Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-12-07

MEXICAN IMPERIAL ARMY,
DIVISION OF MIJIA, GENEKAL-lN-' hiEF,
MATAMoRAs, November y, lS6o
GENERAL: forward YOU enclosed copy of com
muncatiOn dated yesterday, sent 10 me ny ~ ue III
r.I,lIiern Lieutenant in the French Marines, and
ac,in.r commander of the armed guhbOat Antonio.
Nou can bY said communications OMciaily lake
cD.n.zance of the following occurrences Wmeh
include so many lagraut violations OF the heutrai'y
which the Cnted states nave obilsateu themselves
10 keep in Mexican affairs;
First That the Mexican steamboat Antonio,
coming up the river with French troops on board,
was attacked from the Texas shore without any
proyocaton whatever Nor was this insult to the
French and Mexican hagS, which were both nOatlh5
on the boat, in any way punished.
Second. That the besiegers Of Matamords, detached
from their lines to attack, from Mexico, the said
steamboat crossed the Rio Grande under arms with
out any opposition being made by the American az
thorities, officers, or soldiers, from whom, on the
contrary, they received hearty welcome.
Third That the same bandits were IN direct COM
muncatiOn with the American steamboat TampicO
during the action. The relation Of NJ. de la Bedol
ero Is confirmed by the unequvocal marks lett on
the Antonio by the prOectiles sent from the Texas
shore.
Besides this. occunances of the same character
have taken place in the neghborhOOd Of MatamOraS
during the stay of the enemy. According TO the
daily reports of the steamers PaisanO and Eugena
a great number of persons among whom could be
distinguished the uniform OF the United States anu
that peculiar 10 COTtiuas' robbers, occupy them
selves in Insulting, and even throwing stones from
the city of Brownsville at the troops which man said
boats and this in the presence OF the American oh-
GERS and guards stationed on the bank OF the river
Such OutrageS, which cannot naturally be eX-
plained have been noted, and relation OF them viii
| he transmitted to the Mexican Government aud his
EXcellelcy Marshal BaZaine, in order that they may
decide upon the real character ofsuch actions. Ac
Cept General, the assurance OF my consideration.
THOMAS MEJIA,
Commanding line of the Rio Grande.
| TWe omit Bedoero's complaint in full, as the
points of it are embodied in the above communica-
ton from his superior olicer.l
General weitzeI TO General Meila.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF TuE Rio GRANDE}
BROWNSVILLE TEXAS, Nov. Is, 1865.
| General Thomas Mcjia, Commanding Inc Of the
| Rio Graade:
! GENERAL: | have the honor to acknowledge the
| receipt OF your communication of the 9Th instant
and 10 say in reply that YOU, as soldier, must
tauly be aware that it would require all the cavalry
| of Europe and America combined 50 to picket this
| RIVER Us to prevent single individuals from commit
| ting such OutIageS as Lieutenant de Ia BedOllero
complains Of and that would not be just in you to
| hold me or my Government responsible for acts Of
such individuals. All that can do is TO try my ut
most to arrest the guilty parties and dispose OF them
/ according to instructions; and this commenced TO
| DO before received your letter. and as soon as
| heard of the occurrence.
! The soldiers on the TampicO were sick and diSa-
bed men who were mustered out, and were On their
way 10 their homes. What crime there could have
| been in communicating with the Liberals cannot
| possibly understand. These sick and disabled sol
| der, had no ammunition, and they certainly could
| give them very little Information.
The fact that there were bullet marks on the star
board SIDE u the Antonio does not prove at all that
the shot, were fired from the American side because
a. you mus; know the Rio Grande is so crooked anu
has many sharp turns that boat could be rddled
on her StarbOIrd side and still every shot be fired
from the Mexican shore. You complain that my
officers and men affiliate with the Liberals and
| welcome them. This is not strange. The Liberals
claim that they fight for their freedom. Their cause,
then Is one that has awakened the warmeSt sym.
pltheS in every American breast 1t would
be as impossible Tor me TO prevent this, even il felt
So disposed aS it would be to stop the motion of the
earth. But do not feel so disposed During our
late war the officers and men OF French and English
men-of-war living in ports in our military possession
affiliated continually and exclusively with our enc
mes as at New Orleans and Norfolk, aud yet it was
not thought necessary To communicate with them on
the subject. They We're permitted TO choose their
own associates.
have only heard of single instance when mob
of MeNicans threw stones at your gunbOats ana this
mob was promptly dispersed by my guards.
have never heard of q single soldier making in
sultng remarks, but have heard that MeNJans fire.
quently make them. 1t would he impossible for me
tn Sop this because have not the force 10 spare for
p,kets though felt disposed Ia do it but do not
ire 50 disposed because ever since my arrival here
| YOU have allowed a sheet, published in MatamOUs
and printed in the English and Spanish languages,
daily 20 vfv aud insult the Government. the pco-
pie and the army OF the United States and this too,
after your attention and thX Of SenGr Robles had
/ been called 10 II.
| You General, have no right TO compain> of my
| conduct during the recent siege. | permitted the
| women and children 10 come over here from Mata-
| mOraS, meat to 90 over TO your citizens who re-
manned, grass Tor the cows of the same and wood to
! enable them TO cook their meals. Humanity Tc-
quired this. In return gave the wounded Liberals
who helpless and destitute shelter, medicines,
| and food. invariably did this for my wounded
/ enemies. For whom have | done the most in this
matter l. it not about an equal thing
! Again, you prumsGd tu release American citizens
| after NY demand was made, from being pressed into
military service under YOU, contrary To the treaty
between Mexico and the United States, and yet yes
! terlay heard of three that were still held. ] be-
cye this 10 be entirely the fault of your subordinate
officers, and do not blame you for il.
! Again, you have converted an American steamer
into Il gun-bOat and hOsted the Mexican flag on her
without first buying her and changing her nation
| aty, according to law; and against this / hereby
protest and if not remedied will ut once lay the
matter before my superior officers.
| As Monsieur CLIQUE, commander of the naval dvi
sion in the Gulf Of Mexico, has also addressed me
/
il you would send him a copy of this letter, as do
not wish to correspond with two different comman-
| dor>. am sir, very respectfully,
| Your Obedient servant.
! G.. NEITZEl., Maj. Gen. Commanding.
| The French Naval Commander TO Gen. Weitzel.
FIRST LETTER.
! NAVAL DIVISION or TIE MEXICAN GULF, !
| ON BOARD THE FRIGATE MAGELLAN, )
OFF THE RIO GRANDE, November i, 1865. }
! GENERAL; / have been exactly informed as to the
| events taking place in the surroundings of Matamo-
r>-that is to say, that am perfectly cognizant of
tn assistance which the so-caled Liberals have re-
ceyed and stillFeceve from Texas, and more espe-