Mr. Van Limburg to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to bring to your knowledge that I have just received from his excellency, the minister of the King for foreign affairs, instructions relative to the facts which have occurred at the consulate of the Netherlands at New Orleans on the 10th and 11th of the month of May this year. Approving fully the line of conduct which I thought it my duty to pursue in that business, the royal government, shares the satisfaction which I experienced, when, by your letter of June 5, you were so good as to inform me, sir, that the President and the government of the United States viewed the conduct of the military authorities at New Orleans as a violation of the law of nations; that they disapproved it, and disapproved the sanction there given to it by Major General Butler. But the King’s government flatters itself that the United States will go further. In view of the King’s government, the gravity and publicity of the outrage demand that the government of the United States give public evidence of its regret, for example, by manifesting, by some public act, its dissatisfaction with Major General Butler. The King’s government, considering, until the proof made to the contrary, the Netherlands consul at New Orleans as having acted, in good faith, expects that the government of the United States will not refuse to do likewise, and that it will please, consequently, to invite the consul, who, on the avowal of the American government itself, has been very ill used, to resume his consular functions. Mr. Vander Maesen de Sombreff observes, in passing, that if the consul should, perhaps, have given at once the information asked for, it is to be noticed that Mr. Conturié announced at once, but in vain, his wish to consult his colleague, the French consul, adding that “something good might come out of the consultation.” Captain Shepley replied that “he could not delay action.”
The government of the Netherlands, actuated by sentiments of moderation and conciliation, does not insist, at present, on a restitution in integrem or in statu quo ante, but expects, in requital, from the justice of the American government, that the property taken from Netherlanders residing at New Orleans or elsewhere be restored. Among these properties are securities belonging to Messrs. Hope & Co., personally; for example, the bonds of New Orleans and of Mobile, mentioned in the statement of facts of the consul, (Sch. No. 2,) then the property of individuals (Netherlanders) mentioned, (Sch. No. 3.)
As to what regards the $800,000, the King’s government, informed of the investigation which the American government has instituted in this respect at New Orleans, does not wish to hasten a demand upon it. I am therefore happy, sir, to be the organ of sentiments quite as conciliatory as those which you assured me animated the government of the United States in this lamentable business, and at present I restrict myself to asking from you, in the name of the King’s government: First, satisfaction, ulterior and public, (in the sense above expressed,) given to the government of the Netherlands by that of the United States for the violation of the Netherlands consulate at New Orleans. Second, [Page 636] an invitation addressed by the government of the United States to the consul of the Netherlands, outraged by military authority, to the end that he resume the exercise of his functions. Third, restitution of property seized, belonging to Netherlander. Fourth, restitution of $800,000 as soon as it shall be shown that the ownership was transferred to Messrs. Hope & Co.
I have the honor, Mr. Secretary of State, to renew to you the assurance of my high consideration.
Hon. Mr. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States of America,&c., &c.,