Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-11-15
AFFAIRS ON THE RIO eRANpE.

Tht"Rio Bravo" of the 29th ultimo Dntains a
correspondence between Capt. j. PHELPs, of
the VI s. Army, commanding at Fort Brown, and
Gen. JOSE MARIA CARvAIAL commander of the
revolutionary forces on the Mexican side of the
Rio Gande. 1t originated in protest, addressed
to Capt. Phelps by Gen. Carvajal, dated the Gath
instant against the use Of United States Govern
ment steamers for the purpose of transporting ren-
forcements from Brasos Santiago. in Texas, to Ma
tamoros, for Gen. Avalos. To this protest Capt.
PHELPS returned the following answer:
FoRr BRows, Texas, OcroBrn a5, 1851.
To JOSE MARIA J. CARYAJAL
SIRs received your of The 24h instant this morning
informing that you had learned that vessel belonging to
the United States at present route from the mouth Of the
o with for Gen. Avaos solemn
protesting against this open outrage upon the rights Of the
people IN whose behalf you presume to speak. }.f
Tothe person who delivered this gave verbal
response this effect that to document of such peculiar
character should hardly know howso reply, though
should emanaefro in recognised official position: and
this was he only action that expected TO have the honor
TO take In the case n connexion with your movements
But sr events, fnught with the seriods ccnsequen
to tho Ualed 6ates well interests of human
y ITSELF are ranspng before my eyes, Since the receipt Of
your motel have come IN possession of authentic information
that renders imperative upon me, for the proper execution
Of the Instructions with which charged, emanaug from
the Government Of the United States 10 ascertain what posi-
on y Tou deem yourself occupying before the cvz
ed world hsve learned that the forces which are said
70 be under your command only attacking and de-
sroyns hre the property Of peaceful American citizens
but that ey have desecrated the flag and fred upon aud
wounded tie Consul Of the United States against the fatal
Of which now soemny you in the name
of my Government. l8
a. early rsrv expected as is suitable to your
nience
I am, sir respectfully, your obedient servant
]. w. PHELRS, Capt. 1t. Co. B, All Art.,
ComA the .. s. forces Of Fort Bro,On
From the reply Of Gen. CARvAJAL we copy such
portions as serve to dsfne his position and tha. of
the party with which be is acting, as well as his
answers to the allegations Of Capt. PHELPS, as
follows:
To you and all other prisons who practically ac-
quanted with the oni Of the National Government Of
Mexico it may be somewhtt difficult to explain the weight
and gsng severity Of the grievances abuses and oppres
sions under which the people of this unhappy country have
groaned and struggled sne the Of its nominal rdepen
dence #sk t
These aggressons hse at length become nsupporable,
and by spontaneous hned and patriotic ouiburs among
them they have resoyd 10 strike off their chains and
stand their native sd unshackled reemen This the
exalted spirit that dict4ed the action Of the people Of Guee-
ro Camago, Reynosa Mie and other independent towns
When the people assembled consider in what manner
their rights and bees could best be preserved by
consent without any agency Of my own, was chosen to
lead this patriotic enterprise accepted the appointment
with pleasure, having and felt the inquous exactons
to which my countrmen daily subjected, and the des
poic ouages consnty praced upon them by the mnions
power in the na4e Of freedom have raised the standard
Of liberation, and hundreds Of my aggreved counymen have
rushed to its support
Oppressed borne down by the organized military des
poism Of the Cejal Government knew that my country
men, brave and devoted they could not in the first
hour Of the struggle single handed and aone with such
enemy. WIKI the appreciation and consent Of my fellow
cizens invd number Of Americans residing along this
rone we'll acquainted with habits, feelings and ine
rests, to participate wi US in the glorious or 10 vindicate
rights Te to the instinct of heir nation, they yielded
ready assent the CALL and have been from the beginning
Of this contest ong the bravest and determined Of the
gallant party which have had the honor to lead
have presented myself before the city Of Matamoros upon
the invitation many of the most influential and respectable
citizens of this Jurisdiction, and instead Of finding myself and
troops received with open berators met
with rapsrts hisng with bayonets and cannon, and with
the sisrn frown Of military defiance. found that the myr
midons Of the Central Government had faudueny declared
the city in state Of siege, while in Camargo with my
forces and venured the crime Of high treason by annu
ling the laws Of Mexico and reducing the rates
import dues 10 low, If not lower SCALE than those de-
manded BY the people who first moved in this great work d
reformation. sawa an instant ha trick to throw
my ci'izsns Of Their guard and TO enable few foreign mo-
nopoliss 10 enter the lists Of smuege by overwhelming
MAAmoros with goods which either contraband or
which the full egs duties were never paid
Under this pretended system, established by Gen. Avalos
upward Of half million Of dollars worth of goods e
gaIy introduced into that city and it is with the partial du
levied from hesse goods that the enemy opposed 70 me
feeds, recruits, and sustans himself The Of these
goods aso and their friends have prompted by their inter
es named the mmosy Of the people Of Ma,amoros, and
led them rashly and bindy resist US, who their best
friends who share with them the blessings Of equa
| ty, justice and liberty.
When perceived this to be the condition Of things,
solved to meet the crisis in becoming my duty, my
position and the expectation of those who had conded the
standard of reform to my hands. demanded peaceful
surrender Of the city sought to avoid boodshed, but
found alternative except abandon the cause carry
through with the right Of freemen. Several sharp
counters have ensued my have not dsgraced their
coors and resolved TO conquer the military despos
in Matamoros or to perish in the attempt
Such sir have been tho that produced the present
condition Of affairs in the city of Maamoros and such is the
position occupy in the face Of the civilized world l
You have been pleased to state, that the forces under
property Of peaceful American citizens and that they have
also deeecrated the fag and fred upon and wounded the
Consul Of the United States sf4 hf rf5 ga gsr
is utterly false that the forces under my command have
attacked destroyed private property by fire in any other
manner. The Ere that occurred in Metamoros Friday
kindled by my ORDERS or BY any Of my The
torch applied by the enemy and the wind setting
the time m the direction Of my headquarters and the place
Of depose for my ammunition, seriously endangered the
safety Of both and large amount of goods
portion Of which had not found their way to that pacs
through The regular ordeal OF the custom house, my interest,"
omting my abhoence Of such mode of warfare, would
have restrained from this ncendsry It the
work Of the enemy, and their heads the responsibility
So far relates the allegation that the American Com
sui 6red and wounded am unable to give you any
ove This much emphatcalIy sate that
bis flag and his official residence scrpuousy respected
If be abandoned these and mixed with the hrong in the
Streets herded with the enemy assisted the porers in
securing bales of goods under the FIRE Of guns and
thus wounded, it his fault and he has right to
4 lN mil e