New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-04-25
MEXICAN CORRESPONDENTS.
Inter NUMBER III.
.
OUTRAGE ON AN AMER1oAN CITIZEN.
q xOO mn

GU TRACE ON AN AMER1CAN CITIZEN.
Reclamation OF 100000.
Special to the New Orleans Crescent
MIsATITLAN, MEXICO, April Z, 1859.
Last night there came to the hotel where am
stopping two men, whom set down in my mind for
ira ders from Tabasco. One brought with hima very
heavy trunk, and this filled with grand cash" and
fattered the mercantile community with much trade.
These gentlemen are still here but they not come
for barter-they are refugees from oppression, and
their case appeals to the people of the United States
for redress2 say they need redress but in this there
is distinction--both need it, but one demands it.
One is a countryman Of this distracted State, the
other belongs to the American Republic. Am mis-
taken in believing that both these men stand the
same actual footing-that both of them must go with
out redress II SD, the Mexican is to be enyed, for
although be is now despoiled and wanderer, he has
no hope but in his own resources for it would be
useless in him to apply to his Government for redress
Therefore he will turn at once to rebuild himself, and
will not waste his time in vain efforts to catch from
Government that reparation he ought to have. On
the contrary the American will at once set to work.
have his losses made good through diplomatic efforts,
and although he is now full of faith and hope, see
him, in my imagination, after many years, worse off
than the Mexican, still asking for justice for the
wrong that has been done to him. The circumlocu-
ton office is woful canker worm and many are the
hearts needs must feed on to keep body and soul
together. Just think what turmoil Washington
would be in If the secretaries and clerks Of depart
ments there should be kept out Of their monthly pay
for one whole year and then think what imp,snse
suffering and anxiety caused in the land because
those well fed clerks and secretaries hold back the
of governmental debts. Poor Nc
Kenny, you have many years to wait before justice
will waken from her inertia at Washington city. But
to the particulars of the case.
i DIR. j. g. McKENNY's STATEMENT.
family live in Richmond. left the United States in
1884, Us years ago. for the purpose OF exploring
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Central and South
America. Taken with fever at Tabasco, in the
Department Of that name, was directed into the
interior the safest and surest cure. Crossing the
Cordlera, I arrived in Comitan, a town midway be-
tween the Gulf and the Pacific, where liked the eli
mate but where the fever Frustrated me SO that was
confined to my bed for three months. The Inhabitants
proved hospitable, and after had recovered they
pressed me to remain. Establishing drug store in
the town of Ciudad Real which was then the capital
of the province, did well and accumulated large
fortune. When the war with the United States broke
ont, the Government troops attacked and robbed me
Of all my movable property, but left my houses. |
the State, senorita Dominique / removed to the
town Of Comitan after my disaster at Ciudad Real,
and again commenced business as a merchant.
The first robbery OF my property only inspired
others, for although made reclamatlons TO the
amount Of s25 900, the claim was overlooked by the
United States Commissioners, through the neglect Of
my attorney, MI. Cox. The instrument of the first
robbery was an officer Of the Customs under Santa
Anna, named Jean Ortaga, but who was subsequently
discharged from his position as defauter. Ortega
has always detesed the Americans, or foreigners and
since his discharge from the Custom House, he has
annoyed my property in every possible way. Since
the revolution of Zuoaga he has been acting undera
commission from the church party But his main
dependence o1 the protection of President Carrera,
of Guatemala.
Without particularizing the various exactions i'm
posed upon me, / shall come down to the latest and
greatest robbery and the one for which shall make
my complaint for recamatons to the American Min.
lister at the city Of Mexico
On the night pf the Goth Of January last at about
o'clock in the morning, an alarm was raised in the
public square of Comtan, by the firing Of shots and
direction. Rushing into the street found rabble
soldery breaking into my storesa long line Of which
fronted on the public square. Every thing valuable
was taken and fire was then applied amid the cries,
" Death to the Americans-Liy the Church and its
Privileges (Nfuerta los IN ericanos--V iyan Ia
Igiesia su P,ipiiegeo) With difficulty myself and
family escaped through the back gate and proceeded
to the house Of q friend. The Centralsts remained
banners of Guatemala and those of Mexico mingled
together and on each Of them wrttenin Spanish,
" The Church and its Privileges
The people of Comtan rallied and drove the Cen
tralists and (fot the Department of Chapas is Lib
eral in its politics. by mid day was allowed to visit
the ruins of my property. But everything was de-
stroyed. The work nf twonty Ave years was rubbed
or burned to tho ground could donothing but col
lect few debts, relying upon my Government to ex
act reparation from Mexico for the injury done me-
shall proceed to lay my claim before Mr. McLane, the
Minister and then shall proceed to Washington City
to put the Government in possession OF the facts
estimate my losses at 100000.
In confirmation of his claim, Mr.. McKenny carries
letters from all the preects acades, secretaries and
governors in the Department, which would be tedi-
GUS reading if had the industry to copy them. But
the following letter from the United States Consul at
Tehuantepec, together with extracts from La Ban
dera Constitutional, the official paper Of the Depart
ment of the Chiapas, will confirm the statement of
Wv CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
sH 84A Tehu ,nepec, March Both 1859 )
The undersigned, Consul for the United States of
America for Tehuantepec and the dependencies
thereof, do hereby certify, that am personally &C.
auainted with Mr.. James G. Mckenny, an American
merchant resident of the city Of Comitan, in the State
Of Chiapas, and that have known him by reputa-
ton for many years. to.wit: Since the year 1851,
further certify, that Mr. McKenny has been exten.
svely engaged in mercantile business, and was until
the 10th Of January ast-when his property was
DESTROYED in the sacking of the city Of CONTAIN, by
one Ortega, in command of body of troops belong
ing to the Centralist or Zuoaga party) the wealth
les merchant ih the State Of Chiapas and as really
believe in southwestern Mexico. further certify
that Mr.. McKenny is we'll and fayorably known as a
gentleman of character well as merchant of high
standing and probty That his great losses sustained
by the sackng of the city of Gomitan occasioned
the general sympathy of the inhabitants of Chiapas
while the babarous acts of Ortega have been fol
lowed by general burst Of Indignation from one end
of the State tb the other. further certify, that
have voluntarily and without any solicitation on the
part of Mr. McKenny given this certificate, consider
ing it an act of duty towards an American citizen
who in few hours has seen the fruits of nearly
quarter of century of toll destroyed bya military
force belonging to the Centraist party recognizing
the Government established in the city of Mexico.
Given under my hand and seal of this Consulate
this day and wear above written.
CHARLES R. WEBSTER, U. S. Consul.
Next in order give you an extract from the Ban
dera Constitutional of February 10, published in the
city of Tuxtla, State of Chapas. translate as fol
lows, from the official communication of the Cover
nor. Maas Casteanos, to the Minister of Foreign Re
lations Of the Republic of Guatemala, from which
Republic he demands PREPARATION for the protection
afforded by that Government to Ortega and his bant
of Centralists Says the Governor:
"Amongst the evils inflicted by this outrage o
Ortega, who has sought the protection Of your Gov
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