Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth Congress

[Extract.]

Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward

No. 161.]

Legation of the United States, Madrid, January 31, 1865.

Sir: The debates in the Spanish senate, which have run over a period of about twenty days, have been unusually interesting.

On the question of the reply to the Queen’s speech, senators of the opposition have taken occasion to review the whole policy of the government.

Attacked on the questions of the abandonment of Santo Domingo, and the plan for the relief of the treasury by the adherents of O’Donnell, with that leader at the head, and on the queston of the enciclical letter of the Pope and general-policy of ministers toward Rome and Italy by the new Catholic orators, I have rarely witnessed a debate in which there has been more vigor and persistence shown in the attack, or a cooler and more solid ability displayed in the defence. The orators of the government have had the best of the argument on every point, but the struggle has been severe.

The name of the United States has been used as a bug-bear by the orators of the opposition, who claimed that the occupation of Santo Domingo by the Spaniards was the only way of averting the annexation of Dominica to the United States, and the consequent rum of Spanish interests in the West Indies. The Duke of La Torre, the same captain general of Cuba who made the arrangement with the Dominican general, Santara, was the loudest in this argument.

The Marquis of Valdeterrazo, minister of Spain to London in 1860, made the declaration of which I enclose a translation.

The Marquis of the Habana, (General Concha,) who has been twice captain general of Cuba, and is now out with O’Donnell, defended the policy of abandonment, and said that the United States had long ago refused the annexation of Dominica, (referring to the Cazneau treaty,) and that Spain had taken them up only after they had been refused by other powers.

The Duke of La Torre (General Servaro) spoke strongly in favor of a declaration by Spain that the slave trade is piracy, and wanted steps to be immediately taken for the abolition of slavery in Cuba.

The Marquis of Havana desired the extinction of slavery, but preferred measures like those which Brazil had taken to suppress the slave trade, and which had been sucessful in two years.

He said that if there were anything to be apprehended from the side of the United States, or from any quarter, as a military man he must say that he thought the policy of Spain ought to be to consecrate her power as much as possible; and the possession of Santo Domingo added no strength to Spain but was a decided source of weakness. The resources of Cuba were uselessly employed in Santo Domingo, and they might be needed in that island itself. * *

The debate was closed last evening, and the reply to the Queen’s speech being put to the vote, passed the senate by a vote of 102 for and 58 against the policy of the government.

This is not a direct vote upon the bill for the abandonment of San Domingo; this bill not being before the senate but before the lower house, to come up afterwards to the senate; but the question is thus already debated and settled indirectly, so far as the senate is concerned, the house having done little eels except to adjourn over from day to day to give the members an opportunity to be present at the senate debates, and allow ministers also to be all present in the upper house.

This great trial of parliamentary strength over, all the interest now centres in the lower house, and the senate adjourns over to allow ministers to be all present in the other house, as well as the senators themselves.

But the question of San Domingo is already prejudged, and the bill for the abandonment is already virtually carried by the government.

* * * * * * * * *

With sentiments of the highest respect, I remain, sir, your obedient servant,

HORATIO J. PERRY.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington.

[Translation.]

A mistake has been made in saying that the United States have made a treaty of annexation with Santo Domingo. This is not the fact.

When I was in London I was authorized by the government of her Majesty to occupy myself in this question, all the necessary facilities being conceded to me to engage not only the English government but also the French, to associate with the Spanish government to carry out a demonstration to be made in the bay of Samana. Being authorized in this way, I conferred with the English government on the serious damage which would be caused by the occupation of the bay of Samana by the Anglo American government.

The English government understood it in this light, but did not wish to bind itself unless the French government associated itself also. I addressed myself to the latter, making a full explanation of the evils, the inconveniences, and the damage which the commerce of the three nations would receive if the United States should found an establishment or raise a fortification in that harbor. The French government understood the gravity of the question, associated itself with the English and Spanish governments, and the result was that the three made a demonstration towards the bay of Samana, at the same time giving instructions to their representatives at Washington to manifest the displeasure which the three governments would feel if the treaty of which we had advice, but whose tenor was not known, should be carried into effect.

The English government some time after, having given the necessary orders for the uniting of the maritime forces of the three powers with the above-named object, obtained the first copy of this treaty, which it remitted to the government of her Majesty.

In this treaty the annexation was not established; that which was alone established was the right to raise a fortification and to found a national establishment in the bay of Samana by means of a compensation and other services to the republic of Santo Domingo. For this reason the Duke de la Torre said very opportunely that the occupation of Samana is highly important, and that the Spanish government should not abandon a post of so much value, not only for the governments of England and France, but much more for the interests of Spain. In this I agree with the Duke de La Torre, and I say to the ministers that the abandonment of Santo Domingo is a danger; and I also say to the ministers that they ought to consider well to what an extent the security of our provinces beyond sea is compromised by the abandonment of Santo Domingo. The government is still in time to avoid the evils and consequences which this measure may produce; and let it not be said that this is but an echo, for in order to defend Porto Rico and the island of Cuba, more expense will have to be borne than is necessary to preserve Santo Domingo.