The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-02
IMPORTANT REVENUE MOVEMENTS.

Gals Yestcrday-FOrty or Fifty Vessels
Placed Under Surveilla Brea king
Up OF Great Trade with tho Rebels,
&c., Sc, Sc.
Great activity prevailed yesterday among the Custom
House officers in regard to certain information received
by Surveyor Rufus Andrews and United States Marsha
Robert Murray relation the rapid aud sudden
of trade with Northern Mexico.
The blockade of tho Southern ports by the United States
vessels of at every inlet has put the rebels to their
wits end, and they haye adopted every available method
OF smuggling goods of every description into their strong
holds nasmuch as the Southern are too made
opportunity that offered itself taken advantage of to
run tho blockade if any vessel of squadron happened
to be away temporarily service elsewhere for which
sharp lookout kept by the privateers, and they
found few sympathzers with their cause at the North
to assist them materially in their schemes.
At the of tho their pratcal crafts,
yclcpt prvatecrs captured unsuspectng vessels laden
with valuable cargoes, NEST of which had not even
boon informed OF the embargo to sustain them
for some time; but the blockade grew more
formidable by degrees and the rebels cut of from
entering their own harbors, that way Of getting sup
plies became played out and their only hope to OBJ
tain supplies by stratagem Ono Of the ways and
originating in the crafty brains of the rebels pro-
vessels load them with provisions and general sup
plies at the North, and obtain a clearance for a
foreign seaport adjacent TO the rebel lines 1t is
therefore not surprising that suddenly Of late brisk
trade sprung up with Matamoros Mexican seaport,
whereas for the past too years but clearance
soas asked for and granted for that port at the Re-
venue Department. The fact Of numerous applications
for cearances to Matamoros made to Collector Barney
aroused the suspicious the authorities Washington
the ulf tha
order grant any clearances of goods fu
ure for Matamoros Mexico In edition Of the Goth
ult the following paragraph appeared in connection with
this tralc-'h has been found that cargoes shipped to
that port containing material calculated give aid and
comfort to the rebels could readily be- and indeed have
been, sent across the Texan frontier without restriction"
On the 2sth ult the British schooner w. r. Kibby Smith
MASTER is noted as having cleared for the above
toned port and in the Shipping List Of the Slst find
the schooner T. j. Harding advertised loading for the
same port.
1t is scarcely likely that parties carrying illegal
traffic will be very apt to allow the public hear Of it,
consequently is not to be wondered ut that vessels
advertised to sail for the port in question. Not
wthstanding the secresy observed in the Of
fitting vessels give I" aid and comfort" to the
enemy and loading hcm with provisions and goods with
the osensibe purpose of sailing to foreign port
Murray were sterny fixed upon the movements of Ger
tain craft, which allowed 10 proceed in the act of
loading until almosrcady to SAIL when grand blow was
be struck and not only their leaving the port
but conscate vessels cargo and all and probably appre
bend few sickly individuals who raving for pure
breeze 10 benefit their health which Fort Lafayette
offers to supply at government rates.
That an expedition oil some kind against suspected
sells foot manifest by the secret and myscri-
the United states Barge office for
A WA e al vol
among the government employees, and the numerous
trips made by the little towboat g. BEibeck, employed
by the Revenue Department
On Saturday an order issued to all the day and
night inspectors also to the watchuien, report them
Of these gentlemen being apprehensve OF dismissal (no
material changes having as yet been made BY Sur
veyor Andrews), the futtcring among them was
immense, inasmuch they had an il,a that the
guiliotne about TO fall ON their devoted heads
But they felt somewhat relieved when Mr.. Van Busk'k
Cicr Boarding officer and Captain Alderman of the night
watch laid down their plans (arangcd by the Surveyor
of the Por TO apprehend certain number OF SUSPICIOUS
vessels at present loading and some ready to sail
The little tugboat took on board number OF Custom
House inspectors and leaving the barge Office dock at
nne O'Clock yesterday morning, quietly proceeded
up the East river ana .ns Vessels Vessels, that were a
addition made to their complement of men,
the shape of revenue officer, matches sealed
and declared under seizure In this way less than
forty five vessels, ranging In tonnage from $50 TO 500
tons burthen, and from schooner to an Al clipper,
were taken possesson of from nine A. H. to SIX p. NJ,
respects to vessels loading on the North river. Il
may be we'll to state here that The major portion OF the
seizures were enected ON the Fast river.
For the first time within the recollection OF the Oldest
empoye at the barge Office the entire force has been
duty at time at the Office, and yesterday dud last
ming the inspectors wetchmen and boatmen had to be
in constant attendance. u is somewhat surprising mat
Ter that The greatest portion Of The seizures made
'svessels laden with contraband stores for Matamoros
In order that readers may comprehend why the last
ntoDed port the particular point OF entry OF the
SEES appehended we append the following description Of
which in In with tbs Of existing
rebels, has suddenly grown into commercial I'm
portaEOo-
Maanoros ID river port town Of the Mexican confede
ration, in the department Of Tamaupas, the south
bank Of tho Rio Grande forty pits from the Gulf OF
Mexico. It's port the Guf consists Of two harbors
tho Brazos dc Santiago and the Bora del Rio-about
nine miles apart, and both DISTRACTED by
bars impossible during strong winds. The popu-
laon of this place numbers about twenty thousand
habants but very little business besides the export Of
specie hides wool and horses is carried on there and
the imports consist of manufactured goods chiefly from
the United States and Great Britain Previous TO and
during the with the United States the revenues
crung from tho customs mortgaged for the pa
ment Of the army expenditures
Opposite this town. the northeast side Of the river
General Taylor established his camp the ring Of 1916
previous to the commencement Of bosiliics DO.
tween our government and Mexico. The latter
place has since boon strengthened by the cree, on
Of fertilization, which has been named Fort
Brown, Brownsville. in honor OF Major Brown,
commander Of the garrison who was MORALLY wounded
by shell from the Mexican batteries MAY g. I946),
while General Taylor, with the main body OF his foroc
was engaged in opening a communication with Point
Isabel After the victories OF alo Alto aud Resaca de la
Palma the American army entered and took possession
Of Mat.mcros without opposition.
Thus will be why this port is selected above all
others to land cargoes inasmrch the close proximity
to Brownsville makes IL easy to transport them within
the rebel lines the distance Of the boundary
farther apart than merely the width Of the river.
vessel inside Of the inlet cannot be reached by
OF blockaders, and, in fact, have right to
blockade the port Of nation that is Oh terms OF peace
with us.
The vigilance Of Surveyor Andrews is highly commend
able in this instance the crafts he has seized have been
prevented from supplying the enemy with supplies,
would undoubtedly have been TIE had they been al
lowed to proceed their journey, and every patriotic
citizen will admit the justice OF the atage that can
OF prevention is better than pound of cure With The
splendid coup t of Major General Butler the
Of North Carolina, the stopnagc Of supplies from the
North by the Revenue department. and the effective
blockade Of every Southern port preventing foreign
sells from giving aid and comfort TO the enemy, will
be great while before the rebels will be compelled
either strike desperate blow be reduced the ne
cessity Of suing for all unconditional pardon
The Secretary of the Treasury waking mp to tho i'm.
portance Of the fact that since the of the
the rebels have been literally supplied by their ennis
saries North with subsistence, clothing, &c, and the
greatest portion thereof came from this city. The las,
surveyor doing lis duty manully, but he did
support oc and what