The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-07
Letter from Gen. ortega to Gen. Sheridan.

We are furnished, says tue New Orleans Pieayune o.
the S0tb, with the following translation Of letter ad
dressed, yesterday, by Gen ortega to Gen. Sheridan
GeasraI-On my arrival 10 this city read in the
newspapers, an official communication signed by you
snd addressed to tie commander Of the sub district Of
the Rio Graude, at Brownsville, Texas Said eommu
cation touches on and decides in military manner
international questions Of grave import, concerning
the neutrality lass which are violated from the mo
ment You promise the learticst support TO the ad
herants Of sel0r Juarrz and denouinate as " d fac
tom the upholders of the legitimate government OF
Mexico. This sir. although indirectly, is an attempt
to impose on that nation government against its will
and against its constitutional laws it is also an at
tempt 10 intervene in the internal questions Of tie
public of Mexico, which she alone has right 10 de-
eide The government of the United States has not
heretofore taken any part in them.
l. at first could not understand Your communication
but mature reflection convinced me at last that ID did
not concern me. Such was my impression, and the
day before yesterday called your residence 10 have
the honor OF paying you my respects in testimony OF
tile good relations existing between tile United States
and the Mexican republic, which heartily desire to
preserve.
Yesterday however, two officers OF YOUR staff handed
a copy OF the aforementioned document without
any communication for me- and with osly my name
written on the envelope. indication that il was
addressed to me.
once more read It's contents and could not be per
suaded that it concerned me at ALL nor what you
meant By transmitting il 10 ME in such manner
For reasons to which it is at present not necessary
10 refer, but which well known to YOUR govern
ment ana TO great portion Of the inhabitants Of the
United States, have been residing It'd New York and
left that city on the 2lst inst. the way to ny ma
tive COUNTRY, trareTsuE The territory of this great ma
ton under the safeguard and protection Of is laws
Il is not ignored in the United States that The
constitutional president Of the Mexican republic that
this position requires OF me tile performance Of great
and painful duties, from which one, unless By vio-
laling the laws, deter me, but the same supreme
national will that granted that the de facto govern
of sefOr Jaarez their vote Is not the only one
friendly to tile United States but that the great i5er-
al party Of my country IS also friendly; and that Sc
nor Juarez has ceased 70 represent IT, that party from
the day he violated the constitution of the republic.
For the above reasons, l deny that have created
or represented faction. the true aud only rep
resentatiye Of the constitutional law Of Mexico 10
which nation, repeat belongs the right to decide its
internal Affairs.
For the same reson that represent tile coustitu-
tional principle Of Mexico l have acted during nv
residence in the United States wiki the paopriety and
discretion which my mission demands. Tile superior
authorities OF the United States have more than one
proof OF the truth OF my assertion am determined
to act always with the propFiety and discretion
and you may rest assured tlat | viii violate the
neutrality spoken Of ia your communication. Those
HHo support my claims have not even taken part i'm
tile c0nsPr3cies which have been formed on the Rio
Grande to subyeTt the present order Of things on the
Mexican side.
conclusion must state that the reason that senior
Juarez has heretofore been considered as the head Of
the liberal government of Mexico is owing to the fact
Of my necessary absence from that country the evil
dence Of which tie established By official docu-
ments that have already published
do not admit that your communication applies to
me. Reasons Of public policy, which DO not desire
to mention, and are readily understood, confirm me
in this belief Otherwise ! would be more explicit.
and protest against sal communication 10 the name
of tile Mexican republic and Of tile laws Of nations,
appealing for justice If necessary TO tie wise and lib
eral laws of the United States
have tie honor to be, your obedieut servant
J. e. OaTEGA,
Constitutional President Republic of Mexico. j.