Citizen Matias Romero to William Hunter, January 14, 1866

Mr. Romero to Mr. Hunter

My Dear Sir: I have the honor to send you the copy of a letter from the Mexican citizen Manuel Saavedra, which I received from Brownsville, dated in that city the 8th of December last, and the documents to which it refers, giving an account of the latest events that have taken place in the States of New Leon and Tamaulipas, of the Mexican republic, by virtue of the French invasion.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

[Translation.—Extract.]

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The French authorities at this place have a supervisor in constant attendance at the customhouse, who carefully and minutely examines every package landed or embarked, and if any objectionable name is discovered upon any of the packages they are immediately seized.

Of late the so-called imperial forces have made some important movements against this State, and they are now in the occupancy of Tancasnequi, Victoria, and Altamira, all of which places were abandoned by the liberal forces before the enemy arrived; consequently they have obtained no great advantage.

The almost expiring embers of commerce seem now to be somewhat rekindled by the assurance from the French commandant that the roads are open hence to San Luis Potosi, and this morning a steamer left here with two launches in tow, loaded with the merchandise brought back from Tancasnequi several weeks ago. It is now to be again landed at Tancasnequi, and from thence to be conveyed to San Luis Potosi by mules, at the rate of thirty dollars per mule load, to which must be added the expenses of steam freight and military escort. If the owners obtain first cost and expenses they may consider themselves fortunate in the extreme.

But in order that you may clearly understand the position of commercial affairs here, I must inform you that when, in the latter part of the mouth of September last, the French forces were compelled to abandon Tancasnequi, two or three hundred packages of iron and steel were, by force of circumstances, left there, and, upon the recent reoccupation of that place by the French forces, they found several of the packages still lying there, which they at once shipped on board their steamer and launches and landed here in Tampico; and when the foreign merchants discovered their own familiar marks and numbers upon the said packages they forthwith repaired to the military chief to claim their iron and steel goods; but they were coolly informed that as they were found in the abandoned camp of the enemy, the full value thereof must be awarded to the troops under his command, the officers of course coming in for the lion’s share.

The imperial decree of the 3d of October last has been enforced in this place in all its parts and with all the cruel rigor therein prescribed. But I will not enlarge upon the modus operandi of the executions which have taken place in the most respectable and conspicuous parts of that city, but merely state that several defenceless Mexicans have lost their lives under the authority of that ban put forth by a Christian prince in this enlightened age. I now anxiously await the receipt of the message which the President of the United States, I suppose, issued to the world on the 4th instant, which I presume will give us some insight as to what will be the action of our republic in relation to Mexico.

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