The New Orleans Democrat

IMPORTANT FROM MEXICO.

Our latest dispatches are not of a nature to allay the apprehensions created by the revolutionary movement in Mexico. If the news is true the position of the American residents on the border is indeed precarious, as the Mexican leaders seem to ignore all right, and appear disposed to ride, without much ceremony, over the small band that carries the United States flag near the scene of action. Yesterday Mr. Diamond, an American citizen doing business in New Laredo, was pounced upon by the banditti chief Quintana, a general in the Mexican army, and required to furnish him with money. Upon his refusal to submit to such an exaction he was immured in a dungeon, with the significant threat that he would be shot if the money was not forthcoming! Such outrages are committed by robbers and banditti chieftains, outlaws who dwell in caves and prowl about at night, but never by officers wearing epaulettes. In Mexico, however, it is different, and our Government has been so lenient heretofore that Mr. Quintana imagined that he could do exactly as he pleased.

Happily for Mr. Diamond, the United States Commercial Agent, whose name we regret not to have seen mentioned in the dispatches, took the matter in hand. He saw the General, and loudly protested against the outrage, but Quintana sneered the civilian away without so much as hearing him. The agent lost no further time in parley with the bandit and crossed the river to the Texas side, from whence he returned accompanied by Major Merriam.

From the dispatches we judge that the interview between the major and Quintana was not a passage of compliments. The general began by refusing to deliver up the prisoner, and added that if Mr. Diamond's store was broken open and robbed by his soldiers, he would not be responsible. Major Merriam inquired whether he meant this as a threat, to which the general answered with military sans façon that "he did not wish to talk about it!"

That answer was too much for a blue-coat and the Major quickly retorted that, such being the case, he would immediately get his command in readiness to protect American citizens. Quintana said: "Do as you d---n please," so the telegraph reports. Mr. Diamond, however, was released.

We reserve our remarks for another day. We simply wish now to give a statement of the facts.

But this is not all. An attack on New Laredo was made yesterday by the revolutionary forces, who were repulsed after a two hours' fight. Later however the attack was renewed and the battle raged fiercely when our latest telegrams came in. During the fight Major Merriam had placed some twelve pound howitzers in position on the bank of the river and a guard was stationed at the ferry.

Quintana, it seems, took offense at this precautionary demonstration, and his troops opened such a heavy fire upon the guard that our soldiers had to fall back. The howitzers, however, returned the fire with alacrity, and after a hot fight, says the dispatch, silenced the Mexicans. Our troops had two men wounded in the fight and outside, stray bullets inflicted severe wounds upon two citizens and three women of the place.

We do not know what has happened since, but up to the present time Mexico has to answer for the blood of seven American citizens.