Mr. Harvey to Mr. Seward.
Sir:The distant colonial authorities of this government have on various occasions, and in different ways, thrown impediments in the way of our commerce, so as to affect injuriously and unjustly numbers of enterprising merchants, who find themselves without any remedy on the spot, and who have no other mode of redress but by protest against oppressive exactions, and through an appeal to the representative of the United States at Lisbon.
Not wishing to subject the department, which is already sufficiently burdened. with more important affairs, to the necessity of giving instructions in plain cases admitting of little, if any doubt, and in order also to avoid delay, I have, of my own accord, addressed the minister of foreign affairs on these subjects, as they were brought to my notice, and in some instances with the desired effect. Several cases are now pending which involve a simple interpretation of parts of our treaty with Portugal and the commercial rights under it, as they have been defined by usage in his Majesty’s colonies, and by the practice of other nations.
I deem it proper to submit to your inspection the copy of a note which I have just addressed to the Duke de Soule in one of the most important of these cases, which in principle affects a large American interest engaged in legitimate trade with the coast of Africa.
The local authorities are much too often high-handed and arbitrary in their proceedings, and it was quite necessary that his Majesty’s government should know frankly that such was the estimation of their conduct, in order to produce any effect whatever upon their superiors here, who are almost habitually inclined to depreciate the value of these matters.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.