The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-30
No. TX.

BUENos AYREs, May 10, 1876.
For some time have said nothing of the af
fairs of Montevideo, the aoings OF Messrs.
Ouseley and Deffandis, there Of course they
have been busying their wise heads and humane
hearts, in connecting the great schemes of media
ton and pacification which were being carried
out by the subordinates in the Parana and other
places, and devoting their leisure moments to the
consideration of the ways and means of supply
ing themselves, and those shut up in Montevideo,
with fresh provisions. SO close was the city be-
sieged that beef has been selling at fifty cents per
pound, when an OK, hide and all, could be bought
within 20 miles ofthe city, for So or SO, and other
fresh provisions in the same ratio.
1t will be recollected that early in IS45, Rivera,
the chieftoo made use ofby the French, in stirring
up all the present difficulties here, the one whom
they made President, when they expelled Oribe,
because he would not join them in their war
against Rosas, had been completely routed, and
forced to seek refuge in Brazil where he was de-
tanned as a sort of prisoner. The detention was
to crafty those who had the management of the
civil department OF the government in the CITY,
and who were anxious to be rid altogether of Ri
vera. He, however, had party there who were
constantly complaining of his detention This
party was made up OF the negroes freed by him,
portion of the French Legion, and portion of
the merchants who believed they could make
money more rapidly by smuggling than by regu-
lar trade. Rivera is fond of fun, great spend-
thrift, and addicted to high gambling. 1t has been
SAID that he would receive five hundred
thousand dollars as a doncer in the evening, and
loose it at play before morning. His friends be-
came so clamorous for his return that the go
vernment q have never been able to learn the
basis of their right to rule,) then supported by
the medators, appointed HIM Charge d'Affairs to
Paraguay, hoping that he would go there direct
from Rio by land, and that his party would be sa-
tisfied. So soon as he received his appointment,
he told the authorities of Brazil that it was ne
cessary for him to go to Montevdeo to get nstruc-
tons, and to confer with the English and French
ministers This was no part of the plan of
the powers at Montevideo, but Brazil consent
ed, and Rivera arrived sometime in March,
in the harbor of Montevideo in a Spanish vessel.
$50 soon as it was known, by the signals, that he
was aboard, an English armed boat boarded the
Spanish vessel, and took Rivera to the Vernon,
an English vessel ofwar here he was visited by
the Captain of the port, who informed him by a
decree ofthe government, sanctioned by the me-
diators, he was forbidden to land, under penalty
of outawry. The Spanish minister demonstrated,
and complained oil the indignity to his flag the
English acknowledged their error took him back
to the Spanish merchant vessel, and from thence
he was taken to a Spanish frigate, where his
wife and several friends Were permitted to
visit him. OF course, these proceedings ex-
cited his friends almost to an open outbreak
The authorities became alarmed, and made Ri
vera the offer OF sending him Charge to Spain,
with salary. of 5000, first year to be paid in
advance, and the subsequent payments to he
well secured-this offer he Indignantly refused
His friends became so enraged that they refused
longer service in the lines, killed one of their
officers, and paraded the streets shouting, SYLVIA
Rivera. The so called government hid them
selves in the houses of the mediating ministers
The number OF the Riveri tas increased each mo-
ment; they assembled in the Plaza or public
square and here the French Admiral Lame UNI
dertook to subdue the storm, de harangued the
revolters with rnuch eloquence-tod them if they
had grievances to represent, avors to ask, they
would be heard by the ministers, and, # possible
their requests granted but ne told them that un,
der no circumstances should Rivera be permitted
to land; and that if they did not return to their
duty and cease their revolts, the mediators would
withdraw with all their forces and leave them to
their fate. The revolters, so far from being sub
dued by the admiral's eloquence, continued firing
random shots through the streets, and finally
made an at ,ck on the captain of the port, who
had carried the first message to Rivera He
wasin his office with one or two subaterns
and guard of fifteen or twenty men. He took
position in the Azotea and defended himself
with much bravevery, but was finally over
come and he and all with him were either
thrown into the street. The Office was demo-
lished and the books and papers carried off
and burned or destroyed; many were killed in
other parts Of the city, and the prison opened
commencement, as the leaders of this revolt
These scenes were enacted in open day, on the
three first days of April, in full view of the
and naval forces then in Montevideo, but they
raised not finger to prevent them. True, they
manned the lines deserted by the revoters, with
English and French soldiers, to prevent the en-
trance of Oribe and stationed a large number Of
boats, full of armed marines from the vessels,
near the shore, to be IN readiness in case of any
attack upon English or French property, or the
public buildings belonging to the loan and stock
jobbing company, Tor whom they were fighting
with one side or the other. Oh, no! They were
there to secure the independence Of the Orien-
tai Republic, to establish peace, and stop the eu
sion Of human blood" And what better means
could they adopt, than exciting the people to cut
each others throats by refusing to permit Rivera
to land =! The sooner the whole race of natives
is extinguished, the sooner blood will cease to
flow; the sooner those who have bought the pub
lie buildings, revenues, lands and right of navi-
cation, will have peaceabe possession of these
things under a "stable government" furnished by
their legal sovereigns.
Ofcourse, the Oriental Republic would then be
very independent. The great respect entertained
by the mediating ministers and officers, for the
laws of nations, and the rights of independent
states SO clearly shown by their whole conduct in
the affairs of La Plata, prevented them from in
terfering in these internal difficulties. Their hui
mainly and horror of blood and civil wars, were
only prevented from blazing forth by their " fixed
determination" not to interfere with their neigh
bors' rights or their neighbors' quarrels.
Certain 1t is, they were quiet spectators Of these
horrid scenes, although they were masters of the
city. The result of the outbreak was that Rivera
landed in the night without opposition, and next
day was proclaimed and recognized as COM
mander-in-chef of the Montevidean forces. Of
his career, and the use made of him by the
mediators, will speak in my next;
Yours, SC. &c.
| CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.
UTICA, Aug Is, 1916.
The City of Utioa-The Music-Santa