, 1870-05-26
WHOLESALE SMUGGLING.

How the Government has been De-
fTuudcd The Mexican HordcI
Alive with S1uuEEleE1-tnp1ics1
OF Persons in New Fork and Froyi-
dcucc-Junrez the Chief Smug.1exs
Hasaiogon clay - Despateh to The Nt,o Fork Esas-
ing Fost
The joint select Committee On Retcench-
Eent, Of which Senator Patterson, OF New
! Hampshire, is Chairman. having completed
their report concerning the investigation into
the smuggling frauds which have been pe1pe-
trated along the Texas and Mexican border
for several FearB past, to an extent Of from
g, 000, 600 to Sc. COO 0C0 annually. The testi-
mony elected shows most deplorable condi-
tion Of afairB along our Mexican frontier, in-
p1icatinE we'll known and oid-establshed busi-
ness houses throughout the Northern States.
The fact is also established beyond question
the violation Of our laws for the prevention OF
smuggling, and that President Juarez was act
ing contrary to bis repeated public pledges OF
sympathy for the Union cause during the late
war, in secretly encouraging the rebellion BY
a1ordinE its leaders an opportunity to snug
gle arms and ammunition into the Confed-
rate States from Mexico in exchange for cot
ion.
Caleb II. Blood, who WAS appointed United
States Consul at Monterey, Mexico, in 1862,
aud also Charged with special mission to look
after the whole length OF tho Rio Grande, to
u atoms in regard to preventing arms and mu-
1lihons Of war from passing over the Rio
Grande into Texas, to aid the rebellion, testi-
fed that the Iexican Government, during tho
rebellion in the United States, permitted
thousands Of bales Of cotton to pass orer the
river, for which they sent back lead, salt-
petre, sulphur, and boxes of arms At times
the river wns lined with cotton going into
Mexico In the early part Of 1868 saw five
twelye-mnle wagons at MONDAY in the streets
- - J~I1 II. I'M
passed Immediately BY the door Of the Consul
atc. waited upon Mr. Pierre, the Consul at
Matamoras, and told him that lead was going
direct to Brownsville Ferry. He Eaid he
knew all about il, and had known all about
It for three or four days, but could
the only way to stop 1t vas for the govern
roent to send troops down there He told me
the names Of parties to whom this lead be-
1onGed or was consigned. I know that Con-
fedetates were supplied With aims and other
munitions Of war by the conniranco of Mexl-
can officers. There has been good deal Of
smuggling over the line since the close of the
var. II I should attempt to portray what I
hare seen and know about it, It would take 80
long that should not really know where to
begin. When the rebellion closed tbere were
IN Mexico from Fix to ten millions Of dollars'
worth Of surplus gooda. Those goods, il
forced on the market would mot have produced
ten per cent OF their worth, but they have
found their way out, great part Of them into
the United STATES. 49,
lector for the Confederncy At Brownsville,
Texas, during tho war;: And lives there nov.
There is no question that, the United States
has been defrauded in various Ways Of its GUS
toms revenues On tho Rio Grande, ever since
the treaty with MEXICO. It principally arises
Vile being place in tyansitu, halfway |
house for goods to be passed over into Mexico |
AZ far az my knoTledse extends, the principal |
means By which smuggling is done; is |
hy passing goods over to Matamorss and can
particularly il the goods are got out of Mata-
moras and into the country towns in Mexico, |
in which case the bonds are cancelled On the |
certificates Of two merchants IN the town,
which, OF coursc, arc easily got
loss in revenues 10 the United States, result
ing. from ''Zona Lihro," the FREQ belt of
land ei1 miles wide along the R1o Grande,
from its mouth npon the Mexican side, into
Which goods are allowed to land free
ot ,anty: have never made any esti-
mate, but it is immense. know it is contiu-
ual thing. I know there arc men there who
are professional snugglers- They VIII take
contract to s1nuSgle. shall not criminate
mEse4 " making, perhaps, an honest confes-
son that had people in my employ, Snug
Cling from this side to the other. That w1s
year ago, when Mas ANAL merrhant in fhe
country had a store there, and used to
Bnuggle tobacco into Mexico. These ferYmen
would take it across in the night. and by the
next night it wonia be . hundred miles II he
interior, and the United States Custom Honsa
officers never saw it.
During the late WEI the Confederafes i'm.
-o1ted al the a1ms and munitions thew wanted
rom Mexico, under the Juarez government.
Governor vldaur1i gave permits Continually to
.end sa1tpeue, sulphur, and led, of which his
state mined good deal, and received cotton
n payment.
1 had conversation with President JuArez
N t1lis subject, at my house. and slso at his
,alace.. / do not know that can recol1ect the
Of these conversations, bnt it was IN
ompany with other gentlemen. The first hmel
aw him myself and about ten other persons
a1led on him as deputaiinn- He received ns
cry cordially. We hRd good deal OF talk
bout. the present situation. He Was very
n1ious to get VidanHi ont Of there, 50 that he
unh get the money that Vidaurri IVES col
eetng, and finally he made him leave
Vidantn surrendered the State Of Nuevo.
.eon to him, and he occupied it He put bis :.
roops In the castle and he occupied the Plaza
10 began sending to the frontier custom houses
0 gel money. The onfederates were paving for