of General McCook and of the said consul, lead to predatory warfare on either side of the line, eventually producing a conflict between the two nations. The excitement upon this subject is intense and increasing, and the offenders appear to be left in perfect impunity by the Mexican authorities. Indeed, it is alleged that they receive the protection of the Mexican General Cortina, whose antecedents, as proven by documents in my possession, render his presence on the frontier at this time peculiarly unfortunate for the peace of the two countries. In this connection I beg leave to call your excellency's attention to my note of the 6th of May last, addressed to Mr. Aspiroz, and take this occasion to repeat most earnestly the language I was then instructed by my Government to employ, namely, "that the frequency of acts of this kind, and the virtual impunity of the offenders, would seem to demand some more efficient check than any which the treaties between the two countries afford. It is obviously for the interest of both countries that the government of each should do whatever may be in its power toward restraining and discouraging such lawless proceedings, and it is hoped that the Mexican government may take efficient steps for that purpose. If, however, no such steps should be taken, it may become difficult to prevent retaliation by raids of armed parties from Texas into Mexico, which could not fail to peril the peaceful relations on the border." I would further remind your excellency that I am still awaiting, with great interest, the communication of the results of the investigation in the said case of Albert Champion, which was promised by Mr. Aspiroz in his note of the 9th of May last. I improve this occasion again to renew to your excellency the assurance of my very high consideration. His Excellency IGNACIO MARISCAL, THOMAS H. NELSON. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mexico. B. Mr. Nelson to Mr. Mariscal. [Unofficial.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, MY DEAR MR. MARISCAL: I send you some newspapers, recently received from Texas, containing articles relating to cattle stealing on the border, and the extraordinary conduct of General Cortina, to which I invite your attention. Very truly yours, C. Mr. Mariscal to Mr. Nelson. THOMAS H. NELSON. Private.] MEXICO, September 23, 1871. MY DEAR MR. NELSON: I received your letter of the 21st instant, with the accompanying newspapers from Texas, relative to cattle stealing on the border. The attention of the President has been called to that subject, and some measures will be adopted tending to remedy that situation. Very truly yours, D. Mr. Mariscal to Mr. Nelson. [Translation.] IGNACIO MARISCAL. DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Mexico, September 22, 1871. SIR: I have had the honor to receive your excellency's note of yesterday, with its inclosures, relating to accusations of cattle stealing, said to have taken place on the frontier of Tamaulipas, in which connection your excellency repeats the statement which, by order of your Government, you made on the subject to this ministry in your note of the 6th of May last, and also informs me that you await with great interest the result of the investigation in the case of Albert Champion. Reserving for another occasion my reply upon the subject of cattle stealing, to which the inclosures and papers accompanying your note refer, and complying with your wishes in regard to the case of Mr. Champion, I have the pleasure of inclosing the most recent communications that have been exchanged in reference to the complaints of the party interested. I take pleasure in renewing to your excellency, upon this occasion, the assurances of the very distinguished consideration with which I am your excellency's obedient servant, CITIZEN MINISTER OF WAR: As it appears from the report of General Cortina, which you have sent me, dated the 12th instant, concerning the robbery of some horses from Mr. Albert Champion, that only a portion of these horses were returned to him; you will please order the return of the remaining horses, and that the fulfillment of this order be forthwith reported. Independence and liberty! CITIZEN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: General Juan N. Cortina, commanding the first brigade of Tamaulipas, in a dispatch of the 19th instant, writes me as follows: "In reply to your note of the 27th ultimo, I have to inform you that as I have no horses belonging to Mr. Champion in my possession, I cannot return any to him; since, although it is true that I returned him some of those which he is alleged to have lost, it was because they were in possession of certain persons who had bought them, and, through the influence of some of my friends, I succeeded in obtaining them, and ordered them to be delivered to the said Champion, by virtue of a power of attorney which that foreigner gave me to act for him in the recovery of the horses." And I have the honor to transcribe the above to you, in reply to and as the result of your dispatch on this subject, of the 23d of June last. Independence and liberty! MEJIA. G. Mr. Mariscal to War Department. [Translation.] MEXICO, August 5, 1871 CITIZEN MINISTER OF WAR: I have received your dispatch of the 31st ultimo, in which you have transcribed the report made to you by General Juan N. Cortina, concerning the robbery of horses from the American, Champion. For the satisfactory termination of this question, you will please request of General Cortina a copy of the power of attorney to which he refers in his dispatch, recognized by Champion, and legalized by some judge or notary public. Independence and liberty! MARISCAL H. [Translation.] WAR DEPARTMENT, Mexico, September 11, 1871. CITIZEN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: The citizen General Juan N. Cortina, commanding the first brigade of Tamaulipas, in a dispatch dated the 28th of August last, writes me as follows: "I have the honor to send you a copy of the power of attorney which the foreigner, Champion, gave me in order to recover nine horses, which some bandits had robbed from him in the State of Texas." And I have the honor to transmit the above in reply to and as the result of your dispatch on the subject, dated August 5, inclosing herewith a copy of the said power of attorney. Independence and liberty! MEJIA. BROWNSVILLE, February 13, 1871. MY DEAR SIR: The nine horses that were robbed from me were of the following colors and marks: (Description of the horses.) These nine horses were stolen on the night of the 7th instant, at the post of Las Torrenas, and I shall be infinitely obliged to you if you will, as you offered, undertake to find where they are and return them to me, for which service you will ever receive the gratitude of Your obedient servant, General JUAN N. CORTINA. A true copy of the original. Matamoras, August 28, 1871. [SEAL.] ALBERT CHAMPION. LEANDRO RAMIREZ, Notary Public. I. GENERAL JUAN N. CORTINA. For some time past the press of Brownsville has labored to discredit this Mexican patriot by the grossest calumnies. We are not surprised at this vile conduct, for we know the motives which the Brownsville editors have for blackening his fame. General Cortina is well known on the frontier as the bitterest enemy of the confederates of that part of Texas, where it is known that our countrymen enjoy no protection, and are often barbarously assassinated after the burning of their property. The perpetrators of such murders have sometimes crossed the frontier in order to commit new depredations in our country, and General Cortina, being informed in time, has caught them in the act, and without pity has ordered them to be hung or shot as malefactors. The Brownsville press, on such occasions, has been filled with insults and menaces against all Mexicans, and particularly against General Cortina. At such times the most exaggerated rumors have been set afloat, announcing grave questions at issue between Mexico and the United States; the absorption of our country by the great republic; fabulous claims of Americans; and the magical appearance of two hundred or three hundred thousand negroes on our frontier whenever and however these turbulent prophets may choose. But what most surprises us is that there are Mexican newspaper writers who have formed an alliance with those of Brownsville to attack the Fronterizo, an independent paper published at Matamoras, which honorably and bravely defends the rights of our countrymen residing in Texas, who are, as this colleague asserts, made victims in their persons and property of notorious abuses by our neighbors. Is it because the Fronterizo is in favor of the re-election? or is it because it defends General Cortina from unjust attacks and infamous calumnies? Is it necessary now to insult this meritorious citizen through the agency of our neighbors because he has employed his numerous friendships upon the frontier for the triumph of Mr. Juarez? Really, it is deplorable that any one should allow himself to be carried by party spirit to such an extreme. We regret it; for in such conduct we see nothing noble or even decent. As to these attacks upon General Cortina, we will content ourselves at present with copying the following from the Brownsville Sentinel: "The Fronterizo alleges that when, during the civil war, General Cortina was military commandant of the State of Tamaulipas, he treated the Americans courteously, kindly, and with moderation; not even molesting his personal enemies. General Cortina undoubtedly deserves all that is said in his favor in this respect. There were then many millions of dollars of American property on the Mexican side, and there was full protection for persons and interests."-Monitor Republicano, September 27, 1871. No. 71.] NICARAGUA. No. 301. Mr. Riotte to Mr. Hunter. UNITED STATES LEGATION, Leon, March 8, 1871. (Received April 1.) SIR: I have the honor of transmitting to you inclosed 1. Copy of the resignation of President Quadra, with translation thereof, (inclosure 1.) 2. Copy of my note of February 27 last to Mr. T. Ayon, transmitting to him copy of the address I proposed to direct to President Quadra upon his inauguration, with that address in the Spanish original and translation, (inclosures 2 and 3.) 3. Copy of Mr. Ayon's reply of the 1st instant, communicating the answer President Quadra would give to my address, together with that answer and translation of both documents, (inclosures 4 and 5.) 4. Copy and translation of Minister Rivas's note of the 4th instant, sending an autograph letter of President Quadra to President Grant, informing him of his having taken possession of the presidency, along with a translation of that letter and a copy of my note of 6th instant, acknowledging the receipt of Mr. Rivas's communication, (inclosures 6, 7, and 8.) You will please perceive from these documents, that after the twicerepeated resignation of Mr. Vicente Quadra, the President elect, had been rejected, and he, as it were, been compelled to accept the presidency, I went to the capital to assist in his inauguration, being well persuaded that both by him and by the people at large the presence of the representative of the United States would be considered high compliment. During my sojourn at Managua, I was received and treated with the most distinguished consideration on all sides, and by no one more so than by Mr. Quadra himself. It had been agreed by the consuls present and myself, and I had so informed the government, that I would address the new President. As soon, however, as I learned that meantime an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from Salvador had arrived, I informed Mr. Minister Rivas, who had tendered me the hos pitality of his house, that inasmuch as the gentleman from Salvador had a higher rank than mine, I would withdraw my address. He thereupon had an interview with Mr. Quadra, in consequence of which he stated to me that the President desired me to deliver my address first, and that he would settle the point of etiquette with the Salvadorian envoy. I am happy to say that Mr. Quadra did make a very favorable impression upon me. He is quite a rare exception among these people— very plain-spoken, but I do not doubt thoroughly honest and wellmeaning; he never uses a phrase without just meaning what it implies. Quite another question is, whether he will be able to overcome the ter rible difficulties in his path. I should not be astonished to find him possessed of the will and energy to do it; but I fear he and his administration will encounter their most determined opponents in any progressive move among their so-called friends. He did me the favor of asking my permission to consult me privately on any question that might occur to him, and of assuring me that any advice I might volunteer would receive from him the fullest consideration. Ex-President Guzman behaved exceedingly well in the transfer of power, a moment ever critical in these countries. At the head of the consuls I paid him a valedictory visit, addressing him with a few appropriate words. During my last interview with Mr. Quadra, in the presence of Minister General Rivas, I urgently requested him to use his influence with congress in having the extradition treaty ratified at an early day, and particularly in paving a way toward a satisfactory claims convention, of the history whereof I gave a cursory recital. I also requested him to look into a very plain claim of an American citizen, wherein I have been corresponding with Mr. Ayon for months. He promised to act upon my suggestion. Allow me, in conclusion, to submit whether, under the peculiar circumstances, in President Grant's reply, a few words of cheer, which, coming from that source would be very highly appreciated, would not be appropriate. Mr. Quadra several times, and very emphatically, gave words to his sincere admiration for and sympathy with our President, Government, and nation. I have, &c., C. N. RIOTTE. P. S.-I also inclose copy and translation of a note of Mr. T. Ayon, of the 21st February last, informing me of Mr. Vicente Quadra's election to the presidency, and inviting me to attend his inauguration, along with copy of my reply of the 23d of February. (Inclosures 9 and 10.) RIOTTE. [Inclosure 1.-Translation.] RESIGNATION OF THE PRESIDENT ELECT, MR. VICENTE QUADRA. Hon. Senators and Representatives: The prefect of the department, commissioned by the supreme government, laid, on the 25th instant, into my hands the decree of the 24th instant, wherein you declare me popularly and constitutionally elected to serve in the presidency of the republic during the new period commencing the 1st of March next. The vote of confidence I have received from my fellow-citizens calling me, without any merit on my side, to the first magistracy of the nation, has highly engaged my gratitude, and I shall never forget such distinguished proof of the good opinion they entertain of me. I will frankly confess to you that I much wish to be possessed of the abilities necessary to worthily perform that high and elevated trust, for then I would not trepidate to accept it, notwithstanding the sacrifice of my personal interests involved thereby; but I would poorly correspond to the confidence placed in me if, with the innermost conviction entertained by me of my absolute incompetency, I should resolve upon serving in a station which I do not consider proper for me, and so much more, as there are plenty |