, is, that in ending to Tampico for a copy of their export permit (which was promptly given by the customs officers there) they were subjected to an expenditure of several hundred dollars. It appears, too, that General Gomez, commanding the liberal forces at Tampico, wrote to the authorities at Matamoros condemning their conduct as an insult to our flag and a wanton outrage upon the rights of our citizens.
I remain, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.