Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
No. 140.]
Legation of the United States,
Paris,
July 11, 1865.
Sir: His excellency the minister of foreign
affairs has sent me the accompanying correspondence between him and the
late minister of war, in explanation of the alleged purchase by General
Mejia of guns and munitions of war from the confederates at Brownsville
after their capitulation.
I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
[Enclosure No.
1.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign Affairs to his
excellency Marshal Randon, minister of
war.
Marshal and Dear Colleague: A despatch I
received from our minister to the United States points out an
incident which I hasten to mention to you. According to official
intelligence received at Washington, at the time when the
confederate corps which occupied Browneville, in Texas, surrendered
to the federal forces, the artillery and munitions shut up in the
fort were in part clandestinely taken to the Mexican bank of the Rio
Grande and delivered to the authorities of Matamoras. Informed
to-day only of this fact, the government of the United States asks
for the prompt restitution of material which should have been
delivered to it at Browmsville; and the Secretary of State, Mr.
Seward, has requested the Marquis de Montholon to engage himself in
obtaining this restitution. Mr. de Montholon considering, very
justly, that the reclamation was thoroughly well grounded, (if the
facts are correctly stated,) promptly deferred to the request of Mr.
Seward, and wrote about it to Marshal Bazaine, and to General Mejia,
who was in command at Matamoras at the latest dates. This affair
may, therefore, already have received, without further delay, a
satisfactory solution. It might, however, be otherwise, and, on this
supposition, I turn to you, asking you to send directly to Marshal
Bazaine, by the courier of to-morrow, 30th, the necessary orders
that he may contribute, if there still be need, and he has the
means, to the prompt return of the materiel
reclaimed. I write myself to our minister, Mr. Dano, that he may
equally press upon the Mexican government the necessity of doing
right, if satisfaction has not already been given to the request of
the federal government.
[Page 403]
[Enclosure No.
2.—Translation.]
The Minister of War to his excellency
the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Minister and Dear Colleague: Your
excellency has done me the honor to communicate to me, by your
letter of June 29, last, the reclamation which the government of the
United States set up on the subject of the artillery and munitions
belonging to the fort at Brownsville, which were clandestinely
transported to the Mexican bank of the Rio Grande by the
confederates, with the purpose of keeping them from the federal
forces.
I hasten to write by the courier of yesterday, June 30, to Marshal de
Bazaine, to request him to give immediately instructions to General
Mejia, commanding at Matamoras, to assure, if it has not already
been done, the prompt return of the materiel
reclaimed by the government of the United States.
