The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-03
MEXICO.

Continued Ouirages on American Citi-
Rtns-ImpOrInnt letter to the United
States CONSUL ut MRzatlRn.
CORES spondent to the N. Y. Herald writes
from MaZalaD, on the western coast OF Mexico,
on the Path of Noyember:-
friend has placed in my possession the
following interesting and important letter. AS
it gives an additional chapter of tho persecu.
tion of American citizens dong business in
Mexico, and also reveals some bloody deeds of
bygone times, in which Americans have been
the victims, its perusal must prove Of some
value in forming public sentiment in the
United States with regard 10 this countrY:-
PRISON OF SAN D1NAs, sTATs or DURANGO,
Oct IL, 1861 Isaac Sisson, American Consul
for the port of Mazatlan:-Esteemed Sill
wrote to you from this loathsome prison on the
23d of last month, but Tor lear that you did not
receive that letter Twill state what has trans
pired. On the 22d Of September | received q
verbal message to appear before the Judge Of
appeared / found that it was on demaud OF
thIty-iou dollars, based upon an order drawn
by another person. l Immediately perceived
that the order and the signature thereto were
forgeries, aud asked the Judge 10 call witnesses
whom named to prove the forgery. Tas he
refused TO do then sent to merchant IN this
town, asking him to come aud bring with him
several genuine signatures OF the party's name
that had been forged. He came Immediately
and took his seat by the judge, when /
unders' ood that he was an associate JUS
tice. When the latter produced the documents
the forgeries were evident and palpable
to all present; but to the surprise Of everybody
Don Camilo refused to allow any testimony to
be taken whatever, arroganlly stating that no
American knew how to make two signatures
that looked alike" The associate justice was
in favor OF calilug witnesses, but he was over.
ruled by the other, who said must pay imme
diately or go TO jail. | then remarked that,
against its decision, and Immediately offered
security for appealing the case to Durango,
hich is four or five days travel from here.
This he also decllued, and called for The jailor
to take me into custody. then demonstrated,
saying, "Ju0ge you have no right 10 send me
10 PRISON, even If the debt was just one, aud
l protest in the presence OF these witnesses
against being sent TO prison. 1t is violation
OF the CONSTITUTE on and the laws of the country
and the tr-aty obligations between the United
States and MeXico.n But this proud, stupid, and
ignorant Judge bercely gave his order to the
iBilor, and then read the sentence OF the court.
When wGs brought to this prison two friends
came to see me, and said they would pay the
amount: that 1t was betior for me to leave this
horrible place and save my health aud attend to
my busluess; If old not both would oe ruined
by staying here. had already lssued an Order
fOrOiddng any OF my friends to pay the amount.
told these gentlemen that should remain in
prison rather than comply with such an unholy
sentence, that If paid thirtytour dollars to-day
yh hS Don 4oW o19 @g' sTa
ZEN ain III prison l do cot know, ior the judge
has gone to Ventanas.
The people here are nearly all demorsliZed,
and some of the leaders BOAST of the manner IN
which they killed of the Americans at the
Candelero a few years ago, and threaten to do
the same here. We are destitute OF all protection.
Durango cannot protect us. The mountains in
this vicinity are full OF robbers. Tnree weeks
ago a band 100 strong threatened Tomar, and
the people there sent to the Governor OF S.ualo1
for assistance. This place has been several
times attacked and plundered within the last
few years.
In a circuit of five leagues surrounding this
place can be counted the abandon ed works, now
going to ruin, of four American mising compa-
nies, who in the aggregate have lost over one
million dollars. Why is it that American inge-
nuity, labor, and capital, which in all otner
places get their reward, are here doomed TO de-
struciiOn? 1t has been for the want OF protec-
tion. The few Americans that still remain are
doomed to destruction II something is not
speedily done or their salvation. Twelve years
ago a drunken miner in this town gave a shout,
"Deah to the Spaniards!n Tne few Spaniards
that lived here were Immediately butchered in
cold blood and their stores plundered. Four
years ago the cry was given at Candelero,
few leagues from here, death TO the
Americass!0 The man who is now project
OF this place was then acting Judge at Candeero
and headed q band OF cowardly assassins of
about Two hundred to make tue attack. The first
notice their victims had was voley, and out
of the foreigners nearly all Americans, three
were killed and two wounded. The others fed,
the darkness Of the night shielding them from
their bloody puTsuers The hacienda belonging
to them was laid in ashes. The records OF your
office will testify to these facts, for your prede
cpssor in office, Dr. Carmen, did his duty to get
redress at the time, but was unable on account
of our own country Being engaged in great
civil war. AT the time that these atrocities
were committed many SUP posed that the Ame-
ricans might have been at fault. But time has
| revealed the whole truth that the butcherles
were committed in cold blood. The man who
| to-day owns and works with profit their (the
| AmercansO mines, has boasted that he formed
the plan, and that the sub chiefs OF
| the place and others were merely his in
struments in the helish work. S"S Is there no
possibility of our Government, helping ,us'
Without some protection promptly afforded us
every American will have 10 leave. The most
of the people are friendly; the bad ones are few,
| but they govern. A friendly Mexican came to
me one day and said, II have lived here forty
| years, but have never seen any of our people
treat, d in this manner" why" asked, ''do
| they treat me so when have been their bsne-
factor~ He answered, "lt is because you are
an American and own mines" l have read of
Captain lngrahaw, who snatched an American
citizen from the jaws of a European despot, and
Of an Apssinian captain, and what England did
to liberate her imprisoned subjects, AID am
sure the frequent imprisonment OF American
citizens In Mexico demands some attention.
DO me the favor to MAKE this known to our
Government.