Mr. De Long to Mr. Seward.
No. 9.]
Consulate of the
United States,
Tangier, May 23, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that
previous to the Moorish minister having taken any active steps, the
viceroy, Prince Muley Abbas, on hearing of the tumult at the American
consulate on the 26th of February last, immediately, and of his own free
voluntary act, sent his lieutenant governor with soldiers to suppress
the mob, and with instructions to render me all the assistance in his
power.
Not hearing from my government, I felt it my duty, upon the receipt of
this information, to tender to the prince my thanks; which I did in
person and by letter, copy of which is herewith enclosed.
In my interview with him I spent over an hour, which time was unusual,
but he detained me making inquiries about our civil war and the country
generally.
The prince left next day for Tetuan, and from his camp near that place
addressed me an autograph letter; a translation of which, made by one of
the first oriental scholars in this country, is herewith enclosed.
The perusal of this document will, I trust, prove as satisfactory to my
government as it is grateful to my feelings, and that it will tend to
convince them that the statements so unscrupulously made by Mr. Layard,
in the English Parliament, and reported in some of the European papers,
were as unfounded as they were untrue.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient and humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
[Untitled]
Consulate of the United States
of America,
Tangier,
April 19, 1862.
Honored and Esteemed Friend: I was
yesterday informed, for the first time, that on the 26th of February
last, when the armed mob of Europeans, of my own race and religion,
surrounded the United States consulate to offer an indignity and
insult to the American flag, you promptly ordered soldiers,
accompanied by your lieutenant governor, to come to my relief and to
sustain the honor of our national ensign.
For which act, done by you without solicitation upon my part, I
therefore embrace the earliest opportunity after the receipt of this
information, to tender to you on behalf of the President of the
United States, as well as on my own account, our highest
consideration and regard. This, together with other acts of kindness
that have been extended to me by the authorities and subjects of his
Majesty, your worthy brother, the Emperor of Morocco, since my
arrival here, has planted in my bosom feelings of attachment for
yourself and your people which neither time nor distance can
eradicate from my mind, and which feelings I shall carry with me to
the grave. And it would give me great pleasure and satisfaction if
time and opportunity would permit you to visit the United States;
thus enable you to see the growing greatness of our country, and to
receive the hospitality of our people.
I am proud to say that for seventy-six years, being the period of our
first treaty, relations between your government and that of the
United States have been of the most friendly character, trusting in
the providence of God that it may always so continue.
[Page 879]
In conclusion, I avail myself of this opportunity to wish your
highness health and happiness, and at the same time with hearty
prayers for the prosperity of your country.
I have the honor to be your royal highness’s most obedient and humble
servant,
JAMES DE LONG, United States
Consul.
The Viceroy, Prince Muley Abbas.
[Translation.]
PRAISE TO THE ONE GOD.
To the clever and wise gentleman,
consul general for the American nation, James De Long, esq.,
which premised :
We continue to make inquiries regarding your welfare, and praying God
that you are well. We are deeply penetrated with the expressions of
gratitude made use of at your interview with us, as well as in the
communication addressed to us in your own name, as well as on behalf
of your government for the aid and assistance we rendered you in
removing the insults offered to you by the christian subjects who
surrounded the consular residence, thus offering insult and
indignity to the American flag.
Such aid on our part is no more than an act of duty, and one of
right, arising out of the uninterrupted reciprocity of friendship
which has existed between the two nations from the time of our
ancestors. We dislike that any one should be insulted in our
country, and when within our power to protect, we protect them till
it results with satisfaction to themselves as well as with
maintenance to their honor.
Our officers in rendering you this assistance, and in protecting the
United States consulate, have but followed the same line of friendly
conduct hitherto exercised towards your government. We desire not
that either injury or insult should accrue to you or the American
nation, a nation known and acknowledged as she universally is for
her goodness, as well as remembered by ourselves for the close
intimacy and peculiar friendship once existing between her and our
ancestors.
It gives me satisfaction to add that you, in virtue of your office,
have conducted this affair with a clearness of judgment and honesty
of purpose, and at the same time with such firmness and moderation
as to have contracted honor for your country. Persons like you
deserve to be the representatives of their nation. The good man is
he who acknowledges the goodness done to them by others. I can say
that from the first day we had intercourse with you we failed not to
remark your wisdom and refinement, and considered you in the highest
degree characterized by firmness, truth, and honesty.
We request you to express to your government our sentiments of good
will towards them, and to assure them that the friendship once so
intimately existing between us, not only still exists and continues,
but on our part has become confirmed and consolidated by time, and
that we heartily wish them the victory (victorious as they always
are) over those who have rebelled against them and peace.
Written (at
Tetuan) on the 14
“Dalkahada,” year 1278, (corresponding to May 14,
1862.)
EL ABBAS, Son of the Prince of the
Believers.
