Franklin Chase writes to wife Ann concerning Mexican affairs
Tampico, May 26th 1858.
My Dear Ann,
I wrote to you late last evening informing
you that Sastra[?] and others had intended to make
you their agent in Washington to prosecute
their claims against the Mexican Government
for the robberies and damages of their goods
per at Shessan[?] by Garza while in his hands
at the Bar[?]. I think you will require a Power
of Attorney to enable you to appoint an
Attorney to act in the matter, holding the
awards always subject to your orders.
In the examination of the papers you
will see a portion of the work I have performed
as every paper has been made in accordance
with my suggestions. Every merchant concerned
in the Shessan cargo, seemed eager to comply
with my suggestions. Edward A. Claussen
and George Quelling [?] whom I appointed to take
an account of the cargo, and to appraise the
damage as also to ascertain the extent of
the robberies performed their part well
and as their appraisments have been
corroborated by the Collector and Controller
of the Customs there can be no question
as to fairness of the claim. The departure
of Garza from Tampico has been the means
of breaking up the marauding band under
[Barheserra?] at Huejutla, and yesterday we
were blessed with the arrival of a mail
from Mexico. On the west coast there [are]
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larger constitutional forces in hostile array
against the Government of Zuloaja and
Vidaurri has still a larger force near
San Luis Potosi. Osallo[?] was about to march
from Mexico upon Miramon at San Luis
Potosi but the movements of Mexican troops
are [so] slow that doubts are entertained that
Osallo[?] will not reach in time to save
that city. The affairs of this country are
really deplorable, and unless it comes
speedly under the protection of the UStates
it will soon sink into the uttermost
abyss of ruin. These revolutionary [word illegible]
are fast approaching to [word illegible] of extermination[?]
and as they have already commenced
murdering each other in cold blood, they
will soon be induced to perform the
same operation on foreigners. Stimulating[?]
by plunder all foreigners will soon
be looked upon as their legitimate[?]
prey. Had Garza succeeded in capturing
this place its streets would have
been flooded with human gore.
Three of Santa Annas General[s] are now
here and I am of this opinion that they
are intriguing with Moreno for a "pronunciamiento"
in favor of that old scoundrel, and as
Moreno is a miserable toad they may succeed
in their object, as soon as Mejia leaves
the place. I have given a hint of this to Mr[.] ]
Cass and you may strengthen my report
to that gentleman.
[Page 3]
Gossip- You will doubtless be surprised
to learn that our colleagues Mr. [?] James
partook of a dinner given
in celebration of the Queen of England['s]
birth day on the 24th instant, on the part
of Mr. & Mrs. Sully[?]. No Englishmen were
invited, excepting Doctor Scott & Son[.] Vice and
wealth in some instances brings virtue
to their feet. Cumberlege is quite enraged
with his French colleague and I heard
that he has from the sounds of all the French
stores and shops, describing the lured
life a certain lady has led, and enumerating
by name, the numerous predecessors of
Mr. J. He expaciated largely on the depraved
taste of the present occupant of that
Lady's stale[?] affections, and wondered in
a tone of horror that persons of a high
sense of impropriety should, or could, descend
to such low conditions as to dine with
a xxxx and a xxxxx!!! The Bar[?] is announced
to be bad this morning which gives me this
opportunity of writing to you. I sent you all
the Tampico newspapers published here since your
departure knowing under the extremely painful
and gloomy circumstances with which you left,
how exceedingly anxious you must feel about
the safety of your House and family. I returned
to the Fulton, but the Bar[?] had become so rough
as to render is impracticable to enter that night,
and I could discern the smoke of the guns
[Page 4]
from "Andonegun"[?] which were pouring their
arms[?] against the city until it was quite
dark. I dreaded the approach to the City, but
on landing I had the satisfaction to learn
that all was safe at home, but on reach-
ing I was startled on learning the numbers
of Grenades and shot that were fired at
this house [two words underlined], many of which lodged within
a few feet of it. I hope Mr. Pickett accompanied
you to Washington. I received his validictor[?] letter
and perused it with much regret. I have
not, as yet, rec'd any thing from his successor
but by the next packet I may obtain his favor
in it. Col. Cumberlege has just called in & put me
in possession of a letter from Mr. Stettson in reply to
some suggestions which I officially made to Col. C in the
early part of our difficulties. You will thus perceive that
my opinions are not always lost. Had Captain Posely[?] seen
this letter, he would doubtless have pursued a different
course. This extract is only a part of what was
said in the letter, in approval of my conduct [word illegible]
Mexico 28th April last.
We are now enjoying a sort of saddening tranquility.
No visitors from the interior--no sales of merchandise--
nor any of the lifelike stiring[sic] scenes which
form the happiness of a city, to be met
with here. Dull monotony pervades every street
and every countenance bears the impress of
despondency. Such is the portrait of Tampico
for the present moment, and without a
foreign remedy no improvement can be
expected. Ever your devoted Husband
Franklin
