Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-05-02
RUTLAND HERALD
TUESDAY, APRIL 90, 1867.
protection to American Citizens
in Mexico.


The recent arrest and punishment OF
some OF the employees of King & Co.,
American citizens who have a ship-yard
in Mexico, has caused the question to
he raised in the minds Of American res
dents, whether the United States has
ceased to protect her citizens in foreign
countries 2 Eighteen men who had col
lected to see an affrsy between the mill
tary and two ferrymen, were by MILL
tary arrested and taken Immediately be-
fore the commander, and among them
Capt. Kelley, late of the United States
army, the representative OF King ana
Company. He had not even gone out OF
his Office. Nine of them were arraigned
and not particle Of evidence adduced
sgainst them.
1t does not seem to be in the nature
of Mexican officials to do justice to an
American whenever pretext is afforded
10 ill-treat him. Nine were dismissed
for want OF evidence; and the remaining
nine, against whom no evidence had
been presented, and who were not even
arraigned before the court, the COM
mander ordered their hands tied behind
them, and in this condition they were
marched to Matamoras, q distance OF
forty miles, without food during the
Journey. He sent letter to the Gov
ernor that they were great criminals,
principally charging Capt. Kelley with
being "a dangerous man" and enemy to
Mexicans, and that his conduct had
been great indignity to the Mexican
Gag. These allegations, If true, have
nothing to do with the case, and were
fabricated for the occasion. These men
were cast into prison among common
felons, remaining in loathsome dun
geon eight days, in open violation of the
laws OF Mexico, which expressly pro-
vide that no man shall be kept in prison
longer than three days without trial.
The inquiry naturally arises why men
should be imprisoned when no charge
mas been made against them? The
cause of this extraordinary course of pro-
ceedure may be explained. Mexico has
q forced loan, or preStamo, as it is called
which is nothing more nor less than a
species Of robbery, which long custom
has in a measure legalized in that coun.
try. Americans and some others for.
eigners, are not compelled to pay these
levies, but often find it for their interest
to do so in order TO avoid being harras'
sed in other ways. 1t appears to be
very strange proceeding that citizens o.
the United States who live in Browns
vile, Texas, are required to pay forced
loans to the Mexican authorities. Ye
such is now the case with King & Co.
who are required to pay prestamO, anC
because they refuse to pay, nine Ameri
can citizens are incarcerstcd In Mexi
can prison. The Governor, in reply to
gentleman who went to him to effect tn
release of these men, was asked II thi
company had paid the loan levied ol
them, and being answered in the negs
tive, he said: "Then, sir, will not re
lease their men"
This outrage has been perpetrate
within mile of the guns of Fort Brown
snd yet we are informed that the Amer
can Consul, with full knowledge of a
the facts, has not only made no effort t
have the case of the prisoners investigs
ted, but has net even seen them. Shoul
this state of affairs exist 2 1t woul
see.u that the representative of tt
Amer. can government has vague con
prehena. ion of his duties, or the rights I
his count ymen entrusted to his keepin
would not ,Ne suffered to be outraged
this fiagrant manner. Well may Il
question be raj, Sed, whether the Unite
States had ceased to protect her citizeI
in foreign countries ? This case shou
be thoroughly invest. gated, and sett
the question at once, W. oether our go
ernment will permit the authorities
the republic of Mexico, / s'oVernme
which exists to-day by virtue o. her
duence, to maltreat our citizens WI
impunity, and let the world unders. al
If this is the protection which America
citizens are to receive in foreign cour
tries, and allow her representatives t
become party to transactions like tn
for ubiquitous purposes.
lie NV YORK CoNsrIrurInNAL Coz