Washington sentinel., 1854-04-28
MEXICO RECRUITING HER ARMY IN
CALIFORNIA.

The last California arrival brings us news
of high-handed measure resorted to by Santa
Anna, the particulars of which we present in
another place. He seems to have employed
Senior Luis NJ. del Vale, the Mexican consul
at San Francisco, in conjunction with other
agents, to levy an armed force of three thou
sand soldiers to invigorate and increase the
Mexican army The instructions to them were
to enlist Frenchlnen and Germans. The first
were preferred. The affair was prosecuted with
as much diligence as secrecy Enlistments
we're rapidly made and vessel-loads were sent
off to their place Of destination. The French
consul was also implicated in the affair. As
he would not have ventured to engage in 1t
without the sanction Of his government, it is
but fair to suppose that France and Mexico
had an understanding in reference to it, and
that his agency was authorized by his govern
ment This, however, the French consul dis
claims in publication contained in the col
umns of the San Francisco Herald. The in
structions of Santa Anna to his consul were
elected By the arrest Of that functiouary. He
was to enlist military force on a service of at
least one year, of foreign citizens of California
and at the same time to warn all Mexican citi-
zens to leave the State. French, German,
Irish, and Italian are named in the instruc-
tions, Frenchmen being preferred.
The precise service to which these recruits
were destined seems to be matter of doubt.
There are various conjectures in reference to
it. 1t will be seen by reference to the following
account, that the Mexican consul was promptly
arrested
"The arrest was made by General Richard
son, United States marshal, in person, assisted
by one Of his deputies. AS soon as the warrant
dence Of the consul, on Vallejo street, between
kearny and Dupont streets. In the office there
were a number Of Frenchmen, doubtless enlist
ing for the enterprise which was about to be
summarily stopped. Upon inquiry, General
Richardson was informed that Senor del Vale
was so much engaged in his room on the second
floor, that he could not come down. The Off
GERS Immediately proceeded to the room indi-
Gated, and there found the consul, seated be-
hind table, very attentiyely examining some
papers. He politely requested his visitors to
be seated, when the marshal drew forth the
warrant md in the Spanish language informed
him o. the object OF bis visit, at the same time
| gently tapping him on the shoulder and pro-
| nouncing the words in the Spanish language:
| i arrest you in the name of the United States
"Senor del Vale manifested no surprise,
and was not in the slightest degree disconcert-
| ed, but quietly taking the warrant, he read it
over with great deliberation and returned it to
-l..1 IL Il -oI
if he understood the contents Of the document,
to which he returned an affirmative answer, and,
slowly rising from his chair, asked to be ex.
cused until he could change his coat. He
stepped into another room, and in few mo-
ments returned, and was conducted prisoner
Of the United States to the Office of Commits
sioner Papy. AS soon as the object of General
Richardson's visit was known, the Frenchmen,
who we're seemingly about to enlist, immedi-
ately retired. the arrest was consummated by
2 o'clock. and Senior del Vale was from that
time until a engaged IN executing the bond,
upon which he was discharged from custody.
"The law under which the consuls arrest is
founded, is known as the neutrality law of 1918,
which provides that if any person shall, within
the territory Of the jurisdiction of the United
States, enlist himself or hire or retain another
person to enlist in the service OF any foreign
power, either as a soldier or seaman, the per-
son SO offending shall be fined not exceeding
$1,000, and imprisoned not exceeding three
years"
The main point in this affair is the insolence
OF the Mexican government, or rather ofSanta
Anna, IN making one Of the sovereign States of
this Union an arena for recruiting his exhausted
army. IL has created much excitement in Cal