Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-24
sonErHIxG FOR EUTLER AND
SPRAGUE.


The Matarnoros RancherO of February II,
in reply to certain statements made by Cen
eral weitzel, makes some revelations which
are important if true. Speaking of the con-
traband trade during the war, it says:
All the way from Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore and New Orleans,
lovers of the Union came to Matamoros to
exchange the very articles the rebels wanted
for high-priced cotton. Guns and ammuni-
ton. however, to very limited extent found
their way here; but everything else that
could be thought of, in any manner ser
yiceable to the rebels, came in abundantly
from New England, and were directly sold
to the rebels By the Union men. Beast But
Ter q Brother actually shipped from NeU Or
leans. to stauch rebel house here for rebel itse,
a sLip-load Of picked pork. Not only did
Hey send ship-lOad Of pork, but But
Ter & Brother sent out here for cotton exchange 40
count pa7ious ship-loads Of United States army
supplies, uuhich pcnt directly into Terds through
their accommodation house.
William II. Seward, Secretary of State,
wrote to Consul Pierce, inquiring into the
status of the rebel trade, and.whether or not
the supplies constantly going out from the
North went into Texas, and, if so, what steps
could be taken to stop such work, or some
thing to that effect. Mr.. Pierce replied by
informing Mr.. Seward of the exact number
of vessels in the ofing at Bagdad, their size
and nationality, and with what loaded. The
honorable Secretary was informed that the
larger portion Of goods arriving here and go
ing into Texas, came directly from American
ports, and that all such trades could be
stopped only by refusing clearances to YES
sells, or by occupying the east bank of the
Rio Grande from Eagle Pass to Boco del
Rio.
With this information before their eyes
what did Secretary Seward and President
Lincoln do? They did not refuse cledrdaces ia
uessels, but knO1cingly allowed the trade to con-
tinue.
Now we have to ask what becomes of Gen.
Weitzeps charge, that our merchants and the
vice consuls who signed that protest engaged
in contraband trade with rebels? Should
not General Weitzel amend his charges so
as to include Butler, his former master, w
III. Seward, and the President of the United
States, or else withdraw his charges against
our merchants and the vice consuls.
Lincoln and Seward cleared the vessels
and goods after being notified of their I'M
mistakable destination; Butler shipped sup
plies, whilst commanding at New Orleans
| for rebel destination and consumption
Yankee shippers brought them, and, in
most instances, Yankee sharpers received
them there and sold them to the rebels.
Now, if General Weitzel wants any more
information touching the question as to who
were guilty of carving on the contraband
trade with the rebels, we would inform him
that en- Gorcraor, Senator Sprague, Of Rhode
Island had his fingers in II TO the tune Of trCc
millions of dollars. After the Secretary Of
State received an answer from Consul Pierce
to his inquiries, ten times as many goods
were shipped from American ports to this
place as before; and IN one month Seventeen
millions of dollars IN assorted merchandise Uer'
shipped from New York alone.
We suggest to Senator Sprague the pro-
priety of explaining this little matter in
the Senate.