Mr. Seward to Mr. Tassara
The undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Tassara’s note of the 3d instant, preferring complaints alleged by the Spanish consul at New Orleans against Major General Butler’s administration of the quarantine laws there in the cases of the Pinta and Mari Galante, transport ships-of-war of the Spanish navy.
In reply, the undersigned has the honor to inform Mr. Tassara that a copy of his communication has been sent to the Secretary of War, with the request that he would cause the subjects involved to be promptly investigated.
So far as this government knows, or has any reason to believe, Major General Butler’s administration of the quarantine laws has been impartial in regard to all vessels of whatever nationality. Certainly the government will allow no invidious discrimination; and least of all, a discrimination to the inconvenience of Spanish vessels; and Major General Butler and Governor Shepley will immediately be so instructed.
The undersigned avails himself of the occasion to offer to Mr. Tassara renewed assurances of his very high consideration.
Señor Don Gabriel Garcia y Tassara, &c., &c., &c.