Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-16
Translallon.
DIVISION OF IHh 1NUH IT.
Second GensIal.in.Chiei.

VaUSlduch.l
DIVISION OF THE NORTH
Second Generain-Chiei. !
From various sources, worthy OF confidence, ]
have learned that some vessels, bound for the
mouth OF the river, have not been able 10 effect an
entrance into that port in consequence oi your or
dets thatth should be conducledto Brasos Santa
90. The cargo Of one Of them is composed in great
part. and of the other entirely, OF provisions,
which The contractors charged with providing Tor
the army under my orders had procured, TO iulnl
the obligations OF their contracts You have Ia.
ken possession Of these provisions by force, and
against The will OF the propretors; one oil them IS
vice consul of her Catholic Majesty, and the
other Of her Britannia Majesty; and whose rights,
in Mace of being religiously respected, as was
proaered, and as il was to be hoped from The OBJ
seryance OF the principles which govern among
civilized nations, have, on the contrary, been VIC.
lated in the most extraordinary manner, opposed
TO The guarantee and respect due 10 private pro-
perty. ,
conrse The commerce OF nations Is not sus-
pended or interrupted, except in consequence OF a
solemn declaration Of blockade, communicated
and established in The form prescribed oy inlerna.
tional law. Nevertheless you have inirInged
these rules; and by an act which can never be
viewed favorably 10 The United States Govern
ment, have hindered the entrance TO Mexican
nor, of vessels bound 10 il, under the confidence
that commerce would not be interrupted My
duties do not allow me 10 consent to this new
species Of hostility, and they constrain me TO re-
ouire OF YOU, no, only that the vessels taken by
force TO Brasos Santiago shall be AT liberty to re
turn to the mouth Of the river, but The restoration
of all the provisions which, besides belonging 10
nriyate contractors, were destined for the troops
on this frontier consider il useless 10 inculcate
The ius,ice of this demand, and the results which
may follow an unlocked for refusal.
Ihave also understood that two Mexicans car
ried down in a boat by the current oil the river
near one Of the advanced posts OF your camp
were detained, after being fired upon, and that
they are still KEEP, and treated as prisoners. The
individuals in question do not belong to the army,
and this circumstance exempls them from The
laws of war. therefore hope that you Will
place them absolutely at liberty, as cannot be
persuaded that you pretend 10 extend 10 persons
not military the consequence OF an INVASION
which, without employing these means OF rigor
against unarmed citizens, is marked in itself with
The scale universal reprobalion.
avail myself of this opportunity TO assure
YOU Of my distinguished consideration.
God and Liberty! Matamoras, April %, 1916.
PEDRO D. AMP UDIA.
S. Gen. D'Z. TAYLOR.
HEAD QUARTERS Army OF OccUPATloN,
Camp near Matamoras, Texas, April %, 1886
Sir: have had the honor te receive your COM
munication of this date, in which you complain
Of measures adopted BY my order TO close Inc
mouth Of the Rio Bravo against vessels bound 10
Matamoras, and in which you also advert 20 Inc
case OF two Mcxicans supposed 10 be detained as
prisoners in this camp
Alter all that has passed since the American
army approached the Rio Bravo, am certainly
surprised that you should complain of measure
which is no other than natural result OF Inc
state of war so much insisted upon by the Me1l-
can authorities as actually existing al this lime.
You will excuse me for recalling few circnm-
stances, 10 show that this state Of war has not been
sought by the American army, but has been ior-
csi up1n it, and that the exercise Of the rights in
cident 70 such state cannot be made sublsc! OF
complaint