Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-01-02
SOUTHERN ExILES IN MExICo.
How they Fare--What they are Doing.-Let.
ter from Ex-Governor Isham G. Harris,


Is published in the Atlanta Ncc Era. It
gives an account of his own performances
since his flight to Mexico, and describes the
fortunes Of other refugees
HOW A REBEL GOVERNOR AND GENERAL
GOT AWAY. g.
I fingered near Granada, endeav-
orinS to arrange some business matters, until
the l4th May. In the meantime l had II
skill built, and on the laorping Of the 18th
L embarked, some six miles cast of Green.
wood, and set sail for the trans> Mississippi,
the party consisting of General Lyon, of
kentucky, myself, and our two scrvants.-
We navigated the back water for one hundred
and twenty miles, and on the morning of the
= st, just before daylight, crossed over to
the Arkansas shore. | crossed at the foot of
Island No. 75, just byIow the mouth of the
Arkansas river proceeded westward as far
as the back water was navigable, and, on the
morning Of the 9th, left my frail bark,
bought horses, mounted the party. and set
out for Shreveport, where l hoped to end an
army resolved on continued resistance to
Federal rule; but before reaching Shreveport
learned that the army Of the trans Mississippi
had dlsbanded and scattered to the winds,
and all the officers Of rank had gone to
Mexico.
Having no further motive to visit Shreve-
port, turned my course to Red river coun-
ty, Texas, where portion of my negroes and
plantation stock had been carried some two
years ago. L reached there on the 7th Of
June; was taken sick and confined to nv bed
a week. On the 18th Of June, with my bag
gage, cooking utensils and provisions on a
pack mule, l set out t0y. A:itonia, where |
expected to overtuke large number Of Con-
tcdcrate, civil aqll military officers on their
way to Mexico Reached San Artonia on
the 10th, and learned that all Coutpderates
had left for Mexico some ten days or two
weeks before. On tie morning Of the 9th,
started to Eagle Pass OF the Isio Gramdc-
the Federals holding all the crossings of that
river below Eagle Pass. I reached Eagle
Pass on the evening Of the Seth, and imme-
diatciy crossed over to the Mexican town Of
Piedras Neyras.
THET MEET ANOTHER GOVERNOR AND GEN
ERA{.
On the moraing oS the 1st of July, set out
for Monterey; arrived there on the evening
of the 9Th. Here l overlook General Price
and cx-GOvernor Polk. of MiSsc uri who were
starting to the city Of Mexico the next morn
ing, with an escort Of twenty armed Missou-
rIans. As was going to the city, and the
trip was long and dangerous one to make
alone, decided to 90 with them, though |
was literally worn out with over one thousand
i've hundred miles of continuous horseback
travel. exchanged my saddle horse, saddle,
&c, Tor an ambulance, put my two mules to
1t, gave the whip and lines to Ran, Lo3~ht
me Spanish grammar and dictionary. took
the hack sc t, and co:2mcnccd the study of
the Spanish language. Ne made the trip at
easy stages Of about twenty-five miles rer day,
and reached the city Of MCXico On the eve
ming Of the 9Th of august.
THEY ALL SEE TIE EMPEROR.
Our reception upon the part of the Govern
mcnt officials here was all that we could have
expected or desired. We were invited to an
audience with the Emperor at the palace, the
far famed halls of the Mon:czumas. At the
time fixed we called, and were there most
kindly received by the Emperor and Empress
and were assured of their sympathy in our
misfortunes, and of their earnest hope that
we might tind homes l6r ourselves and friends
in Mexico. The Empress was our Interpreter
in the interview. She speaks fluentiy the
French, Spanish, German and English Ian
guaSes, and is i'll all respects great woman.
THEY FINh MORE REBELS.
We overlook at the City of Mexico, Gen.
Magrudcr, Commodore Maury, Gov Allen of
Louisiana, Judge Perkins Of: Louisiana, Gov.
Reynolds of Missouri, and Coy. Murrah aud
Gov. Clark Of Texas, with many other and
lesser Confederate lights. On the 9TH of
September, the Emperor published 4 decree
opening all OF Mexico to immigration and
colonization, and Commodore Mallry and my
self and other Contcderatcs were requested
to prepare regulations to accompany the de-
cree, which we did, and which were approved
by the Emperor on the 9th. The decree
and regulations offer very liberal inducements
to immigration, amongst which are a donation
of public lands at the rate of 640 acres to
each head of family, and 32O acres to each
single man, free passage to the country, to
such as are not able TO pay their own en-
penses, freedom from taxation for one year,
and from military duty for five years, reli-
gious federation, &c.
THE EMPEROR GIVES THEM WORK.
Commodore Maury has been appointed I'M
pcrial Minister of Colonization which makes
his authority in the matter of colonization Sc
cond only to that Of the Emperor. General
Price, Judge Perkins and myself were ap-
pointed agents OF colonization, and requested
to examine the lands lying upon and near the
line OF railroad from the City of Mexico to
Vera Cruz, for the purpose of determining
whether they were suited to American eoon-
ization. We are engaged at this time in the
discharge of that duty.
ISLAM GETS A PLANTATION.
/ have selected 640 acres about ten miles
from here, where propose to surround my
self with a coffee plantation, in the midst Of
which | will nestle down, constantly inhaIing
the odorS of the rich tropical fruits and gaudy
coIOred and fragrant tropical flowers, in an
atmosphere of perpetual spring; yet turning
the eye to the northwest you constantly be-
hold the snOw-capped peaks of Orizaba and
PopOcatapetl, from which can draw my ice
at all seasons Of the year.
C(LONIZING.
There ara obout tL;rt,, HorF,dor,to, ,,o,r