The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-25

Our Mazatlan correspondence.

Robbery Of 1nertcGr CittoeRS By the Custom House
officers at Me>atlan, Merico
arrived here on the 18th June with n party of
citizens from Texas for California who, before
leaving, elected me captain Of the company, which
consisted Of twenty.one men, and ten women and
children. We came by the route of Eagle Pass and
Durango; and after suffering tolls and hardshipy in
Vulnerable during this long journey, which only
those who have experienced the same could readily
realize, we arrived, with thankful hearts, at
Mazatlan, pleasing ourselves, as we approach
ed our journeys end, with the hope OF find
ing vessel there to carry US to California Our
principal subject of anxiety the dread that our
small stock Of money might be found insufficient to
pay our expenses and passage money to San Fran
cisco, from the Unexpectedly high prices we had
to pay for every thing the road: but every one
cheerully put up with the cheapest fare during
long travel, to economic our fu Dis Us much
possible; and before arrived at Maza.lan we found
that we had between 81 ,2S6, n arIy $40 each.
On entering that city, our money seized by the
custom house officers rs we had brought no pass
with u; and although we represented to Mr..
Rabago, tire Collector, that it a united purse,
belonging 81 the whole company, we were compelled
to agree give up the half of it. under tho threat
thai II we made any resistance they would coni4-
cate the whole: and on being allowed 10 retain the
other hall, told .e ghS consider il an espe-
cial marx Of favor. At the same time. sin ular 10
say, they admitted that if each had had his money
about him, they could not have taken so small a
/ sum. / am sorry 10 say, this arrangement was
made without the knowledge Of our Consul here,
| Mr.. X. r Cation, who has done everything in his
power to induce the Collector to give up the money,
but unsuccessfully; and enclose you copy of his
letter to the District Judge, in which case is
| clearly stated ond redress demanded, but which
has met with equally little attention.
You may fancy, Mr.. Editor the condition Of Bit
ter distress to which we are reduced through this
nd M lar fha
that we were smuggling silver into Mazatlan, and
the privations and suferipgs we shall have to n
| dure in undertaking distant voyage, without the
means Of purchasing the requisite necessaries.
However, my object in writing you these few
lines not 80 much to excite your sympathy for US,
(who trust with kind aid, to struggle through
present difficuties,) as your indignation at the
| treatment we have met with from officials and
which our fellow citizens almost invariably receive
| from the Western Mexican oficials-who pillage
them without mercy, the most frivolous petences
and to warn any OF our countrymen who may take
the Mazatan route to California to carry each his
separate purse, which win be no great hardship if
| 1T may be az slenderly provided ours were Had
we done so, we should have been in better spirits
to have epJcyed this anniversary Of our glorious
Fourth. Yours &c., G. +. FULGHAM.
LETTER OF THE AMERICAN CONSUL TO THE DISTRICT
JUDGE.
CONSULATE or UNITED STATES or AMERICA,
PoET or MAzATLAr. July 2 1852
SirThe underfigned Consul Of the United States of
America for the Port of Mazatlan has the honor ad
dress you Dstric Judge in relation TO the seizure
and detention Nv the auhortieg OF this cus,o house Of
the Of 1915 u belonging to number Of American
citizens who arrived hher few days from Durango,
Ear California
On the morning Of the arrival Of the sad party 1.-THE
18th ofJune complaint made to by the captain
whom they had elected to conduct their land journey,
ard IN whose hands they had placed all their funds for
travelling eSpenlcs, ttat the whole OF it, amounting to
II 2s6 bad 5een tsken from them by the officers OF the
custom house aud tho. upon application for its restitu
ton the admin trador Mr. Rsblgo refused to give it
up unless duty cent was paid upon the silver
aud four per cent upon The gold being the amount Of the
circulation aud export duties The Undersigned imrcdi-
ateIy waited upon the administrator Mr. Babago and
informed him that this money was intended Tor tne pur
chase Il noceaTes for the voyage OF the party to Cali
fornia and delaying their expenses before enbarng,
ana not for zportSon when he agreed 10 give mp the
money upon tie payment Of the circulation duytwo
per ceut
On the following morning TO the great surprise and
Indignation Of The undersigned he was informed that the
money hsd been fezt upon other grounds viz that If
having been Illegally introduced ard that the poor
people to whom y belonged had been inycgled into
sompIonlifc TO give up the halt under the appre-
henson closing the whole sum. Tue remaining half,
along with st 81, the portion returned By officer
more fcIupngus than the rest mace the amount given
back. $40 S7-leayiDg deficiency Of $575 u
Upon being informed Of this extraordinary proceeding
the undersigned immediately addressed to the admins
tradof Don Juan n Rsbago, tho letter No l. which ac
companies TIE present, in which he demanded that
the money taken from party OF American ct-
zen on the 2Sth instant, be immediately returned
This letter answered by document No .,
in which as you will observe, the administrators
reiuses to give up the money alleging that 1t had been
from Durango and That it was protected by custom
house document and that therefore all that the officers
met With was subject 10 seizure according to law and
that the amount seized had been already divided.
The above mentioned letter. the undersigned feels
sufed viii make sufficiently apparent to yoa the mpu
dert robbery which has been committed upon American
citizens under the prstence OF inracton OF the law
for in what civilized country travellers refused the
free rosseeion of moderate for their current ex-
pendure- and since when have American citizens been
declared the right to carry with them moderated sum
about $40 each, unless IL covered by custom
house document,-for the whole amount when divided
among the party, only gives this tring sum per head
Moreover the whole Of the money seized divided
this letter falsely aseertsone half Of the icing
given hack doubtto silence with regard to the
pillsge which had been effected.
The undersigned therefore, respectfully bcgs that you
will this matter to be Immediately investigated
that Justice may be done TO his counrymep and the
which has been taken from them forthwith re-
turned and enable them to proceed their ana
that you will take such steps may be necessary 70 20
cure the punishment OF all those concerned ID I'm"
The undersigned syaIs himself Of this opportunity 70
assure you Of his high consideration ana respec' anu
has the honor TO b your obedient ssrvant,
~ ~ r. r. CATION u. B. Consul.
ro ths r,s,r,ct yndce M--sspo trsccra 81. e. e