The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-06-25
AN ENGLISH SCHEME,
The British Colonization Socie-
ty's Very Sharp Trick,
THEY RoPED IN AMERICANS
TO Stir Up a Revelation Ia lover
ca'ifornin-Thc Details OF tho
Conspiracy by n Victim.
Serious Charges Made.

ttSAs FRANCISCO, Juno 2i.-Waiter g.
Smith, Governor General Of the organ.
lied illibusterers, whose contemplated
raid on Lower California was recently
exposed, has returned TO his Southern
home after weeks sojourn in this city.
Prior to his departure, Mr.. Smith mado
complete confession. He said:
"The English Colonization Company
vas at the bottom Of the so.called raid
Of tilibusterers. The scheme was ncvr
intended as a tiiibustcring proposition,
but was to be revolution Of the resi-
dents OF Lower misunderstanding
moro or less. Mai. Scott came 10 me
originally us agent and general mar.
ager OF the English Colonization Com
pany: Scott is Royal Engineer, a
member OF Gen. Wolseley's army, sta.
TONED in India, and came 10 Lower
California on two years leave OF al.
sence. This leave has expired, and he
ls now on bis way to join his regiment.
having been refused second leave Of
absence. He was one OF the primo
movers in the revolutionary scheme,
Major Scott came to my office in San
Diego, early Ia last winter, and intro
duced himself. He told me that ho
wanted to employ man of brains to
raise q row in Lower California. Then
he unloaded his plans. He wanted
number Of Americans to locate at En-.
senada, to take up their residence there
and become citizens OF Mexico. At tho
proper moment an uprising OF the people
would take place, arms and ammunition
being previously struggled into the ter
ritory from the United States. An in.
dependent government was ts be set up
IN Lower California, with Ensenada as
the capital city.
II accepted Mr.. Scott's proposition,
and at his suggestion made trip to
Lower California. Had the scheme car
ried, would have made a clean $4,000
by the operation. Ny printing offices
Intended to remove tc Epsenada anI
start daily paper that would become
the official organ Of the new independent
government. was to be made Cover
nor General at q large salary. Before l
visited Ensenada, at Major Scott's re.
quest. ! met General Edward Hill, who
was spending the winter at San Diego,
lie is from Michigan, aud was with the
Sixteenth Regiment of Michigan VOL
unteers during the rebellion. Being MI
accomplished man and an expert on mil
ltary Affairs, looked upon him rs val.
liable man for Major Scott's scheme,
ahd he accepted my Invitation to accom-
pany me. was anxious he should look
over the ground carefully from mill
taly point Of view.
I'VE visited Ensenada, examined tho
proposition with great care, and We
were entertained for several days by
Major Scott and other officials Of thu
English Colonization Company. Upon
our return from Lower California We
consulted with b. A. Stevens, who tray-
eled all over the peninsula and was
well posted upon its resources, and var
lous other gentlemen who have since
been named in connection with the
scheme. We consulted them more
especially TO obtain their views upon
the different propositions involved.
ut was not our intention to make
raid upon Lower California, but, as |
have stated, to take up our residence
there and in six months to become law
ful citizens of Mexico. We held several
meetings in San Diego, but none OF them
we're regularly organized or official, (
They were merely conferences, at which
We discussed possibilities and probabil.
tiles. 1t is my opinion that Major Scott
had other plans in view with which We
were unacquainted. I am satisfied that
he made connections, similar to those
made with us, in other quarters. In fact.
he may have had half dozen conpec-
tons, 80 that in case OF failure of one
or moro he could fall back upon one of
tho others. The trouble with Scott was
that he talked too much and allowed too
many men, some Of them irresponsible
fellows, to know the inside secrets OF his
scheme to inaugurate Il revolution and.
take possession OF Lower California,
Colonel Foster, the special agent Of
the Department Of Justice, has carefully
investigated the facts in tho case, III,
called upon me, and told him what I
knew about the affair. You will SEQ
that he will place the blame entirely
upon the English Colonization Compc.
ny, and will completely exonerate tLu
Americans who were inveigled into the
scheme by Major Scott"