, 1863-09-09
IMPORTANT FROM THE GULF.
French and Federal Troops said to
be Confronting each other on
the Rio Grande.


[From the n Z. Express, 5th.1
We learn by the steamer George Washing
ton, which arrived today from New Orleans,
that much excitement existed there, among
the rebel sympathizers and their friends, IN
reference to the grelt military and naval ex-
pedition aDout to depart from that point. It
Is understood that the flower Of Gen. Grlnt's
would be embarked on this Important expedi-
ton, the destination Of which, it has been
given out, is Mobile, Alabama. The rebel
sympathizers who are usually wise above what
Is written, are unwilling to accept this Mobile
theory. They are quite sure that the expedi-
tion is going ln inst the contru,y direction,
Federals as . blind, to .put The rebels
quite certain that the expedition. wilI
turn up, not In Alabama, at the
mouth Of the Tombigbee, hut ii Texas, Ut
the mouth OF the Rio Grande. They are like
wise certain that the movement was to be
The troops had already gone forward, and
would be on Texas soil, as the nucleus of
great "army Of occupation'' there, before the
George Washington could reach New York,
The further talk among these wonderfully
wise rebel sympathizers was that this concen-
tration Of Federal troops at the mouth ofthe
Rio Grande, was in consequence Of an antici-
pated rupture Of fe1endly relations between
France and the United States; that certain
demands have been made Of the French En-
peror, in respect to his recent operations in
Mexico, which, II not satisfactorily complied
with, will be Immediately followed By the
invasion Of that country By the army OF Gen.
Grant; that secret understanding contem-
p1ating eome such invasion exists, between
President Lincoln and the fugitive Mexican
President Juarez; that, finally, war between
France and the United States, growing ont
Of these complications, is now inevitable, &c.
W. gTs thess reports + r to tor what they are
the reader to appraise them at their actual
value. 1t there Is really any foundation for
tile statement that the destination Of the New
Orleans Expedition is the mouth Of the Rio
ing that the rebe1sy with their accustomed
penetration, have discovered the fact, not
Withstanding the pains taken to put them on
the Mobile scent. The proof Of this know
ledge wa have In the latest adyices from
Brownsville, Texas, published In the e..
Gen. Bee, the rebel commander on the Rio
Graude, had ordered the removal Of the
Custom House 1T Brownsville to Roma,
place about one hundred and fifty miles
above. We are not aware that the Confsder-
a!es hare any military force IN that quarter to
oppose our troops, but egen If they had, the
real importance ct the movement lies rather
In It's Immediate relation to France, than to
the Southern Confederacy. We have jnfor.
nation that the French, having already taken
possession Of the seaport OF Tamplco,. nre
about to dlspatch-if they, have not already
dispatched military force to take possession
Of Matamoroe, q step which will bring them
face to face with the Federal army Of occupa-
tIon under General Grant, Matamoros, as
our readers are aware, is Mexican town on
the Rio Grande, few miles above the juno
ton with the Gulf Of MEXICO. Immediately
across the river Is the State Of Texas; the
town Of Brownsville being in that State, and
occupying the relation to Matamosos that
jersey City does to New York. The town has
n1l along been held by the rebel General Bee;
and since the war began g large contrabaud
trade las been carried On between the two
towns. European merchantmen using the
Mexican port az . nominal port Of entry. It
has been almost impossible for us to prevent
this trade, as the. Rio Grande is neutra1
river, and cannot be blockaded, while Mata-
moros Is is under friendly flag, and cannot
be occupied. Undsr the Mexican fac, in
deed, Matamoroghas been source Of annoy
ance to the United States, and It may be that
the army Of Gen. Grant has been or Is to be
sent to Brownsville to stop that annoyance,
and put an end to the contraband trade.
How far this proceeding is likely to compro
mise our friendly relations win the French
or how soon 1t 141i result in col
lision With his soldiers on the opposite side
of the river, We do not care at present to dis
cuss. The time for their summary solution,
however, IL not far distant.