New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-02-03


that grounded several weeks ago as she was COM
ing down with troops. Some of the soldiers, we
are told, waded ashore and took :" shanks' CON
yeyanee to the city, lndanola Times.
Gen. weitzeps Reply to the Matamoros
Protest.
In reply to the Matamoros protest published by
us Yesterday Gen. Wetzel has written the follow
ing, which we copy from the Times:
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT Rio GRAspE
January Is 1866. !
Brevss Col c. F. whittlessy, A A Gen.. Dept Texas:
SRI toward to you, Endorsed, one of the most
remarkable documents have ever seen. / would
have returned it at once had not perceived that
its effect is clearly to produce false impression
in foreign countries, and because it is signed by
names that have always been considered here
eminently respectable.
1t is only few days since sent to Gen. Sheri-
dan, upon his order, history of violations of
that were committed on the other side
of the river during our recent war.
l sent sufficient proof to convince any one, and
l can bring enormous quantity more if required,
that nearly all of the FIRMS if not all of them,
whose names are affixed to the inclosed document,
supplied the rebels with arms, ammunition and
clothing, and everything else that contra band
and not contraband of war
| sent proof that the American steamer Ike
Davis was captured by band organized in Bagdad
and run into 1ndianoa and there sold. That one
of the parties who committed this outrage openly
boosted of it in the streets of Matamoros.
sent proof that the American schooner Flo
renee Bearce was burnt by parties that left Bag
dad, although at the time she was reported to be
lying in Mexican waters.
sent proof that upon the receipt of the news
of the death of our lamented President, mock
graves were dug and mock funerals held in the
streets Of Matamoros and Bagdad.
sent other proof, showing that some particular
firms whose names are attached to the inclosed
document committed particular violations of neu-
trality.
would have sent much more.
hear more every day, and by capture only
yesterday, of rebel records, | can increase this
proof to an enormous extent But sent only as
much as | did, because I became disguised with
the duplcity, decettulness and rascaity which the
investigations develop.
have seen with my own eyes storehouses that
were nearly filled with shoes and blankets intended
for the rebels, and owned by some Of the signers
of this wonderful document.
1t is notorious that some of the vice consuls, if
not all of them, whose seal is attached to the in
closed paper, were engaged IN contraband trade
with the rebels.
Yet notwithstanding all these things were ira ns-
pring, did ever any of these gentlemen sign pro-
test against these outrages? There is no record
of any. .
Having suffered severe losses by the sudden col
lapse of the rebellion and through their confidence
in the success of the rebel cause, and knowing
that the officers and soldiers here were part Of
the army that produced that collapse, they turn
upon US now with bitter invectye and vent their
spleen, because, forsooth, we will not permit our
selves to he used by them as police officers or de-
tectives, to Emperor Louis Napoleon, or Maximi
liam either.
I5o not understand this to be the object for
which | or my comrades are placed here, and
therefore do not, nor permit my command, to act
as SUCH
The sixth resolution presented by these mer-
chants explains the secret of all the troubles they
complain of. They have not sufficient troops to
preserve the communications for trade, or even to
guard the smaller towns, and instead of distinctly
laying the blame at the feet of the power which
they profess so much to admire they turn upon us.
Their first resolution merits my remarks only 50
far it implies that all the power which the Libe-
raj forces on the frontier have springs directly
from us.
For months before we came here their trade
communications were insecure. All over Mexico
to day, am told, all the communications are either
cut off Or are hazardous, and by forces acting
under President Juarez, whose power these gentle
men pretend so much to despise. | know that our
arrival and presence here have given the Liberals
much moral support, and some of my officers or
men may have, unknown to me, given material aid.
But for these things cannot be held responsible.
cannot control the private feelings of my Off
GERS and men, neither can my Government be held
responsible for this.
But, did not the advent of the French and Aus
TRANS give the rebels equally as much moral sup
port
I have already forwarded enough evidence to
show these same merchants gave them much
material support as the rebel cotton would buy
The second resolution is an untruth from begin
ming to end, excepting SO much as says that / have
given in the name of my Government, repeated
assurances, that desired to observe strict neu-
trality, and had so ordered my command to do.
The third resolution is answered in my reply to
the second.
The fourth resolution is untrue in many respects.
have arrested all of those that were engaged in
the plage and capture of Bagdad, who have thus
ia hDn i ANTI lad hnu nT,iDp
session to investigate the whole affair, and have
to the best of my knowledge and ability, and in
accordance with law, taken every step that |
could, to remedy every evil complained of in this
resolution, as my official records show. No one
deplores this outrage more than do. No one con-
dennis it more than do, and my action has been
accordingly.
But should not an equal amount of blame of this
outrage be thrown upon that power which guards
SO important point as Bagdad, with so insignif-
cant force that small band of filibusters can
capture and pillage it2 Or do these gentlemen
think it my duty to guard their towns and goods?
have disavowed the capture and pillage of
Bagdad. it was not known to me until IL O'Clock
on Friday, the 9th inst know that my govern
ment will disavow it. placed the town in the
hands Of no one. l found it on Sunday, the 7th
inst, In possession of part of the same garrison
which held it the Sunday previous. They were all
newly converted Liberals, under well known Liberal
| commanders.
If this garrison had not proved false to its colors
"oue nave lound IL III Imperial possession. Am
responsible because this garrison deserted and
proved false? Why, no longer ago than yesterday
the garrison consisted entirely of newly converted
Liberals
All the measures in the fifth resolution that are
by these merchants considered necessary to be
| taken by us, have been taken.
The sixth resolution tells the whole story. They
admit there that the imperialsts have not given
them sufficient protection, yet they blame us for
the evils resulting therefrom.
The seventh resolution shows that the insertion
of this whole document is to create an erroneous
impression abroad.
The whole document seem to me to be the fab.
rication of some blatant stay-at-home ex-rebel Or
disappointed cotton Spectator. | believe that
many of the gentlemen who signed it did not read
it, as / can scarcely believe that some whose
names are affixed would sign such document.
As it is ordered to be so widely dis trbuted, have
given every facility to have this published.
I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
q. WEIFZEL
Major General G lmmandin1,