The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-21
Captain stones Expedition to Sonora
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

CAPTAIN stones Expedition to Sonora.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
wAxmroN Fob. Is, 1880.
In your issue OF the llth instant notoe among the
items from Guaymas, Sonora, the following "CAp,
Stones commission, In charge OF Jasper Whiting pro-
tested against entorng Sonora until our does
something towards guaranteeing their claim public Land
and other privileges"
This statement incorrect, and may create very erro-
neous Impressions The commission alluded TO was ex-
PEELED from Sonora BY orders from Gen. Pesqueira
municated in writing to its chief Capt ssone and commu-
nicated also officially to all the projects the State BY
order Of the United States government Capt W. D. Por
ter United States Navy, commanding the sioop st.
Aarys protested against the expulsion. Cen. PesQuea
replied In writing to this protest. assuming lofty tone,
declining to answer the allegations Of the protest. and
stating that he would refer to The President OF the re-
public for his action.
subst quenty in private conversation held with Com.
sion for the return Of Captain stone and his pary but hs
gave no written permission nor did he issue any order
that has como 70 the knowledge Of the expelled party,
countermandng that OF expulsion. On the contrary that
order, far the commission know, remains in force,
Notwithstanding the orders which have been issued by
msnd it; and II Is significant fact that Immediately after
his verbal PROMISE that official commenced raising troops
%bch cO ss sHs sds s
camp Of the commission.
Mr.. Whiting, who was In charge Of the commission
Is not only gentleman Of tried courage but Of saga
city and prudence.
Had be crossed the frontier three hundred miles from
Guaymas and the guns OF the st. Marys, he would have
entered district the project Of which had In his posses
sion the order Of expulsion but order for the return Of
the commission, and there would have occurred
those unfortunate mstakes which have before this
60 many OF our countymen their lives that land. The
commission would doubt have been attacked BY the
frontier troops Of Sonora acting under the order Of expu
eiop their perfectly ignorant Of course Of any
verbal provisions made by General Pesqueira and after
the Of thirty forty brave men diplomacy
might have worked twenty years to fnd out who had
made the mistake and who should not be held RESPONSE
BILE for it,
Very probably, Commander Porter on learning In
Quay mas the fact Of such massacre, would, with his
accustomed prompttude and decision, have blown the
town TO atoms; which he could easily do with the power
full well manned and we'll commanded batteries Of the st.
Aarys; but this would not restore life TO the murdered
men or give much consolation 10 their families.
Mr.. Whiting, therefore, acted well and wisely In de-
clinpg to enter Sonora until some official step was taken
by General Pesqueira to justify the movement. he
made protest. that appears, but simply stated in q
letter that he could not until he authorized
to do by written permission from the authorities Of So
He has thus saved rsking the lives Of his companions
the interests Of his enterprise and the Of the from