The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-16
MEXICO.
Gross outrage On an American Citizen-A
Mexican Takes His Daughter by Force
COnnivance Of the Authorities.

Gross Outrage On an American Citizen-A
Mexican Takes His Daughter by Force
COnnivance Of the Authorities.
Mexico. June %, 1853.
Your correspondent has to record one of the foulest
bOts upon the human character-a most damnabe
outrage upon an American citizen, upon the sacred
rights OF the hearhstone and of the family. 1t will
be seen that at least in Mexico no person can feel
that his home is inviolabe, that he has the right
to protect 1t against the despoiler. An American
gentleman who has lived in the country for several
years had some time ago become widower and 80
left his only daughter the United States where he
placed her in convent, under the Of the, supe
riors thereof At the age Of fifteen years. some year
and half ago, the young girl came to
Mexico to enjoy the society of her father
few DAYS ago she was seized with sudden and
grlish fancy for young Mexican who happened to
be secretary to a petty officer and project In a
neighboring small town or village The Mexican is
represented to be ignorant, without the means OF
supporting wife and wholly without antecedents.
BY some infatuation he persuaded the girl that he
desired marriage, which, when the father learned
IT, resulted in the latters f0rbidding the former ad
mttance to his house. The extreme youth of the
girl and her ignorance OF the world justified the
father In checking the rashness Of the Mexican who,
however on the following day stole the girl and
took her to the Judge Of the place and requested
be married. This latter functonary very properly
declined, and detained the girl until the father,
whom he sent for, arrived and took her home. AS
matter Of course strict orders were given 70 all the
servants TO admit no one into the house without the
fathers special permssion; the stricteSt watch
was kept upon the girl, and the Mexican
was warned OF dire results If he further
attempted to abduct the daughter On the
18th OF the month Mr.. Mexican presented himself at
the door Of the American, and demanded the girl
which, as matter OF course, the father Indignantly
refused The Mexican then stated he would have
her by force If necessary The father replied that he
would punish the MeXican's first step INTO his house
by shooting him, and the would-be intruder LETT.
He, however shortly returned with file OF soldiers
and forcibly took away from the father his only
daughter. II Is stated that the order for this out.
rageous act was given or countenanced by Governor
Don Juan Jose Baz, of this district man well-known
in New York. The father up to the present time OF
nothing OF her whereabouts Your correspondent
has inquired and learns that in accordance with
Mexican law marriage contract cannot be made
by males who have not attained the age OF twentyone
nor by females who have not reached the age OF
twenty. Persons under these ages require the
OF the parents or guardians to the marriage and in
case this consent cannot be obtained then the
Governor OF the district can decide whether the OBJ
whether they should not be wholly oyerruled by
force OF arms II necessary. have not been able to
find copy OF the law but understand that In this
case the girl can be taken by force OF from her
parents, and, as Ii is termed, put In deposit pend.
Ing fifteen days. public notice of the intended mar
rage, at the end OF which time, unless something
extraordinary ntervenes Issuppose the gentleman
Will be most complete master and the father success
fully desDoled Of his daughter What will your
readers think OF this b. OF Mexican authority Does
the civilized world dream that In Mexico the holy
family shrine can be thus violated and by high ali-
thority and by fvrce Of arms a chd-a daughter
torn from the father to be given to the OF an
excited Mexican, who declares that bY rec he will
make null and void the kind Office Of the parent,
which the laws OF all society and OF nations decide are
his special privilege and his duty