Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-06-07
From the Now Nrllnns Bnllctin.

The following interesting narrative OF the
| events which occurred after the capture Q:
the American sckoone-s now detained in
Mattamoros, will be perused with considerable
interest by our readers. 1t is from the pen Of a
gentleman of undoubted :cracity, who was on
the spot at the time the events narrated oc.
CURED. We will conclude the commuEica-
! tion in our next nulnEe..
To the Editor Of the Commercial BuI!e.in:
Asthe accounts you have heretofore re-
ceived of the late proceedings at Matamoros
have been unconnected, and in some respects
inaccurate, take the liberty Of sending YOU
the following narrative which is taken mostly
from actual obscrya:ion:
The taking of the American schoonerS
Champion and louisiana, and the hberatlo!
Of the latter bv the United States Sloop @
War Natchez which happened to arrive OF
the Brassos de Santiago, Oil the 9th of April
are circumstances already well known. The
Champion was within the harbor OF the Bra
SOS, and the Louisiana alongsid the Mexican
brig of war Urea at the time Of tins occur
renee; and Capt Mervine of the Natchez,
after releasing the Louisiana, demanded the
liberation of the other prize, with her passen-
gers and cargo, contraband OF war only cx-
cepted. lie at the same time notified the
Captain of the Urea, that the brig must re-
main under the guns of the ship till the affair
could be settled, and that she would be fired
into if she offered to move. The Capt. OF
the port, of whom the demand was first made,
referred it to the Commodore in. Chief Gen.
Bravo. at Matamoros; and Capt. A1ervine
wrote to his Excellency, repeating the same,
and threatening to take the Urea If it should
| be refused.
1t is proper here state the grounds which
each side now took in the controversy. The
American Consul, before the last mentioned
demand was sent, inquired of Gen. Bravo un-
der what declaration of blockade the two
American schooners were taken. He receN..
ed in reply, certified copy of decree issued
bv the Mexican Government in Feb. 1886, de-
cjarinp the coast of Texas shut to foreign
and coastinr trade. This decree, of which
Can't. Mervine received translation, before
he wrote TO the General, was deemed nsuth-
cient to Justify the captures. 1t was not, pro-
perly speakinc, declaration of blockade, but
law appertaning TO the Custom House De-
partments-and thought it might have Justl.
fed the captures before the independence OF
Texas was acknowledged by our Government,
it must be considered null and void with re-
snect TO American vessels since that event.
The ports which were shut by the Mexican
Cabinet, when it still had nominal control OF
them, have since been opened by new power
which has long had actual possession, and
which is recognized by Us as an existing 60
vernment Mexico can now only close them
to our trade by formal blockade, duly pub
Eshed and sustained by competent force.
Such blockade, in order to be legal, must be
hoth sustained and published SIX months be-
! fore any vessel can be captured Tor her frst
attempt at entering the interdIcted port, though
any munitions of war on board OF hdr may
then be seized, and the vessel herself may be
taken on a second attempt, after being warn:
cd. or on a first attempt after the due term Of
publication has expired.
The decree above mentioned was no decla.
ration of blockade. not only because 1t had
not The form OF S!irh q .lac.ment- hut an 20,
much as no force was sent to enforce 1t TIL
about year after its publication. As no real
declaration Of blockade was then known, and
as the vessels worcro warned of, Capt. Mer-
vine very Justly looked upon their capture as
piratical. and IN his opinion he was sustained
hy the American Consul at Matamoros. Mex
lean outrages have so long been overlooked,
that il is cheering to sec oGr officers manifest
inr spirit which our government has been
slow in evincng; both these gentlemen de-
serve the thanks Of their countrvmen, the for
mer for the prompt and energetic manner in
which he has acted, and the latter for the high
tone with which, at a season of dangerous ex-
cftemcnt, he answered TIE threatening COM
munications Of Gen. Bravo.
The demand of Capt Mcryinc not being
conceded, he took possession OF the Urea on
the 18th about 2 o'clock. Her Captain, on
being ordered to strike her flag, requested
that run should be first fred not at but tor-
arGs him A harmless shot was accordingly
DISCHARGED across his bow, his flag was lower
ed, and was replaced by the American ensign.
The two vessels were then lying in front OF
the Bravo lust without the range of cannon
shot. The above proceeding caused exces-
siye ire among the officers in the polt, though
did not observe any great degree OF excite
men, either among the soldiery or the popu-
lace. The Mexican schooner Bravo, COM
manded by that noisy parsonage Capt. lomP-
son. was then anchored at the bar. Soon al
ter the Urea struck, he fired at the Natchez,
and his example was followed by the four gun
battery at the entrance Of the harbour. at
this time the boats of the Natchez were pull.
inc towards the North beach to land the Ur-
rca's crew, and Thompson, though as he con-
fessed he was well aware that the Mexican
Sailors were in the boats, directed several of
his shot against them, and prepared to oppose
their landing from the beach. Ihe boats were
recalled to the ship, on which Thompson made
what he called pursuit, that is, he followed
them short distance inh is launch, firing mus
kerry when canonade would scarcely have
reached them. About twenty cannon shot
were fired; none of them. from the distance,
could have been expected to strike the
ship: and as she neither answered them nor
changed her position till the cannonade was
Il. 80, bor bol rofbor forcical