[Translation.]
Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward
Mexican Legation to the United
States of America, Washington,
October 24, 1865.
Mr. Secretary: Referring to the notes
which, under date 22d July last and 21st of September following, I
addressed to your department, remittng
[Page 548]
copy of a decree of the Congress of Colombia,
approved 2d May of this year, in which it is declared that the
constitutional president of the Mexican republic “has deserved well of America, for the
abnegation and unconquerable perseverance with which he has defended
the independence of his country,” I have now the honor to enclose to
you a copy of No. 114 of the official paper of the Mexican
government of the 21st September last past, in which is published
the autograph letter that the president of the republic of Colombia
sent with said decree to the constitutional president of the Mexican
republic, the reply of this functionary, and the notes exchanged on
the same subject between the minister of foreign relations of both
governments.
I gladly avail of the opportunity to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the
assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Enclosure No. 1.—Translation.]
From the official paper of Chihuahua No. 114,
September 21, 1865.
Manuel Murillo, president of the
United States of Colombia, to his excellencySeñor Benito
Juarez, president of the United Mexican States:
Great and Good Friend: I have the honor
to remit to you, in duly authenticated copy, the decree of the
2d May last, passed by the Congress of the United States of
Colombia in your honor.
In sending you this legislative act, testimonial of the respect
and consideration with which your conduct has inspired the
people and the government of Colombia, let me be allowed to
express to you my own admiration of your virtues, and of the
good example which you have given.
You will see in this decree a pledge of the sympathies that this
people has maintained for yours, and the fraternal interest with
which it has watched every one of your efforts in favor of the
dignity and autonomy of the United Mexican States.
Accept, sir, the sentiments of distinguished consideration and
respect with which I am your good friend,
M. MUKILLO.
The Secretary of the Interior and of Foreign Relations, Antonio del Real.
Given at
Bogota, June 15,
1865.
[Enclosure No. 2.—Reply.]
Benito Juarez, president of the
United Mexican States, to his excellency Señor Manuel
Murillo, president of the United States of
Colombia:
Great and Good Friend: With your letter
of 15th June of this year you have pleased to send me a copy of
the decree of 2d May last, passed by the Congress of the United
States of Colombia, making declarations of its kind sentiments
in my favor, and directing a portrait of me to be placed in the
national library of that republic.
This honor which the Congress of Colombia has designed to do me I
receive with so much the more gratitude the more I think I do
not merit it. I have done nothing but my duty, which for the
public functionary, as for the private citizen, is the most
sacred in periods of disaster to the country.
Inspired by their kind feelings, the Congress of Colombia has
deigned to regard my conduct with kindness, and I ask you to
please to manifest to it the sincere expression of my respect
and profound acknowledgments. In high degree I thank you also
for your own sentiments, in which you have assured me at the
same time of the sympathy and fraternal interest of the people
and government of Colombia with the cause of the Mexican
republic. My gratitude will be a new motive to me ever to make
the sincerest prayers for your welfare, and for the increasing
prosperity of the people and government of the United States of
Colombia.
Deign to accept, sir, the very distinguished consideration and
respect with which I am your good friend,
BENITO JUAREZ.
The minister of foreign relations,
[l.s.]
S. Lerdo de Tejada.
Paso del Norte, September 9,
1865.
[Enclosure No. 3.—Translation.]
U. S. of Colombia,
Department of the Interior and Foreign Affairs,
Bogota,
June 15,
1865.
The undersigned, secretary of the interior and foreign affairs of
the United States of Colombia, has the honor to transmit to your
excellency an authenticated copy of the autograph letter which
the citizen president of this republic addresses, under this
date, to the most excellent Señor Benito Juarez, president of
the United States of Mexico, transcribing to him the decree
issued by the national Congress on the 2d of May last, and in
compliance with which the portrait of the most excellent Señor
Juarez shall be preserved in the national library as a homage to
his virtues, and an example to growing generations of
Colombia.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to present to
your excellency the assurances of the very high consideration
with which he has the honor to be your excellency’s obedient
servant,
His Excellency the Secretary of Foreign
Affairs Of the United States of Mexico, &c.,
&c., &c.
[Enclosure No, 4.—Translation.]
Mexican Republic, Department
of Foreign Affairs and of Government, Paso del
Norte,
September 9,
1865.
The undersigned, minister for foreign affairs of the Mexican
republic, has the honor to communicate to his excellency Señor
Antonio del Real, the minister of the interior and foreign
affairs of the United States of Colombia, that he has received
his note of the 15th of June of this year, with which he was
pleased to transmit to him a copy of the autograph letter, and
the dispatch which contained it, addressed by the most excellent
Señor president of Colombia to the citizen president of the
Mexican republic, transmitting to him the decree of the 2d of
May last, which the Congress of Colombia passed in his honor. At
the same time the undersigned has the honor to transmit to his
excellencySeñor del Real an authenticated copy of the letter of
reply, together with the despatch which contains it, addressed
by the citizen president of this republic to the most excellent
Señor president of the United States of Colombia.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to protest to his
excellency the Señor minister of foreign affairs of Colombia the
assurance of his most distinguished consideration.
His Excellency Señor Antonio del Real,
Minister of the Interior and of Foreign Affairs of the
U. S. of Colombia, &c.
