Mcgaffey to Lewis D. Campbell, December 17, 1866

Mr. McGaffey to Mr. Campbell

Sir: The undersigned, a citizen of the United States, has the honor to address your excellency in regard to a seizure of his property by the authorities of the republic of Mexico, under circumstances which the undersigned cannot but consider as illegal and arbitrary. The facts are as follows:

The undersigned, owner of the American schooner Mary Bertrand, cleared at the port of Tampico, Mexico, for Brazos Santiago, Texas, and set sail on the 3d instant under the customary sea-papers, having on board $20,000 in silver, the property of the undersigned and others. The export permit for the silver on board was taken up by the proper officer, at the mouth of the Tamesi river, so that this paper did not remain on board.

It is proper to state that the $20,000 referred to were the proceeds of a lot of arms and ammunition sold by the undersigned to the republican Mexican authorities of Tampico, and that it was a condition of the sale, made to them by the undersigned, that the purchase money should be allowed to leave the country under a free permit and exempt from duties.

This condition was fulfilled by the authorities at Tampico, and the money was placed on board the Mary Bertrand by the Mexican customs officers of that port, with the necessary papers.

Afterwards, on the 9th day of this month, the Mary Bertrand was wrecked in a storm, and cast upon the Mexican coast, a few miles below the mouth of the Rio Grande. The specie on board was taken ashore and hauled by the undersigned, as part of the wreck, and for greater safety, to Bagdad, at the mouth of the Rio Grande.

While there, a party of Mexican soldiers, forming part of General Escolaedo’s command,attempted to take possession of the specie, whereupon the undersigned placed over it, for protection, a flag of the United States, and warned the officer commanding the soldiery that he should respect that safeguard and leave the money undisturbed.

Notwithstanding this, the specie in question was, on Monday afternoon, December 10, seized by the said officer, and afterwards, on the 12th instant, the same was transmitted by him to Matamoros, where the customs authorities of that city now hold it.

The undersigned has been unable to obtain any redress for the injury done to him by such illegal seizure, nor can he secure the possession of the specie to which he is entitled, and the undersigned fears that unless some action is taken in the premises by your excellency he will meet with a total loss of this money.

Therefore the undersigned earnestly appeals to your excellency for the protection to which he believes himself entitled, and respectfully requests your interposition to prevent a great wrong from being inflicted on citizens of the United States who are interested herein.

I am your excellency’s most obedient servant,