Edward L. Plumb to William H. Seward, May 20, 1868

Mr. Plumb to Mr. Seward.

Sir: On the 5th, 8th, and 11th instants, respectively, I received from Mr. Ulrich, consul at Monterey, the letters and inclosure of which I transmit copies and translation herewith, communicating the details of an outrage inflicted upon six American citizens at that place on the 22d ultimo, by order of the secretary of the government of the State of Nuevo Leon.

The character of this outrage is such that it can with difficulty be treated with calmness, and I should have felt it my duty immediately to address to this government a strong communication upon the subject, but for the fact, stated by Mr. Ulrich, that he had already written to the department giving information of the occurrence, and it appearing, therefore, to be my proper course to await your instructions before taking any action in the premises. For this reason I have made no allusion to the affair, as yet, with this government.

I had expected, however, that it would voluntarily have made some reference to it, and would have sought occasion to express regret that such an occurrence to citizens of the United States residing in Mexico should have taken place; but although the outrage was alluded to in the papers of this city on the 7th instant, and on the 9th the government published, in the Diario Oficial, the communication from the minister for foreign affairs to the governor of Nuevo Leon, of which I inclose translation herewith, no manifestation whatever has been made to me as to the sentiments of the government with reference to the affair.

It is perhaps my duty to add, as I do with disappointment and regret, that the conviction is being forced upon my mind, by my observations here, that, whatever may be the official action of this government, or however enlightened and friendly may be the sentiments personally of President Juarez and his cabinet, there is a feeling existing in this country towards foreigners in general, to which the citizens of the United States do not form an exception, that is the occasion of the commission of such acts as that which has occurred at Monterey, and which affords grounds for serious apprehensions as to the future.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Scandalous occurence–Attack upon individual guarantees.

On Wednesday last, between ten and eleven o’clock in the evening, six American citizens were arrested by order of the secretary of the governor when passing beneath the balcony of the palace, upon the frivolous pretext that some of the gentlemen were talking in a loud voice, on account of being somewhat excited in consequence of a reunion at which they had been present, celebrating the arrival of one of their friends. Arriving at the prison, all that they had upon their persons, except their watches, was taken from them, and they were thrust in among all the common criminals, this also being done by express order of the secretary, as was declared by the police who made the arrest. After having served as the objects of the jeers and scoffs of the criminals during the whole night, two of the Americans, Messrs. Liechardt and Potter, were ordered to mover el caballo (as the barrel is called in which are accumulated the urine and excrements of the prisoners) from one part of the court-yard to another, and having refused at first to perform this humiliating and degrading work, they were lashed with a cowhide, and four of the gentlemen were obliged to sweep the court-yard, one of them also being beaten on the pretext that he did not sweep well.

This is a simple narrative of the facts, as we have heard them from the lips of one of the outraged party; and it gives rise to serious and very grave reflections.

In the first place, what authority has the secretary of the governor to send to prison peaceable merchants and mechanics? We believe he has none. What law is there by which persons temporarily arrested are obliged to be put in with the condemned prisoners, and, what is still more serious, that such persons can be punished in an outragous and unparalleled manner, when it is not yet known whether they are delinquents or not? This is one of those outrages of which we have had no example in this country, and that has produced, and justly so, a general indignation among all our population, as well among the natives as among the foreigners, who are more directly affected by this occurrence, and there is a universal demand that prompt and full justice shall be administered, punishing the culpable parties in this affair in an exemplary manner.

The susceptibility of the American government, when treating of the protection of its citizens, is well known, and this occurrence may bring serious consequences, and give rise to international reclamations, which is all the more to be regretted when, up to now, the relations between the Mexican government and the United States have been so cordial. Considering the affair, therefore, under this point of view, it is indispensable that the culpable parties, whoever they may be, shall be punished in an exemplary manner, as well to avoid such reclamations as also to tranquilize the public, which is greatly alarmed, as no one can rest secure that he may not be exposed to similar or greater outrages. We should mention that one of the injured parties, Mr. Potter, has been here more than a year endeavoring to recover the amount of some arms sold by him in the time of the war against the French, and which have been of good service to the national cause. Besides, this gentleman had not taken anything that night, and only accompanied the others. We have made this statement for the purpose that the facts may be known, and as it is probable that the affair will be treated in the foreign press, which is only too ready to magnify such occurrences, describing the country as in a state of complete anarchy, without any security for foreigners, we wish to record the indignation of all the sensible people of this capital in reference to the affair referred to. In conclusion, it is necessary to state that the day following, the gentlemen above mentioned were placed at liberty by the first alcalde; that an examination is being prosecuted, as we are informed, with much activity, by the 1st Juez de Letras, and we are sure that prompt justice will be administered.