398 INCIDENTS AT 
merchandise will be smuggled in, or some brother-col- 
lector, less conscientious and more anxious to pocket 
the fees, will be ready to compound for a smaller sum. 
It accordingly became the practice to admit trains of 
merchandise for the interior of Mexico by paying five 
hundred dollars on each wagon load. This free and easy 
way of doing business had certainly the advantage of © 
saving clerk hire, as well as removing the necessity of 
examining invoices, and all contention as to the cost or 
value of goods. 
A leading merchant of the city of Chihuahua, who 
for some reason had become inimical to the govern- 
ment, had a train of some sixty or seventy wagons and 
carts filled with goods, on its way from San Antonio 
to that city, by the way of the Presidio del Norte. The 
authorities, being informed of the approach of the train, 
were determined that it should not pass without a 
thorough examination and payment of the full duties; 
to insure which, a military force was sent to the cross- 
ing place. In consequence of this unlooked-for obsta- 
cle, the whole train came up to El Paso, about two hun- 
dred miles out of its way, for the purpose of entering 
here; but the military force, which was under the 
command of Colonel Langberg, was ordered hither also, 
to prevent the entry of the goods except at the full 
duty. The collector of El Paso was disposed to pass 
the goods after the usual convenient fashion, in which 
he was supported by the merchants and municipal 
authorities of the place; while Colonel Langberg, act- 
ing under orders from the capital, was determined that 
they should not, and declared his intention to arrest 
and imprison the collector, Don Alejo Garcia Condé, 
