Mr. Nelson to Mr.
Seward.
No. 140.]
Legation of the United States,
Santiago de Chili,
July 11, 1864.
Sir:The 88th anniversary of our independence
was celebrated in this city by all ranks and classes of the people and
by all political parties with a cordiality and unanimity almost, if not
entirely, unprecedented. The whole population seemed to join in the
demonstration, and with a patriotic enthusiasm rarely surpassed in
similar celebrations in our own country, and certainly unparalleled
elsewhere.
At daylight on the 4th instant the bands of the different military
organizations played “Hail Columbia” in front of their barracks instead
of the customary reveille, and at sunrise and at noon salutes were fired
by an American citizen who had obtained permission from the government
for the purpose.
At 7 o’clock the band of the artillery regiment appeared beneath the
windows of the legation and played our national airs. At noon, by order
of the President, every military band in the city, numbering over 200
performers, assembled in front of my residence, and in unison played
“Hail Columbia,” the “Star Spangled Banner,” and the national hymn of
Chili, while an aide-de-camp of his excellency called to tender the
congratulations of the President.
At the same hour, in obedience to a public call, a large mass meeting was
held upon the “Alameda,” or public walk, at the foot of the statue of
General San Martin, where enthusiastic and patriotic addresses
appropriate to the day were delivered by the members of the Society of
the American Union and others; after which, forming a procession, the
members of the Union bearing the flags of all the American republics,
with that of the United States at the head, marched to the legation.
Upon their arrival repeated and enthusiastic cheers burst from the
multitude for the United States, for American independence, for
President Lincoln, &c., &c., &c.Accepting these
manifestations as evidencing the cordial good will
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existing between the republics of Chili
and our own, I briefly addressed the multitude, thanking the government
and people of Chili for this hearty expression of sympathy and respect,
and invited the Society of the American Union, as representatives of
their fellow-citizens, to enter my house, where, during an hour or more,
a pleasant interchange of courtesies took place. I have the honor to
enclose herein a copy of my remarks. (Enclosure A.)
During the day the minister of foreign affairs, the secretary of the
treasury, the President, and secretary of the house, Admiral Blanco, and
a large number of officers of the government, members of Congress,
officers of the army and navy, municipality, &c., and private
citizens, called to pay their respects. The republican members of the
diplomatic corps also called, while those of Europe sent their cards,
and all hoisted their flags in honor of the day.
In the evening the orchestra of the municipal theatre gave a beautiful
serenade at the legation, playing our own national airs and those of
Chili and Peru. These spontaneous manifestations by this government and
people are, I believe, unexampled.
The recent aggressive attitude of various European nations towards the
South American republics has awakened in the latter an interest, and
compelled a study of our own affairs, which have tended to convince them
that their only safety lies in the success of the Union arms and the
reassertion of our integrity and power as a nation. It is a source of
profound congratulation that the eminently wise and prudent course of
the government of the United States in its foreign relations is fully
understood and appreciated by the statesmen, the press, and the people
of Chili.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States.
[Enclosure A. ]
Remarks of Hon.
Thomas H. Nelson, United States Minister Plenipotentiary at
the Legation of the United States in Santiago de
Chili, on
the 4th of July, 1864.
Gentlemen: As the representative of the
government and people of the United States, and as an American
citizen, I am deeply grateful for this spontaneous and unparalleled
demonstration. I thank his excellency the President of the republic
for directing all the military bands of the city to come to this
legation to play the patriotic airs of both North and South America,
and also the leaders and members of those bands for the tasteful
manner in which they performed that duty.
Words cannot express the pleasing emotions excited in the hearts of
my countrymen and in my own by the thrilling music of our national
hymns, “Hail Columbia” and the “Star Spangled Banner,” admirably
played by more than two hundred instruments. We felt that we were no
longer strangers in a distant land, but among friends and brothers,
whose patriotic impulses, hopes, and aspirations were in unison with
our own.
I am deeply grateful for the spirit and enthusiasm I see here
manifested by so many thousands of your patriotic people, and for
the hearty vivas with which you greet the
names of “Washington” and “Lincoln.” It tells me in a voice not to
be misunderstood—that the great heart of Chili is for the Union and
the success of the federal cause. I appreciate the significance of
this ovation and its moral effect, both here and elsewhere. It will
be most gratefully appreciated by the government and people of the
United States, and, above all, it will cheer and encourage the
patriotic soldiers who are perilling their lives upon the
battle-field for the sacred cause of freedom. It will cheer them to
know, that even in the darkest hour of the rebellion, when the life
of the nation seemed to be suspended by a thread, the government and
people of Chili never for one moment faltered in their devotion to
the cause of the Union. Your heartfelt prayers and aspirations have
ever been for the triumph of the federal arms, and the restoration
of our glorious Union.
And now again, in this most unequivocal manner, you have come to this
legation on this the jubilee of American independence, to tender me
your congratulations and sympathies, and to renew your devotion to
those great principles of liberty which form the basis of all free
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governments—principles
which, on this day eighty-eight years ago, in the city of
Philadelphia, were first promulgated to the world. The causes which
inspired the declaration of American independence are stated in the
language of its great author, Thomas Jefferson. He and his
compatriots declared as self-evident truths, that “all men are
created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable
rights; and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness; that for the security of these rights government was
instituted, and that when it violates its trust, the governed might
abolish it.” Repeating the long list of grievances they had borne,
and appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of
their intentions, in the name and by the authority of the people,
the only fountain of legitimate power, they shook off forever their
allegiance to the British crown and proclaimed the United Colonies
a free and independent nation.
That declaration of independence forms a new era in the history of
mankind. It questioned the divine right of kings, shook every throne
in Europe to its base, and taught them that there was a power behind
the throne greater than the throne itself—that the
voice of the people is the voice of God.
That sacred declaration received the baptism of blood. Inspired by
its principles, and led by the immortal Washington, the patriot army
marched forth boldly, and, by the blessing of God, triumphantly.
Our success inaugurated that era of revolutions which resulted in the
emancipation of almost the entire western continent from European
domination. Emulating our example, the Central and South American
republics sprung into existence, and their elder sister, the United
States of America, ushered them into the family of nations.
The origin and principles of government of these republics being
substantially the same, and all founded upon our system, it is
obvious that they must share the same fate, and that they and the
system must stand or fall together. If we, who have tried the
experiment of a free government and popular institutions, under the
most favorable circumstances, fail in the attempt, I shall tremble
for the system throughout the world.
I wonder not, therefore, at the deep anxiety you manifest for the
success of our cause, because it involves the soundness or fallacy
of the principles enunciated in our declaration of independence. It
involves the great problem of human society, whether mankind can be trusted with a purely popular
government—a problem in the solution of which you are as
much interested as the people of the United States.
But, gentlemen of the Union Americana, you
comprehend the magnitude of the contest now progressing in my
country, and the mighty issues at stake. You understand that the
labors, sacrifices, and blood of the patriot heroes of the Union
army have not been expended merely to crush a gigantic rebellion and
restore a discordant Union—not merely to destroy the curse of human
slavery, the cause of all our troubles, but that we are also
struggling for that system of government whose origin we this day
commemorate and on which rest the hopes of the good and wise of
every land. The fate of the great principles which lie at the
foundation of all free republican governments is at stake—man’s
capacity for self-government. The victorious cannon of Grant will
soon solve these questions, finally and forever!
God be praised for the glorious victories in Virginia and Georgia,
and the prospect of an early close of the contest!
The fourth of July, 1863, was rendered memorable by the great
victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg. May we not indulge the hope
that additional lustre will be thrown upon this glorious day by the
capture of Richmond and Atlanta?
When the last mail left New York, millions of exultant voices were
rejoicing over the success of the federal arms, and the certain
triumph of the great cause! Millions of the sons of liberty
throughout the world will soon echo the jubilant shout of Miriam the
prophetess: “Jehovah has conquered; His people are free.”
Soon will the glorious American Union be redeemed and regenerated!
Human slavery is doomed! A wall of living freemen will exclude this
fruitful element of strife, as the cherubim of God kept sin out of
Eden. Soon will European monarchs cease to interest themselves in
American affairs, and learn that two antagonistical systems cannot
permanently exist on this continent. America will
be ruled by Americans, and by its own chosen system of
government.
To maintain and enforce these principles, the soldier of Chili and
the soldier of the United States may yet march side by side to the
battle-field.
The republics of America will be united in strong and indissoluble
bonds of friendship, sympathy, and interest, and upon all great
international questions they will see and think alike, and act as
one people.
Again I return my thanks for this splendid demonstration, and
especially to the patriotic and enthusiastic members of the Union Americana, whose generous and liberal
sentiments, I trust, will soon be practically illustrated.
