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

Mr. Seward to Mr. Hale

No. 2.]

Department of State, Washington, September 11, 1865.

Sir: I transmit herewith a copy of a despatch of July 3, from the consul general of the United States at Havana, which is accompanied by a copy of a communication addressed to him by the secretary of the captain general of Cuba, relative to the attachment which the consul general had been instructed to ask might be laid upon the steamers Harriet Lane and Pelican, and upon other property at Havana, belonging to the late rebel government. In consequence of the refusal of the captain general to comply with the consul general’s request, you are instructed to make the matter known to her Catholic Majesty’s government, and to ask that an order may be issued for the delivery of the property in question, or that authority may be given for the institution of legal proceedings for its recovery.

You are also instructed to represent to the Spanish government that the terms employed by Mr. Puig in conveying the captain general’s refusal are not quite courteous, and to express regret that anything should have occurred tending to impair in the slightest degree the good relations which it is so important should continue to exist between her Catholic Majesty’s authorities in the island of Cuba and those of the United States.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

John P. Hale, Esq., &c., &c., Madrid.

Mr. Savage to Mr. Seward

No. 111.]

Consulate General of the United States, Havana, July 3, 1865.

Sir: The captain general has declined to take action in the matter of the attachment asked for by me to be laid upon the steamers Harriet Lane, Pelican, and other property here belonging to the late rebel government. I had a long interview last Saturday with Mr. Vallo y Puig, the secretary, to whom I made known the necessity of prompt action to secure the property, as the parties controlling it were to leave this island within a very few days. He promised to attend to the business immediately, and the result is the letter dated 1st of July, received yesterday morning. Charles J. Helm, Ramsay, Scott, and other rebel agents, will probably take passage in the British mail steamer for St. Thomas on the 6th instant.

I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,

THOMAS SAVAGE, Vice-Consul General.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

[Translation.]

Superior Civil Government of the Ever Faithful Island of Cuba, Secretary’s Office, Political Bureau, Havana, July 1, 1865.

His excellency the governor captain general is informed of the contents of your communication, dated the 27th of June last past, in which you solicit, in the name of your nation, that a writ of attachment be issued upon certain funds which you say belong to the so-called confederate government, which funds, as you state, are in possession of its agents, Mr. Charles J. Helm and Ramsay. You likewise ask that the steamer Harriet Lane, alias Lavinia, and one-half of the steamer Pelican, and the part corresponding to the confederate government in the cargo of cotton of the last-named vessel, amounting, as you say, to the sum of 40,000 dollars, or thereabouts, be attached in the same manner. As you are not invested with any diplomatic character, it does not pertain to you to address, nor to his excellency the superior civil governor to receive, such notes. These questions have to be arranged between the two countries by duly authorized persons, and are resolved upon according to established usage by the law called international.

In consequence of what his excellency has directed me to answer, I have the honor to return the two original communications which accompanied your letter above mentioned.

God preserve you many years.

By order of his excellency the secretary.

JOSE VALLO Y PUIG.

The Consul General Of the United States of America, at Havana.