Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-15
Particulars of the closing Of the Am
erisRn Consulate at MRtamOras.
From tha Nau OrIs.ps Trua Oelta Feb l61


erisan Consulate at MRtamOras.
From the New Orleans True Delta, Feb. 1sl
By late arrival from Matsmorss we
learn some of the particulars that led to
the closing Of the United States consulate
st that place. Prior to the lat Of Deeem-
Der, 1864, Mr.. L. Pierce was the accredited
commercial agent Of the United States
resident in Mstsmorss. He had obtained
his eZequstur from Juarez, and his official
position has been recognized by the impe-
rial government, as shsving been established
prior to the installation of the new regime.
But 1t appears that on the 1st of Decem-
Der last our government sent out Mr. Etch-
inson as consul. Mr.. Pierce endeaVored
to assist the new consul in procuring the
necessary official recognition to enable
him to perform the duties of his offce.-
Application was made to General Meiis
for permission to act by Mr.. Etehinson
until his exequatur could be obtained from
Mexico. Mejis promptly granted the re-
| quest, but the prefect, who reports directly
to the Secretary of State, refused. This
tunctionsry informed the consul that no
recognition Of any of Mr.. Etchinson's acts
could be had until he received his exequa-
tur. He then wrote to the Secretary
of State, st the City of Mexico, q state
ment Of the case, and received in reply an
order to 6iFecsthat the United States con-
sulste at Mstsmorss beclosed at once. This
letter was received on the day of the news
Of the capture of Fort Fisher reached Mat
smorss. In honor of the even the United
States flag was displayed from the Office.
The project, with more consideration than
could have been expected under the circum-
stances, postponed sending official notice to
close up until after sunset when he knew
the flag would be taken own, of course
In the evening, however, the order came
news OF which spread rapidly throughout
the town, and caused Mr.. Pierce's house TO
be Desleged by 8 crowd of anxious citizens
Of the United States, who still regarded |
him sr possesse ! of some power and infu- |
ence. The papers and records of the Office |
were packed up, and removed to Mr.. |
Pierce's house, and the Office left clesed. |
Mr.. Pierce left Mstsmoras ,on the 10th, |
with the intention of returning soon. For |
some time previous to leaving Mexico, Mr.. |
Pierce had been engaged in official CORES
pondence with General Mejis, on the sub |
ject of delivering up alleged fugitives to |
the rebel authorities at Brownsville. In |
reply to protests against this practice, the |
General answered that he only that he only
ordered the return of those guilty of some
crime of magnitude, and thst this was
done under an extradition treaty. While,
however, this was the avowed theory, the
practice went far beyond, and included
the delivery up of any body wanted by
the rebels. There is, of course, no diff
Guilty in trumping up q charge to prefer
against any one, and as there is no trial nor
examination, except to take the fugitive
before the chief alcslde, and make formal
demand and identify the person, it opens
the door to the rebels to drag from the
friendly and neutral shores of Mexico any
one who may be thought to be hostile to
the confederate cause, or may be useful as
a consuipt. It was officially given out,
however, that fugitive slaves were not
There is unquestionably an
attempt on the part of the Brownsville
rebels and their sympathizers in Mats-
moras to complicste the relations existing
between the United States and Mexico,
and, if possible, provoke hostilities. By
this means they hope to call in the aid Of
France, and thus bring the weight of that
power to bear on therebel side in the great
contest that has been Wsged for four years
and with results so unexpected and dis
heartening to the rebels. The refusal of
Dur Government to recognize Macmillan
IS artfully used by public enemies in this
country TO serve their ends, and stir up q
IeeliDg Of resentment against this country
n Mexico. This appears to be the cause
If all the difficulty.