The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-28
from the Picayune, 18th.
Nexioo and the United States.

Mexico, at Brazos Santiago, by order Of Gen
Sheridan, Nov. 3, 1866. 1t was in pursuance
Of the following order, dated at New Orleans,
Oct. 25:
~ To the Commanding Officer Brazos Santiago:
SlR-Should Gen. Ortega, with certain
partisans, 60 over on the steamer St. Mary, or
any other vessel, arrest him, and hold him in
custody until you can communicate with bre-
vet Brig. Gen. Sedgwick at Brownsville, and
then act according to his orders.
" Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"P. II. SHERIDAN, Maj Gen. comd g."
On the arrival of the St. Mary at Brazos
the following order was served upon Capt.
John Paulson, 117th U. S. G. troops, com
handing post:
CAFTArN-The colonel commanding di
reefs that you hold Gen. Ortega, with his par
tisans who accompany him, in custody until
further orders from these headquarters, or If
Gen. Ortega and his party 50 desire, you will
allow them to return 10 New Orleans. La,
by return steamer. You will use them with
the utmost courtesy, granting them such priv
ileges as you may deem proper. but at the
same time YOU will keep them under close sur
yeiIlance.
Every respectfully, your obedient servant,
Burton DREW,
"fst Lieut. and A ADC, A A G."
This was again endorsed, to clinch it, and
a copy served upon Gen. Ortega.
Immediately after his arrest, Gen. Ortega
sent to Capt. PauIson protest. setting forth ::
/. That be came there in company with six
other Mexican citizens en- route to his own
country.
2, That be travelled under +" the protection
Of lie United States, because travelling in a
steamer carrying the starry flag and on the
waters Of the same nation"
g. That he was arrested without any cause
ssigned-certainly not that he had violated
any laws Of the United States.
4. | do not believe that either the people Of
the United States orthe supreme government
of this great nation, participated in this act.
From both | hope for PREPARATION.
5. The constitution and laws of the United
States concede to me certain individual rights,
which have been violated, and protection, in
stead Of which I am imprisoned.
6. That be is the constitutional president Of
Mexico, and his arrest for that reason is inter-
ference in the internal affairs Of his country.
7. His arrest and Imprisonment are acts Of
violence against bis person, compelling him
by force to reside in the United States against
his will.
8. He will not return to New Orleans ex-
cept as a prisoner, and that the officer might
dispose of his person as he thought proper,
Therefore, as in the presence of force, right
and reason naturally is silent. but right and
reason are great powers in this republic, and
right and reason will soon make themselves
heard, he enters the following protest:
|. | protest against the violent act Of the
military force, exercised against my person,
experimenting me on board the steamer ST.
Mary, and keeping me imprisoned until to-day,
without any reason to justify this violent act,
thereby disregarding individual guarantees,
given by the laws Of this country to foreigners
travelling therein.
/ g l protest in the name of the Mexican
republic, whose powers | exercise as president
thereof, against this said act, because it i'm
posts an indirect Interference, by the armed
forces of the United States, in the solution Of
local Mexican questions.
8 That the sympathies of the government
and loyal people Of the United States are in
favor Of the Mexican republic and the pro
gressive party which he represents. and that
the acts of Benito Juarez and his minister at
Washington are REASONABLE, in seeking by in
trigue and other equally to be reprobated mea-
sures, the aid of foreign force to secure
usurped power, depreclating thereby republi-
can principles and impeding my entrance by
such means, in order that the people, having
no legitimate head, may Of necessity accede t.
the destruction of their constitutional princl-
pies, TO obtain which, and resulting in peace,
cost this same people thousands Of victims and
ten years Of bloodshed and continuous war.
fare.
The friends and companions Of Gen. Ortega
VIZ: Epitacio Huerta, Fernando M. Orega
Juan Tongo, Joaquin G. Ortega, Carlos L
Ortega, and Francisco Guiliaza, also entered
their protest in the following words:
Some Of the subscribers have been fight
ing against the French army of Intervention
up to the commencement Of this year, and
having been exhausted by their more power
full enemy, they came to American territory tc
rucuperate others returned from imprison
ment, suffered in France, through the same
war, which has at one time or other of the
contest caused our repatriation, but all stauncl
in their resolution and courage to return tt
/ the national combat.
4 We came to the land Of Washington, where
4 liberty has made its chosen and splendid abid
ing place, to the fear and admiration of The
world where a great nation has shown hel
positive sympathy for the good cause Of Mex
leo. whose liberty and sovereignty it has pro
claimed aloud, and where we could prepare t
return to our patriotic task.
\ When we returned TO Mexico. crossing the
seas in the steamer St. Mary under the pro
tecting egis Of the laws Of the United States
whose wisdom attracts emigration from al
quarters Of the globe, military order de
tanned the vessel at the entrance Of the halbo
OF Brazos dc Santiago and we were made pris
orers.
What is our crime, passing Peaceably to GU
country
In what country are we, where inofensiy,
travellers are detained and imprisoned
Let the author Of the order, whose acts arr
scrutinised by lis countrymen and strangers
reply.
How much further violence menaces oul
liberty
When shall we know The motive for our i'm
pIieonp,aut