Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Asboth to Mr. Seward

No. 32.]

Legation of the United States. Buenos Ayres, June 24, 1867.

Sir: In connection with my report No. 28, dated the 10th instant, I have the honor to inform you that, in the sitting of the Argentine senate of the 13th instant, a note from Don Marcos Paz was read, in which he formally and irrevocably resigned the vice-presidency of the republic, and that, in the sitting of the same body of the 22d instant, it was resolved that the said note should be taken into consideration by both houses of congress, met in assembly, to which they have accordingly been convened for the day after to-morrow. You will please find a translation of the above note in my daily memoranda of political events from the 12th to the 23d June, herewith enclosed, under date of the 14th. In view of the explicit nature of this note, and of the fact that Dr. Paz has now for the third time expressed his determination to resign, it is not improbable that his resignation may be accepted, although public opinion deprecates the complications that would thereby be entailed upon the government if the Paraguayan war is not brought to a close.

Of this, however, there does not seem to be any immediate prospect, although it appears that the commander-in-chief ad interim has determined upon a change of tactics. Compelled by the floods, the greatest portion of the Brazilian garrison at Curuzu has been incorporated with the bulk of the allied army at Tuyuti, leaving only 1,500 men under Porto Alegre, who has his headquarters on board a man-of-war anchored in front of Curuzu. Lopez has been trying to extend his lines to Yataila Cora, which is half-way between the Paraguayan and allied lines, but the continuous fire from the latter has prevented his concluding the new works as yet. From the 30th ultimo to the 11th instant the Brazilian squadron had been bombarding Curupaiti without the intermission of a single day, and this continuous fire, though not producing any apparent result, must nevertheless keep the Paraguayans incessantly on the alarm, and cause them considerable damage. Meanwhile the Marquis de Caxias has been raising a strong redoubt between Lake Piris and Estero Bellaco, in which he intends to leave 4,000 men in charge of the materiel of war, while the rest of the army will, as reported, proceed up the river Parana and effect a junction with the 3d division, under the command of Osorio, at Itati.

Since the evacuation of Curuzu by the Brazilians the river has fallen considerably; but now that the waters have risen again, and the river become even higher than before, great fears are entertained respecting the military stores at the island of Cerrito, so much so that it is believed that the whole place, which cost millions to organize and arrange, will also have to be abandoned. But apart from the devastations caused by the floods and the unhealthy locality, the allies cannot have much hope of forcing, at present, the lines at Curupaiti. They are defended by the Estero Tuyuti, which is 500 yards wide and 10 or 12 feet deep. Then the Paraguayans have a ditch 30 feet wide and 18 deep, which communicates with Lake Piris, and is full of water, running six miles all around Humaita. In addition to this they have a line of abatis from 100 to 120 feet in width; then another ditch, like the first, 30 feet wide and 18 deep, before reaching their grand parapet fortification of Curupaiti, which is protected by “cheveaux de frise,” and surmounted by splendid batteries of heavy guns, well served by expert gunners, and the whole defended by 30,000 valiant patriots determined to conquer or die for the independence of their country. Thus, if the allies still consider their honor engaged to continue this disastrous war, their abandoning. Tuyuti, in spite of the enormous amount of life and money this position has cost them, and then invading Paraguay from Missiones by the pass of Itapua, seems now quite probable.

From the interior the last news show a somewhat gloomy state of affairs, The province of Rioja has again fallen into the hands of the Montoneros, and the local papers lately received teem with accounts of the murders, robberies, and all kinds of atrocities committed by them in various parts of that unhappy province. Felipe Varela, one of the most active reactionary chieftains, had crossed back from Chili, and was collecting men and issuing anew proclamations. General Paunero has been obliged to detach a strong column of the forces under his command with the view of restoring order. The general himself is unable to leave San Juan, where new troubles seem to be preparing, as the governor and provincial legislature are in open rupture. In the provinces of Catamarca and Cordoba the political horizon is very stormy and the renewal of a revolution hourly expected, while the sudden demise of the governor of Salta has compromised the tranquillity of that province also.

The house of national deputies was occupied last week with a debate of some importance, and in which a great deal of oratorical talent was displayed on the motion for the expulsion of two of its members accused of complicity in the late revolution of Cuyo. The debate occupied five sittings, and ended by the adoption of the motion by 24 votes against 10. The expelled members are Señor Ocampo, deputy for the province of Entre Rios, and Señor Sarmiento, for that of San Luis, and it is very generally believed that the former will be returned again to fill the vacancy thus created, which may give rise to serious complications. SeñorOcampo, who is the principal editor of a paper called El Parana, published in Entre Rios, made in the course of his defence the following remarks:

The order of the day being entered on, Deputy Ocampo proceeded to reply to the speech of D. Montes de Oca, jr., of last Monday. He said: “It is with great pleasure I return him the compliment he paid me for forensic talent, but I have still more to thank him for the arguments he unwittingly threw into my hands. He spoke of a member of the United States Congress who stood up and declared for the confederates; but he forgot to tell you that, in spite of the sensation of the moment, the chamber did not venture to expel him who thus daringly asserted ‘The Union is impossible.’ My honorable colleague also cited the French Chambers in his support, and the case of Monsieur Manoel is one worth alluding to. The ushers of the chamber refused to comply with the order for removing him by force. A piquet of National Guards was called in, who also refused, point blank, to remove the deputy, when General Foy, an old and rigid veteran, exclaimed. ‘All honor to the National Guards. They are here to protect the representatives of the people; not to violate the sanctuary of the Chamber.’ Other deputies spoke similarly. Well, Mr. President, I shall not imitate M. Manoel, if ordered to leave this house. I shall submit to its decision and retire, if so directed, to the obscurity of a provincial town. But I have not the slightest fear of a result. I feel confident the Chamber will reject this absurd project, so suicidal in its tendency and so arbitrary in its conception. [Cheers.] If the constitution gives me a right to emit my ideas, you cannot take it from me; you cannot constitute this Chamber into a court for offences against liberty of the press. If you do, you will open a door for your own dissolution; you will choke the free utterance of opinion both in and out of this house, and gag the minority of honest, fearless members of the opposition. If I am to be condemned for the articles I have written, expel me at once, for I retract not a line, not a sentiment, and the same opinions I shall uphold so long as I occupy a seat here. If I am only suffered to remain here to obey the beck of the ministry, I scorn to remain an hour; it would be a treachery to my constituents in Entre Rios. Expel me and the people of Buenos Ayres will receive me with open arms. [Cheers. J But bear in mind that I shall not be the last victim; that the people see fully and clearly the erroneous policy of the national government in involving us in a war which no man can see the end of, and concluding a hateful alliance that has palsied the right arm of our gallant soldiers. [Great sensation in the galleries.] Expel me, but the nation will say, ‘Deputy Ocampo was expelled not for any crime or infamy, but for talking too plainly.’” [Cheers and applause.]

A fire broke out in the national government house in this city on the morning of the 14th instant, which was not got under before it had completely destroyed the furniture, paper, and books of the offices of the ministers of the interior and education and caused considerable losses to the other offices. This catastrophe has disturbed the whole routine of official business, and it will require months before order can be restored in the several departments. The fire is attributed to neglect on the part of the servants of the government house and not to any intentional act.

The report of the Argentine minister of finance, which ought to have accompanied the president’s message on the opening of congress, has not yet been published, so that nothing official is known about the financial affairs of the Argentine republic, actually. By what has been published in the Rio de Janeiro papers, it would appear that the financial deficit of the Brazilian empire for 1867–’8 is 150,000,000 reals, which, with former deficits, makes a total deficit of 275,000,000 reals, equal to about 137,000,000 hard dollars.”

Judging from the general tone of the Brazilian press, the prevalent feeling in the empire is one of continued and daily increasing irritation and dissatisfaction, mainly due to the continuance of the expensive and inglorious Paraguay war.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. ASBOTH.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Daily memoranda of political events on the River Plata from the 12th to the 23rd June, 1867.

June 12.—The Tribuna, commenting upon the note of the Brazilian minister, Señor Seal, to Señor de Elizalde, dated 29th August, 1866, and published in the annual report of the minister for foreign affairs, which accompanied the President’s message, says: “What is the meaning of the explanations sought, more particularly after the information contained in the report of the Brazilian minister for foreign affairs, officially communicated to the Brazilian parliament, that the empire pays a monthly subvention to the Uruguay republic of $30,000 to defray the expenses of its contingent at the seat of war, and that it has already advanced to the Argentine republic a loan of $1,140,000? The only meaning we can discover,” says the writer, “is the evident desire of the diplomats of the empire to establish beyond the possibility of doubt the fact that in the alliance it is only Brazil that has received no definite service from its allies, while it has been obliged to subvention and assist the republics of the river Plate to enable them to fulfil the obligations imposed upon them by that very alliance; thus showing that the said republics are performing a very secondary part, so secondary, indeed, that they ought never to have accepted it.”

June 13.—On the 9th instant four Brazilian transports arrived at Montevideo, the San Jose, Itapicuru, Alice, and Silva, with 1,200 more men, destined as so much more food for powder and pestilence in Paraguay. A local paper, El Pueblo, states that from the 1st of January to the 31st of last month. Brazil has sent 7,896 new recruits to Paraguay.

The same paper states that cholera had reappeared at Tuyuti, that several cases had proved fatal in the garrison, and that a great number of soldiers attacked by this disease were lying in the hospitals.

The last accounts from the seat of war say that it was currently reported that Osorio is to. take command of the allied army at Tuyuti, and Porto Allegre of the 2d division, consisting of 5,000 men, who are now also at Tuyuti, the whole garrison having been fairly washed out of Caruzu. The loss of ammunition and stores in consequence of the late floods is represented as enormous, and not a trace is left of the fortifications made by the Brazilians at Caruzu.

June 14.—In yesterday’s session of the senate, before proceeding to take up the order of the day, President Alsina informed the senate that he had received the previous night a note from Don Marcos Paz, communicating his resignation of the vice presidency of the republic. After a short debate on the question whether thenote should be read or not, the result of a division was ayes, 10; noes, 7; whereupon the secretary proceeded to read said note, of which the following is a translation:

“To the honorable chambers of congress:

“Profound convictions urge me to lay before your honorable chambers my unalterable resignation of the post of vice president of the republic. Last year when I sent in my resignation it was refused by congress, and I bowed in silence to its decision; but now I feel bound to explain my motives in order that they be not misinterpreted.

“It is not that I wish to spare myself from the weighty cares of office, for God knows I would willingly devote my life’s blood, if of any use, for the welfare of my country. But I am impelled by a conscientious feeling which has preyed upon my mind day after day, until it has forced me to resign the high post which I was unworthily chosen by my fellow-citizens to occupy.

“I am convinced that no government can be properly carried on when the chief magistrate absents himself for a lengthened time from the country. And this truth is so self-evident that in all constitutional states and kingdoms the absence of the chief ruler is strongly objected to, or if ever permitted, this is only for a brief interval. But the long-continued absence of the chief magistrate is most productive of disorder and prejudicial to the republic.

“A provisional government, when prolonged for any time, has a good deal to do even to preserve domestic tranquillity. It can never attend to the real interests of the country, or foster enterprise and industry. In a word, it is a drag on the state, instead of being a means of progress; and this is a state of things which cannot be prolonged. A provisional government can undertake nothing great or serious, seeing the insecurity of its administration, which may come to a close at any moment.

“For these reasons I now offer my irrevocable resignation of the vice presidency, in which step personal motives have no manner of influence, but simply my regard for what I consider the public welfare of the Argentine nation.

“I salute your honorable chambers, and remain

“MARCOS PAZ.”

The local press is unanimous in condemning the step taken by Dr. Paz, both as showing want of energy and patriotism in him and as likely to create difficulties and complications in the cabinet.

The Tribuna reproduces that portion of the report of the Brazilian minister of war in which he asks that the army establishment of the empire in times of peace should not be less than 20,000 men, and that laws may be enacted to facilitate the transition of the imperial army from a peace footing to one of war, concluding its remarks upon it in these words: “We may be mistaken, but in our judgment the tendency of the empire to establish a permanent army, sufficient to enable it at any time to bring the weight of its arms to bear in the questions which its diplomacy is constantly promoting, must not be lost sight of by our statesmen, if they wish that the Argentine republic should not lose the high ground to which she is entitled in the management of river Plata interests.”

A new invasion of Indians is reported to have taken place in the province of Cordoba. About 900 of them entered at a place called Saladillo, and, although details are not at hand, they appear to have committed enormous depredations.

June 15.—A fire broke out yesterday morning in the government house, destroying all the papers, books, and furniture in several of the different offices, more particularly in those of the interior and of education. Some old documents in the foreign office were also lost. The cause of the fire appears to have been accidental and due to the carelessness of some of the porters leaving fire in one of the grates when closing the offices the day before.

From the seat of war it is reported that the river is covered in part with dead horses, and that the consequent loss to the army contractors is only surpassed by that of the Brazilian government in gunpowder, shells, balls, &c.

June 16.—The San José, Brazilian transport, with troops, arrived yesterday at Montevideo from Rio de Janeiro.

June 17.—In the national house of deputies, Señor Del Campo has made a motion for the expulsion of SeñorOcampo, deputy for the province of Entre Rios, and Señor Sarmiento, for San Luis, charged with complicity in the late revolution in the province of Cuyo. The motion has been referred to a special committee, whose report is to be laid before the house and debated to-day. The question whether such a measure would be constitutional has been amply discussed by the local press, and public opinion seems in favor of it. The Tribuna brings forward precedents that have happened both in England and the United States in support of this view.

June 18.—The Tribuna reproduces the following from the Epoca of La Paz, Bolivia, under date 21st of April:

“To-day the treaty of amity, limits, commerce, and navigation between Bolivia and Brazil has been approved and ratified. Under the same date a legation of the first class has been created to Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Ayres, Asuncion, and Montevideo, and Colonel Don QuintinQuevedo has been appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the republic of Bolivia to the empire of Brazil, and the Argentine, Paraguay, and Uruguay republics, with Dr. Juan Francisco Velarde as secretary of legation and Don Julio Quevedo as attaché.”

In the house of national deputies the committee to which the motion for the expulsion of the deputies Ocampo and Sarmiento bad been referred brought up its report recommending its adoption with one dissentient voice A large concourse of people attended to hear the debate which followed, and in which the best speeches were delivered by Señor Velez in favor of the nation and against it by SeñorOcampo and SeñorElizalde, brother of the minister for foreign affairs, and the dissentient member of the committee. The debate was adjourned to this day.

The Ibecuy, from Rosario, brings despatches from General Paunero, who is in San Juan. On the 26th ultimo Colonel Irrazabal had arrived in San Juan, summoned by General Paunero, for the purpose of conducting a new expedition against the province of Rioja, where the rebels had again appeared, committing wide-spread devastation, and desolating the province. General Paunero was preparing to send a strong column in order to strike a crushing blow at the rebels, who spring up every day in different directions and commit most daring outrages. Some rebel bands have also appeared in San Luis, and committed the greatest atrocities in the department of Calamuchita.

June 19.—The debate on the expulsion of the two members from the house of national deputies was continued yesterday in a full house and before a large audience. Ocampo, Sarmiento, and Montes de Oca spoke, the two former against, the latter for the motion. The debate was again adjourned.

June 20.—Yesterday in the house of national deputies, before proceeding to the adjourned debate about the expulsion of the two members, the following project of a resolution was brought in and referred to a committee: “The president of the chamber will, in its name, ask the executive power for the additional stipulations relative to the treaty of the triple alliance against Paraguay, agreed upon in 1865 and 1666. as well as its protocols and other provisions having reference to said treaty and its execution. The adjourned debate was then resumed by SeñorOcampo, and listened to with increasing interest by a large concourse of people. SeñorTejedor and Señor Del Campo spoke in favor of the motion; Dr. Ugarte and Señor Acosta against it. The debate was again adjourned.

The arrival at Montevideo of another Brazilian transport, the Amalia, with 600 troops on board, is announced. The Standard states that during the last twelve months Brazil has sent no less than 19,000 recruits to the war, without counting the third division, now under the command of Osorio.

Mr. Gounouilhon is still in prison in Montevideo, but it is currently rumored that the government will soon liberate him, and that he will be no sufferer in the long run.

The Standard states that on the 9th a flag of truce was sent over to the Paraguayan lines with letters and papers for Mr. Washburn, the United States minister.

June 21.—In yesterday’s sitting of the house of national deputies the adjourned debate on the expulsion of two of its members was continued. Dr. Quintana made a brilliant and eloquent speech of two hours’ duration against the motion. The concourse and excitement was, if possible, greater than on previous days, and the debate was once more adjourned.

June 22.—The debate in the house of national representatives, which has created so unusual an excitement and continued through so many days, was yesterday brought to a close, and on a division the motion of the expulsion of the deputies Ocampo and Sarmiento passed by 24 votes against 10.

Yesterday Señor Seal had an official interview with the President of the republic to present his letters of recall, and at the same time the new Brazilian minister resident, SeñorCarvalho Borges, presented his credentials. The usual complimentary speeches were exchanged on the occasion.

June 23.—In yesterday’s sitting of the senate a bill was passed authorizing the executive to employ the sum of $400,000 in the purchase of rifled cannons of large calibre. The Tribuna applauds the measure and hopes the bill will readily meet with the approval also of the house of representatives. In the same sitting of the senate motion was made that the resignation of the vice president should be discussed by the two chambers met in general assembly, which motion was adopted by 13 votes against 8.

From the interior the news is that Colonel Segona surprised a party of rebels at Polanco. in the south of the province of Mendoza, killing 45 of them, taking several prisoners, and capturing upwards of 800 horses.

The Standard says, “It is rumored that Dr. Gounouilhon is at last set at liberty. We believe the bonds have not improved, however, and are at the same quotation, 92 per cent. discount.”

A. ASBOTH.