Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-15
IMPORTANT FROM MISUNDERSTANDING
OF TIE AMERICAN CONSULATE
Nr0m NE New orleans Dgltl, Feb -

ArOln the New orleans a. ls, 4 go. 1p.I
B. late arrival from MatamorOs We learn some
o.the particulars that led 90 the closing tue Uni
TED States Consulate az that place.
Prior 90 the lst December, ls6is Mr. l.. Pierce
vas the accredited commercial agent ol the United
States resident in MatamVros. lie had obtained has
eErquatCl from JUarez, and BIZ, official position has
6eeu recognized by the Inn yIiM Government as
having been established prior % the installation OF
abe new regime Sdt It appears that gu the Isl al
December last oar Government sent cut Ar. Etch-
.asOu as Consul. Ar. tiercv endeaY1red 10 assist
the new Consul ia procuring tie necessary official
recognition TO enable him 10 perform the duties oi
his office. Application made 10 Gen. Mejia Tor
permission 20 act by Mr.. dickinson, until his exc
luatur could he obtained mona Mexico. MeItl
promptly granted the request bat the Prciect, ho
reports directly o. the Secretary Of stale, refused.
IuIS tgLC-l4IsfN informed the Consul thai no re-
cOguit,u 0l am q. Alr. EtcLIn,on', acts could be
had uuui lie received his eSeqdatur. he then
wrote To- the ccCrctaIy ot state, al the City Of
Mexico, sFUtement ot the case, ami received IA
reply an urder o. direct that the nIted States
consulate &c hatamuro, be closed at once. This
letter w2s received un the day the Uf the cap
-Ure uS8ort Fisher reached Matamor0S- In honor
uf tue event the United States dag was displayed
tryu. tac uihcc. The Project, with more consider
alton thau could have been exp -ted under the cir
cumstouces. postponed sending official notice TO
close up until aftcr sunset, when he knew the 1as
would be- takeu down, of course.
In the evcniGE, however, the order came, news
ct which spread raPidiy throughout The town, and
caused Nj Piercc'> house % Doe bc>ieged by a crowd
Cd. orjuUs citizens of the UHited States, who still
regarded him as possessed ofsoue power aud inhU-
euce The pEperS and record, ol the Office were
packed mp and removed TO Mr. PierceS house, and
the orile lciJ closed. M. Pierce irit MataiIOrOs
~ tLe lG.L, with the intention u returning soon.
tOr sOme Umr previous % leaving Mexico, Mr..
Pierce had been engaged In official correspondence
gsJh General Neiia the subject II delivering up
alleged fugltye5 60 the rebel authorities at Browns
vie. In reply 10 protests against this practice, the
General answered th-t be only ordered the return
u those guilty OF some crime pf magnitude, and
that this was done under an -VJsJditi0u treaty.. I
While, however this was the avOwed theory, the
practice went lar &c Ond ana aciaded tine delivery
up el.aHy body wanted by tue rebels. There l., ct
course, no difficulty u trumplns up charge 20
prefer against any one, aud as there Is u1 trih HOr
examination except o. ta6s Jlg fugitive before the
chief alcalde and make formal emsud aEd iieu-
t.y le person. il opens She door IUr the reDeis TO
drag from the isieudiy and neutral shores ct Mexico
any one who NAV be Thought 70 be hostile 10 che
script: &c was officially given ont however. that
fugitive slaves we've n0t surrendered.
There is unquesjOuaOiy au sttempt on the part
uf the Brownsville rebels and uteiT sympathUers ~
Vi ltahorOs 70 cOmpcate the relations existing be-
tween the United states aud Mexico, and u posi-
Ole, provoke hosui.its. b. 'tLi, means they hope
10 call ia the aid OF France, and thus brlug the
vs. eight OF chat power 70 bear the rebel side IN
tue great contest that has been w8ged for louI
Yeats and with results 50 unexpected and dsheart-
euins % the rebels The refusJtof our Government
10 recognize MAMMALIAN Is arttully used by pub
Inc ensniies in this country TO serve their ends and
stir up feeling OF resentment against this couGtTy
IN Mexico This appears to be the cause OF al the
ditEeulty.