Mr. Seward to Mr.
Geofroy
Department of State,
Washington,
July 9, 1864.
Sir: With reference to the memorandum, without
date, which was received at this department from his Imperial Majesty’s
legation, and which related, among other things, to a trade in articles
contraband of war, between Brownsville and Matamoras, and with reference
also to my reply of the 21st ultimo, I now have the honor to enclose, in
further reply, a copy of a communication of the 8th instant from the
Secretary of the Treasury, from which it appears that you have been
misinformed.
Accept, sir, a renewed assurance of my high consideration.
Mr. Fessenden to Mr. Seward
Treasury
Department,
July 8, 1864.
Sir: Your communication of May 28,
enclosing translation of a memorandum from Mr. L. De Geofroy, chargé
d’affaires of France, relative to “an alleged trade in articles
contraband of war with Mexico, through the port of Brownsville,
Texas,” was duly received and referred to the officers of this
department at Brownsville for report.
I now have the honor to transmit copy of the reports of the acting
collector of customs at Brownsville and the assistant special agent
for the district of Texas.
Very respectfully,
W. P. FESSENDEN, Secretary of the
Treasury.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Mr. Breckinridge to Mr.
Chase
Treasury Department,
Washington,
June 2, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your favor of the 1st, enclosing a communication from the
Hon. Secretary of State, together with the memorandum from the
chargé d’affaires of France.
[Page 225]
I left Brownsville, Texas, about the 7th ultimo. Up to that time no
goods contraband of war had been sent into Mexico or sold to the
agents of the Mexican government
I do not know of a single article contraband of war having come to
the port of Brazos de Santiago, and feel sure that trade in
contraband goods could not exist, even to a very limited extent,
without my knowledge. Respectfully, &c.,
G. W. BRECKINRIDGE, Assistant Special
Agent.
Hon. S. P. Chase,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Mr. Worthington to Mr. Chase
Treasury
Department,
June 26, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of communication dated May 28, Department of State,
enclosing a memorandum from the French chargé d’affaires concerning
a trade in munitions of war alleged to be carried on between
Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoras, Mexico.
In reply to the surmise I have only to report that till the last of
May I was daily and constantly at Brownsville in charge of the
custom-house affairs, and I am certain that no such trade existed;
in fact, the sole trade we had was with New Orleans, a city itself
under martial law, and from whence no such supplies could be
drawn.
As for the connivance of the collector of the customs, it is useless
to refute, as he has no discretionary powers in such matters. Should
munitions of war arrive at the port of Brazos de Santiago, they will
come under the authority of the proper authorities; should they not
have those authorizations they would, of course, be seized as
contraband.
As regards the loading of a vessel or vessels near Boston with
munitions for Mexico, I know nothing, nor have I ever heard of such
a scheme.
I would also beg leave to refer you to the monthly reports of exports
and Imports, which show all the business of
that department, to see how fallacious are any such reports.
With the most high respect, &c.,
CHARLES WORTHINGTON, Special Agent and
Acting Collector.
Hon. S. P. Chase,
Secretary of the Treasury,
