Mr. Seward to Mr. Koerner.

No. 58.]

Sir:Your despatch of October 24, No. 59, has been received, and I give you my sincere thanks for the fidelity with which, as it seems to me, you have fixed upon a permanent plate the political scene now passing at the Court of Madrid,

The idle calumny that the United States have stirred up and are giving aid to the revolutionary movements now occurring in the island of San Domingo would not be thought worthy of notice if it had not been presented to me by Mr. Tassara. I give you, for your information, a copy of the correspondence which has been held on that subject between him and this department. I am further not unwilling to have an occasion to let it be known to Spain, as well as to other nations, how faithfully we practice the duties, as well as assert the rights, of a sovereign state. The United States neither contrive, nor aid, nor encourage, nor mix themselves up in civil or international wars of other nations. [Page 5] They submit their record on this matter to the examination of the world, and challenge contradictions of its verity. You may express y0ourself to this effect, and even to this extent, if occasion should arise in your conversations with the Marquis of Miraflores.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Gustavus Koerner, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Madrid.