The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-20
Carvajal and the Recent Movements on the
Rio Grande.

Rio Grande.
The movements of CARvAJAL, and different
bodies of auxiliaries under his command, have
for some time past furnished almost the only
noticeable items of intelligence from the Next
can frontier The statements have varied so
essentially at different periods, in regard both
to the tactics and objects Of those concerned,
and 10 the probable issue of their undertaking,
that it has been difficult to arrive at any thing
like satisfactory or consistent conclusions. To
assist in placing the matter in q clearer light,
and in enabling our readers to form more def
! mite ideas than have hitherto prevailed in
| relation to it. we deem it not improper to
! give connected narrative of the facts, as we
| have received them from reliable source Of
| information.
| Some time about June last, j. NJ. j. CAR
v,JAL, formerly and perhaps then colonel
/ in the Mexican army, visited Brownsville, In
Texas. He was the agent Of several Mexicans
claiming title 10 large grants Of land in Texas,
between the Rio Grande and the Nueces rivers.
! In particular he was the agent for JESUS CAR
! pEYAs, the Governor Of the State Of Tamauli-
| pas, who. with other members Of his family,
assert title to what is known as the Carasi-
las grant, containing 100 leagues, or about
100 600 acres, and embracing the Salt Lake.
His object was, under pretext Of exchanging
these lands for merchandise, 10 introduce a
large quantity Of merchandise into Mexico
free Of duty at the custom-h houses, as provided
in the eighth article Of the treaty Of Quad
alupe Hidalgo. We say pretcxt, as we
4 have no information that there was any such
exchange in good faith contemplated. The
| plan was to get permission from the Next
/ can government TO make the exchange and
/ introduce the goods free Of duty; and on the
authority Of this permission TO induce mer-
chants at Brownsville to send the goods into
\ Mexico, paying 10 Colonel CARvAJAL and his
principals about thirty five or forty per cent. on
| the amount introduced lower rate considera-
1 bly, than the Mexican tariff. We understand
that an order from the department Of the Gus
toms in the city Of Mexico was actually obtained
and exhibited by CARvAJAL, and the arrange.
mont was effected with the merchants in
| Brownsville 70 introduce goods into Mexico Il
the value Of FIVE hundred thousand dollars
lthe estimated proceeds Of the lands The order
perhaps, was not regular or formal. At all
! events. the collectors al MatamorOs and Camar-
20 refused 10 obey It,, and il was afterwards re
voked by the government Some goods IL
which CARyAJAL was interested were actually
introduced. relying on this order. and wer
seized.
The plan falling for introducing the good
with the tot the government, CARyJAl
then proposed to the same merchants that the,
should make him advances on account Of thes
{ goods, and that he would shpersede the author
tiles on the frontier, aud introduce and proiec
the goods by force The most " the mer
, chants declined any further connection with tn
matter II is said that there is no certain eyi
dence that any Of them gave or promised pecu
mary aid to assist IN the outbreak, or uhat an
, means were provided for it in advance With
our territory, though such is believed 10 hav
E been The fact.
: No facts are known leading to the belief tha
C.RyA.lL intended any revolution or move
e ment against the government prior to the ia
ure Of his scheme for the Introduction Of goods
e though IT is asserted by some that the design ,
a revolution was anterior, and that the amour
raised on the goods was the mode resorted {
10 obtain the means for carrying it into efiec
H., This is not. however, believed IN the best-lr
RI, formed quarters. CARDENAs, the governor
q and CANtLEs, the lieutenant governor of ia
te Inaulpas, were both interested in the speculs
ton, and they were friends Of long standin
= Of General ARIsrA the President Of Mexic,
" who, il is believed, must have been aware
i, the order given for the Introduction Of the good
"a and was favorable to it if it could have bee
IS contaminated without involving him.
lip # is proper to remark. though, that Caro-
e, MAS, CANtLEs, and CARvsJH, have been r
az garded as disailected persons towards the ge