The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-11

70 III DIV sws use the asapsrv Of Amssssa s!'!'
From time to time, the Executive Of the Uni.
ted States sdmonished the Mexican goyernmeut
of their wrong doings, but In such mild terms.
on account of her revolution in throwing of the
yo Ike of old Spain, AS seemed to encourage her
TO the commission OF more acts of atrocity.
In 1881, treaty of amity and commerce was
agr eed To between the two governments, clearly
def ming the duties and obligations of each, which
gave confidence to enterprlsing merchants,
when they embarked large capitals in trade and
commerce with the Mexican republic. Among the
most conspicuous at this time was Mr.. Aaron
Leggett, of New York, who in 1881 and 1892,
had invested at Tabasco over one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars in trade between that place
and New York. His business was the shipment
OF iogwood, &c. to the United States and Europe,
and he had made arrangements for FROM 1000 to
1000 tons of that article annually for success
sion OF years, and had obtained the privilege OF
ten years with steam, on the condition of for
letting his privilege, and paying into the trea;
sury OF the State the sum OF $4,000, IT ne did
not place steamboat there In twelve months
from the date of the grant.
Mr.. Leggett complied with the conditions OF
the grant, and sent steamboat, the Belona, OF
New York, TO Tabasco, where she arrived on the
10Th June, 1882 TO facilitate his commercial
enterprise, he had also purchased two brigs-the
John, and Thomas and William, and TWO
schooners-the Consolation and the Charlotte, to
serve as towboats and lighters to load tour large
English vessels, viz:-Ship Clio, Britannia, and
Miriam and Jane, and the brig Phebe, and the
American brig Commodore Preble and schooner
Exchange, that he had chartered at New York
proceed to the United States and European mar
kets. These vessels all arrived in safety at Ia
basco, agreeable to their charter parties, and had
commenced to take IN their cargoes, when
large naval and military force, under the orders
OF the federal government, administered by the
President, Gen. Bustamente, arrived at the mouth
of the Tabasco, and on the 10Th Of June, 1882,
took posse ssion of the fort at the mouth of the
These troops led from their pursuing aa foe
10 the village of Frontera, about three miles
distant, where the steamer happened to lay-they
rushed on board of her, and wi tn threats of death
forced the captain Immediately to convey them
to the city of Tabasco, about eighty miles dis
tant. On landing the. troops, the Commandant
General at the city, with written order, and
file of soldiers, seized the boat for military pur-
Poses. The captain of the steamer pareyed with
the Commandant for several days, and refused to
obey his orders, and plead his rights as an Ameri-
can citizen, and navigating American vessel;
but II was all OF no use-the Commandant had
seen how important the steamboat would be to
MIN N ms mba fbe 18th 1uv n
wrote second order more severe and threaten
ing than the first, and enforced II by file OF
twenty-five soldiers.
The commander armed the steamer, and with
threats of death compelled the captain and crew
to navigate her in his war against the Federal
Government in all the month Of July, 1882.
The naval and military commanders that had
now taken possession of Frontera, declared the
port in state of blockade, and interdicted all
communication with the interior. The schooner
Consolation had just arrived there from the int,
vessels. She was seized to transport the troops
of the Federal Government to the city of TabascO
to fight against the Santa Anna party, and the
captain and crew, with threats OF death, were
To harF For hon hp nnyN n
was thrown ashore, which the Government party
took to make fort of.
During this time, say all the month OF July,
the chartered vessels could receive no cargo, and
all Mr.. Leggett's affairs were thrown into utter
On the 18th of July the two parties met about
six miles from the city of Tabasco, at fort IN
the bend of the river, which had raking fire of
three or four miles the vessels Of the Govern
ment party.
The Santa Anna party were victorious, and
captured the government armed schooner Vera
Cruzana and three other armed vessels in this
fight. The Consolation, transport, and one or
two vessels made their escape to Frontera, and
the vanquished party scamPered of for Laguna
and Campcachy, leaving the Consolation behind,
dismantled and unseaworthy.
In the course of this civil war at Tabasco each
of the bellgerent parties seized and took what,
ever of Mr.. Leggett's property, they could
loss of over $3.50 000 besides breaking up all his
business. His agent, Mr.. Dennis Gahagan, was
seized, with two of his captains alternately, by
each of the contending parties and put IN to prl-
son and one of them died of the injuries he re-
ceived. His sailors were whipped and imprison-
ed--his vessels robbed and pundered, and his
steamboat finally sunk. The treatment to
Mr. Leggett and his people, by the public autho-
rites at Tabasco, was lawess and crue, which he
represented to our government III July, 1888,
when a demand was made on the Mexican gov
eminent for an adjustment of all the claims OF
American citizens; TO which that government re-
pied. that the claimants themselves must 20 to
Mexico and there present their demands, where
they would be settled agreeable to law and JUS
tice. Under the recommendation of President
Jackson, in July, 1884, Mr.. Leggett presented
himself in person to Santa Anna, in Mexico, with
a statement of his wrongs and injuries, and his
claims on that government, amounting to over
100000. Santa Anna admitted the justice OF
his claims, and regretted that the treasury was
not in a state to admit of their immediate pay
ment and Mr.. Leggett was amused and delayed
for thirty months in Mexico, with fair promises,
only TO be broken. Mr.. l.. then gave up all hopes;
when a peremptory demand was made on the
son, through the Hon. Powhatan Ellis, in
September, 1886. This demand met with no
more favorable consideration from the Mexican
government, than Mr., Leggett had received. Mr.;
TO General Jackson the result, and Immediately,
on the 7th February, 1887, he sent in his special
message to Congress, recommending reprisals on
Mexico This resulted in the convention OF
18th of April, 1889, to settle claims on Mexico.
Mr.. Leggett protested against this convention,
but was obliged to submit to this claims were
rejected by the Mexican. Commissioners-but
the American Commissioners allowed him
Since the commission Mr.. LeSgett has petition
ed Congress- and will not stand by his award, on
the ground that it does not allow him a reasOna-
bic naturalization. w.
BALTIMORE, April 10, lsa7
The Markets &c.