[Translation.]
Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward
Mexican Legation in the United
States of America, Washington,
October 20, 1865.
Mr. Secretary: As a proof of the feelings
of the Belgian people in regard to the question now debating on
Mexican soil, I have the honor of transmitting to you, for the
information of the government of the United States, a copy of a
communication I received from the Liberal Union of the Civic Guard
of Liege, dated the 11th of August last, together with a copy of the
resolutions passed the day before by that association, protesting
against the proposal of Lieutenant General Pletincks, commander of
the Civic Guard of Brussels, to erect a monument to the memory of
the Belgians who fell in action at Tacambaro, in the Mexican
republic, on the 11th of April, 1865, “because they lost their lives
in a cause opposed to liberty, and in contradiction to the efforts
the Belgians made in 1830 to gain their independence.”
I also enclose a copy of those resolutions.
I accept this opportunity to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the
assurance of my very distinguished consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Page 560]
[Enclosure No. 1.]
Liberal Union of the Civic
Guard op Liege, Liege,
August 11,
1865.
Sir: We have the honor of transmitting
to you, by another source, a copy of the deliberations of our
association on the tenth of this month, and we respectfully
request you to have them sent to the government of the Mexican
republic Accept our distinguished regards.
The President, L. J. J. LEFEVRE.
The Secretary, G. CLERMONT.
The Secretary, G. Clermont.
Mr. Matias Romero, Minister of the
Mexican Republic in Washington,
[Enclosure No. 2.]
Liberal Union of the Civic Guard
of Liege.
The Liberal Union of the Civic Guard in general assembly
convened, on the 10th of August, 1865, adopted the following
resolutions:
Whereas Lieutenant General Pletincks, commander of the Civic
Guard of Brussels, in a letter of the 1st of August, asked the
concurrence of the civil militia in the erection of a monument
destined to preserve the memory of the Belgians killed at
Tacambaro; and
Whereas, although our fellow-citizens displayed incontestible
courage and bravery, it is not less true that the cause for
which they gave their lives is anti-liberal, and contrary to the
efforts the Belgians made in 1830 to gain their independence;
and
Whereas the Civic Guard, as protectors of democratic and
constitutional institutions, cannot join in a manifestation that
tends to glorify the subjugation of a nation:
Therefore, The Liberal Union protests
against the idea of General Pletincks, and advises all the civic
guards in the kingdom to reject it,
A true extract. By the committee:
The President, L. J. J. LEFEVRE. Corporation Counsellor of the City of
Liege,
The Secretary, G. Clermont, Lieutenant,
Quartermaster of the Third Battalion of the Civic Guard
of Liege,
