Señor Matias Romero to William H. Seward, March 30, 1866

Señor Romero to Mr. Seward

Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to enclose you the copy, in English, of a communication dated the 5th of February last, and sent to me from Brownsville by Colonel Enrique A. Mejia, of the Mexican army. The original did not reach me. The duplicate, marked No. 1, I enclose to you with two other annexed documents, numbered 2 and 3.

In No. 1, and particularly in No. 2, a note addressed to General Weitzel, commanding on the Rio Grande, Colonel Mejia states that on the 14th of that month, as he was steaming down the river on the government despatch boat with Captain Conklyn, first provost marshal general of the district, and Mr. Price, of the secret service of the same district, he overhauled several lighters and small boats tied up to the Mexican side of the river, about six miles above Boca del Rio, (Bagdad,) and within the jurisdiction of his command. Having boarded and examined them in fulfilment of his duty, he found the sloop Helena among them loaded with goods, and without any custom-house papers, or even an invoice, for which reason he seized it, and took it to Boca del Rio, (Bagdad,) where it was duly condemned and the goods confiscated.

Colonel Mejia acted in this matter in conformity with his duty, which is shown by a translation of his appointment in No. 3.

The goods were transferred to American territory and were regularly entered at the Clarksville custom-house to the credit of the Mexican government, but were soon after sequestrated by the military authorities of that place, Colonel Mejia states, and were to be delivered over to the original proprietors; and he complains of this proceeding, as the goods were legally confiscated by the Mexican authorities on Mexican territory, and this he can prove by Captain Coriklyn and Mr. Price, who were witnesses to the facts.

Having no other testimony to this affair than the enclosed documents, I limit myself to a request to have it referred to the proper department, that the government of the United States may act upon it with due justice; and if the goods have been unjustly delivered to the merchants of Matamoras claiming them, their value may be restored to the agents of the Mexican government.

I embrace this occasion to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.