No. 386.
Mr. Evarts
to Mr. Zamacona.
Washington, October 30, 1878.
Sir: Referring to your note of the 31st of July last, in relation to certain statements made to you by the Mexican consul at San Antonio, Texas, in reference to the organization of revolutionary forces in Texas for the purpose of invading Mexico, I have the honor to inform you that a letter has been received from the Secretary of War, communicating a copy of a report from Captain Sellers, commanding officer of Fort McIntosh, Texas, in which he states that he has no knowledge of any revolutionary bands having been organized at Laredo, or that General Garza Ayala and Santos Benavides have been in charge of any arms, or that they have furnished any to rebels, or that forty men left Laredo equipped by Santos Benavides, as was alleged; neither has he any knowledge of any parties of rebels organizing in that vicinity in full view of Texan authorities, or of any cattle having been stolen from Mexico and driven to this side, as was also represented, although he has used every means to ascertain the truth; that if Santos Benavides or others have been engaged in enlisting such men as is represented, it has been done so quietly that none but those concerned know anything about it, and that if Santos Benavides, as is also represented, had addressed a party of rebels at Laredo, promising them to turn over the town of New Laredo to pillage, &c., it is almost certain that the War Department would have been informed of the fact. He adds, there is no doubt that Santos Benavides and his brothers are strong adherents of Lerdo, and that he heard that arms were consigned to them for the revolutionists, but has never been able to obtain any facts in regard to it; that New Laredo has had its representatives in Laredo to watch any revolutionary movement, and if the alleged occurrences were reported by them to the proper authorities he has no knowledge of the fact.
In reference to the reported crossing the frontier on the 25th May by the revolutionary bands, he had made inquiry of General Sykes, commanding the district of the Rio Grande, who stated that he knew nothing of such crossing, and as to the accusation made against Mr. Adams, he is confident that it is a slander, and that, in his opinion, the report was made by Santiago Sanchez, between whom and Mr. Adams there was a personal quarrel; that Isidore Salinas and Pablo Quintana are doubtless guilty of all charged to them, and might have been arrested long ago if the Mexican authorities wanted them; that he has frequently advised the proper authorities of New Laredo to make complaints against Salinas and other revolutionists before the United States commissioner at this place, in order that they could be arrested when found here, and that he was informed by the county judge of Webb County that the latter had never been applied to, either personally or officially, by the Mexican authorities, to arrest revolutionists or rebels.
[Page 683]With reference to the alleged raid of Salinas, he says no troops were sent from New Laredo to intercept his band; that a communication received from the commanding officer of New Laredo did not mention that it was a movement of the Lerdoists, or how many were engaged, but alluded to them as a party of miscreants who had plundered people in Candela and vicinity; that ten of the party, including Salinas, were recognized in Mexico, and were among the party which crossed to this side, and he is of the opinion that it was a band of robbers who had no connection with the Lerdoists, and that he has been informed that they got only about $500.
He further states that he had received information that Isadore Salinas with forty men had crossed to Mexico below Piedras Negras, and that troops had gone from New Laredo and Piedras Negras in pursuit and had advised that Captain Kennedy be directed to be on the lookout for Salinas return. He further states that three of Salinas’ men, taken by Lieutenant Bellas, between Patafoz and McIntosh, were turned over to him by that officer; that it was supposed that these men were en route to join Salinas in Mexico, and that they were well armed and had plenty of ammunition, one of the party holding a written commission designating him as chief of squadron under Salinas, which was signed by one Garza Ayala; that the party have had a hearing at McIntosh before the United States commissioner, and, on the evidence of Lieutenant Bellas, the commissioner decided that the parties should give a bond of $250 to appear before the United States court at its next session, on the execution and acceptance of which they would be released; adding that he is in possession of their arms and ammunition.
Referring to the statement that the revolutionists occupied a portion of Nuevo Laredo on the 26th June last, he says the camp was about two miles north of that place, on the bank of the river; the troops, numbering about 70 or 75, were under the immediate command of General Garza Ayala, and were probably those referred to by the Mexican consul; if so, the date is incorrect, the camp having been discovered by Captain Kauffman on the morning of the 7th of June. He further states that Lieutenant Fountain was sent across by his order, and was received by General Garza Ayala in person; that Lieutenant Fountain notified him that no one would be permitted to leave our side to join him, and that no parties would be allowed from his side; that we would arrest and disarm any one attempting it; and further, that if his party should engage in a fight and fire upon our side he would at once return the fire.
He further says that (late in the day) he crossed the river and had an interview with Colonel Aleguria, in which he informed him of the situation and invited him to cross to this side in order to show him the exact position of the revolutionary forces, and that if he wished to attack he had a splendid opportunity of doing so, and that he (Captain Sellers) would try and arrest any parties that might be driven to this side; that in reply to his invitation Colonel Aleguria said that he could not go with him; that he then requested that he would send one of his officers, and failing to get any satisfactory answer, he (Captain Sellers) went to the collector of customs and recited the circumstances, remarking that he thought a very lukewarm disposition was shown by Aleguria to disperse the rebels; that he had no particular interest in the matter; that he had come simply as a friend of law and order; that the collector, on learning the result of his interview, went himself to see Aleguria, and that his visit resulted in the sending of an officer to this side, to whom, at about 3.30 p.m., was shown the camp, and that the officer [Page 684] returned to New Laredo at about 6 p.m.; that the camp, after having been in one place all day of the 7th, was broken up and the troops marched off; that reinforcements having arrived at New Laredo on the 8th, Aleguiria started out at about 6 p.m., twenty-four hours afterwards, to pursue the revolutionists, and, as he was informed by General Soto, on the night of the 9th, the revolutionists had been whipped and completely routed.
I transmit the information thus received, believing that you will recognize in it a complete exculpation of the authorities of this Government upon the frontier, inasmuch as the facts thus presented seem to show a lukewarmness and inefficiency on the Mexican side in singular contrast with the loyal and frank manner in which the officers of the United States have attempted to fulfill the international duty resting upon them to contribute by all the effective means in their power to the preservation of order and the repression of lawless force. It is to be regretted that their efforts were not promptly responded to in the same spirit as that in which they were made.
Accept, &c.,