The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-01-30

Geo. Hughes, master Of the brig u ohn,'
lying at anchor in the river Tabasco
in 1882. was boarded and captured by
an armed force, on pre,ext altogether
'unfonnded. Capt. Hughes was Knock
ed down, cruelty beaten with the butts
of the muskets of the boarding party,
carried off and imprisoned, and the car
90 and stores of the vessel plundered.
Capt. Huges subsequently died from
the wounds received on this occasion.
Mary Hughes claims reparation
therefor.
"No. 68.-JAMEs CocHRANE, engi-
neer Of the steamer Hidalgo, was i'm
pressed into the Mexican service to-
gether with the boat, in 1832-cruelIy
and IgnominIously Y treated, and COM
PEELED TO do duty as engineer for two
months. He claims reparation for the
breaking up of his business, and for
false imprisonment"
Thus it appears that sixty-nne instances of at.
trocity like these, constituted the case the United
States against Mexico, as ascertaiDed in public
documents, prior to the End Of December, 1887.
Since that time, this shameful catalogue of Mex-
to t,ceniy sir additional cases. 1t will be remarked
that, of these latter cases, very large proportion
are causes of wanton cruelty and violence perpe-
Tated upon the persons of American citizens.
The following are instances OF what we assert:
"NO. 20. --CLAIM OF SAMUEL BALD
wIN.-Mr. b., citizen of the United
states, settled in Mexico, some years
since, and had acquired considerable
property. On the most frivolous pre-
text. he was seized and thrown into
the public prison with the vilest crimi-
mails. While there, additional charges
were fabricated against him, he was
loaded with irons, poison was given
hlm in his coffee, and he endured the
most unparalleled sutlerings from the
brutal treatment of one Gomez, his
jaiIor. From Acayuacan, where these
barbarities were committed, Mr.. b.,
was sent TO Vera Cruz, and cast into n
wet and filthy Jail in the castle Of San
Juan de UIloa. On his journey, which
was performed on jackass, he was
compelled to support the heavy burden
OF his chains, from which resulted an in
durable Iameness. For these unparal-
lelled outrages no redress has been re-
ceIved from the Mexican government.
"No. 7l.--Claims Of Henry b. Hor-
ton, Ipalter w. Adam &. james Kei-
iey.--Fhe claimants, seamen on board
the American barque Roger Williams
having been paid off and discharged at
Monterey, California, in 184O, were
waiting for an opportunity to return
home, when they, together with other
Americans, were seized and conducted
to prison. They obtained theirrelease,
but were a second time arrested, rob-
bed. and cast into Jail, no cause for their
commitment ever having been assigned.
"No. 72.-Cia,m IF William Lord
Etheridge Thompson.--Thompson, an
American seamen, was wrecked near
San Bias, in 1888. In 1910, he was
twice arrested and thrown into prison;
no cause whatever being assigned for
his detention in either case. Aitersuf.
fering the most cruel treatment, be was
released; but found, on his return to the
farm where he had labored since his
shipwreck in 1888, that all his proper
ty had been taken from him.
"No redress has ever been granted
by the Mexican government"
"No. 74.--Claims of Isaac Graham,
W,llinm Church, Joseph L. Mojors,
Charles BroDn S'otters.--These Amer
leans, with six others, were seized in
California, where they were engaged
in business, in April, lS4o, by the Mex
lean authorities, without any just cause
or prov vocation, and thrown into prison.
From their memorial to the Department
OF State, it appears that they received
the most barbarous treatment. After
being conveyed from on place to an
other in the lower hold of vessels and
in chains-six being confined to one
bar oflron-they were finally set at lib
erty in the city of Tepec, without any
reason being assigned by the Mexican
government for its outrageous proceed
ing against them. 1t also appears that
ut the time Of his arrest, the house Of
Mr.. Graham was surrounded, fired into
and S56,ooO in specie pundered there
from.
mo. 75--Claims Of A. C. BredaH.
0f NeW OrleanS.-lst: The schooner
Lodi, with valuable cargo OF lawful
goods, both belonging to Mr.. BredalI,
sailed from New Orleans in Nav, 1888,
bound Tor Matamoras in Mexico. On
her arrival there. .wilhouta any allegation
OF offence committed or contemplated,
she was seized, her cargo landed, ex-