Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-11-28
MIR. BEDFORD Brown, of North Carolina,

MIR. BEDFORD Brown, of North Carolina
formerly an honored Senator in the Congress
Of the U. S. from that State, in recent letter.
gives ar interesting account of his MISSION 10
General Grant last summer, in order to OBTAIN
4 relaxation of the military tyranny TO whicn
the State was subjected. lie says:
'Aitcr the usual salutatons. opened the
subject of ny visit, which he listened to Al
tentiVGly and courteOusly, the conversation
continuing for some time afterwards. soon,
however. perceived that very erroneous impress
s!ons had been made on his mind in regard to
the true state OF things in Caswel and Ala
nance, and that any effort to remove them
would be unavaing The particulars OF this
conversation | will not Icngthen this commu-
rcation by detailing. Sufficient to say that
there was a marked difference between my
views OF constitutional liberty and those OF the
President
Tor course there was. Because Mr.. Brown
was brought up in the political faith OF his
lathers-a friend Of constitutional liberty, and
defender whilst in public life Of the rights OF
the States.
In connection with the suspension of the
writ of habeas corpus, MIR. Brown supplies an
interesting historical fact 10 relation to the
Hartford Convention. He says that, notWlth.
standing war was going on, and the threatened
secession OF the New Engl States, President
Madison
did not call on Congress to suspend the writ
of habeas corpus. The late gallant Genera
Jcsup, so distinguished in the Canada campaign,
informed me that during the sitting OF the
Hartford Convention in lSl4-the war then 90
ing on-he was confdentially despatched Dy
Mr. Madison TO observe their movements, and
. Iol hn1n rDItt
was the purpose of President Madison to put
tho civil law against treason in force. and, II 1t
could not be enforced, then TO call the military
ia aid of it. Fortunately no overt act was com
nlitted This shows the views of ono OF our
ablest and purest statesmen.
THE "ZoNA LlBRE. IA few days since q
dispatch was Published announcing that the
Mexican Congress had decided, despite tue
opposition of Minister Romero, to continue
and extend the zona libre or "treo zone. AS
this dispatch mystified many readers, and as
the matter will probably be brought up at the
ensuing session OF the Congress OF the U. 3.
word OF two Ct explanation will not be out OF
place. The history of the free belt is sim.
DIV this: Ever since the treaty with Mexico,
by which our southwestern border became the
line OF the Rio Grande, that river has been the
basis OF more or less smuggling; operations dur
ing our late war were carried on to an unprece.
dentcd extent, and great quantities not only OF
ordinary commercial articles, but OF arms and
ammunition, were smugeled across tho Rio
Grandc and used by the Contedcracy. When
the war was over. those officials who had tasted
the fruits of smuggling continued to pluck thom;
and in order to assist their efforts in this dlreo'
ton, the Mexicao Congress decreed that GER
tain stlip of land on the right bank OF the Rio
Grande should constitute free belt that IS
to say, it should be kind oi en:repot tor
traders, and 10 duties should be levied on
merchandise while remaining III that region
Their own custom. houses were established on
the edge Of this bolt. The practical effect OF
ibis legislation was to directly encourage SNUG
Cling; and so finely did it operate in this dlrec
tons that our re venue officers and the people
of Brownsville made great complaint against
the IONA libre But about year ago the
Mexican Congress not only confirmed tho es
Establishment oil this free belt, but extended it
much further than tetore-iar up beyond tho
head of navigation, and past the Texan iron.
tier Washington Star.