Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Congress, Part III

[Translation.]

Señor Romero to Mr. Seward

Mexican Legation to the United States of America, Washington, March 30, 1866.

Mr. Secretary: Colonel Enrique A. Mejia, of the Mexican army, has written me from Galveston, Texas, as you will see from the copy of his communication which I have the honor to enclose to you, that, in the name of General Mariano Escobedo, chief of the army of the north, he requested a return of the arms, munitions, and artillery taken from the interventionists at Boca del Rio, (Bagdad,) and carried into United States territory by Colonel Adolfo de la Garza, where they were seized by the United States military authorities.

Colonel Mejia first applied to Colonel Brown, commander of the Rio Grande district, and learning that his orders were from General Wright, commander of the department of Texas, he went to Galveston to see that general, who told him that General Sheridan had ordered him to deliver the arms, munitions, and artillery in question to Tomas Mejia, chief of the interventionists, in Matamoras, which he had commanded to be done.

As I am ignorant of the motives for those orders, and cannot comprehend the reason for delivering munitions of war, taken by United States authorities from a republican general and his forces who had sought refuge in their territory, to an enemy of Mexico, I respectfully request your excellency to procure for me the information of the reasons of the order from the proper department, that I may make a proper communication for the interests of my government.

I embrace this opportunity to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.

M. ROMERO.

Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.

[Translation.]

MEXICAN REPUBLIC—COLONEL IN SERVICE.

As I informed you in my note of the 1st instant, when I requested Colonel Brown, commander of the Rio Grande district, to give me the arms, munitions, and artillery brought from Bagdad by Colonel Garza, he told me he had orders from General Wright, commander of the department of Texas, to give up nothing without his order.

Colonel Brown advised me to go to Galveston and see General Wright in person, as the best way to settle all the difficulties.

I went to Galveston, where General Wright informed me verbally that he had received orders from General Sheridan to deliver the arms, munitions, and artillery taken from Bagdad by our forces to General Tomas Mejia, chief of the traitors in Matamoras, and that the orders had been transmitted before my arrival in Galveston.

I was astonished at the proceeding, and, believing all protests useless, I determined to start for Washington in a few days to give you the particulars of the affair, as they are too numerous for the limits of a despatch.

Accept the assurances of my respectful consideration.

Independence and liberty! Galveston, March 6, 1866.

ENRIQUE A. MEJIA.

Citizen Matias Romero, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Mexican Republic in Washington.