CHARLES WORTHINGTON, Special Agent and Acting Collector to Salmon P. Chase, June 26, 1864

Mr. Worthington to Mr. Chase

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.,