Mr. Nelson to Mr.
Seward.
No. 254.]
Legation of the United States,
Santiago de Chili,
March 12, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that his
excellency the president of the republic of Chili having appointed this
day at 1½ p. m. for my public audience of leave, and the reception of my
successor, he despatched an aide-de-camp at that hour to tender to
General Kilpatrick and myself the state carriage, to convey us to the
palace. We proceeded there, accompanied by the incoming and outgoing
secretaries of legation, General Edwin F. Cook and Charles S. Rand;
General David Vickers, Commodore John Rodgers, Mr. Bush, chaplain; Dr.
Peck, fleet surgeon; Mr. Talfree, paymaster; and Mr. Ludlow, ensign of
the United States navy.
We found the approaches to the palace filled with gentlemen, and the
halls and staircases equally packed with a dense crowd, who cheered the
United States and their representatives loudly and repeatedly. We were
met upon the first landing by Mr. Arteaga, the assistant secretary of
state, and by him conducted to the state department, where I had the
honor of presenting General Kilpatrick to Mr. Covarrubias, minister of
foreign relations. After a few minutes of conversation, we were ushered
into the government hall, or reception room, and were received by his
excellency the president, who wore the insignia of office, and by his
cabinet.
Upon presenting my letter of recall, I addressed the president the
remarks a copy of which forms enclosure A, herewith. His excellency
replied, (B,) and at the conclusion of his address I presented General
Kilpatrick, (C,) who in turn addressed the president, and delivered to
him his letter of credence, (D,). The official portion of the ceremony
was then closed by the reply of his excellency to General Kilpatrick,
(E;) after which I severally introduced the other gentlemen who had
accompanied us. After a brief general conversation, we withdrew, being
escorted to our several residences with the same courtesy as before.
During the proceedings and on our withdrawal repeated and enthusiastic
cheers for the United States government and people were given by the
immense crowd, filling the hall to its utmost capacity.
I have the honor to transmit herewith, marked A, B, C, D, and E, copies
and translations of the remarks made upon the occasion of this ceremony,
and to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
A.
Remarks of Mr. Nelson to
the President of Chili on presenting his
letter of recall, March 12, 1866.
Mr. President: I am now about to perform my
last official duty as envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary of the United States of America near the government
of the republic of Chili. It is to place in the hands of your
excellency the letter of the President of
[Page 384]
the United States recalling me to my own
country, in which I am instructed to convey to your excellency the assurance of the sincere wish of my
government to strengthen the friendly intercourse now happily
subsisting between the two governments, and its desire to secure to
the people of the two republics a continuance of the benefits
resulting from that intercourse.
I am aware, sir, that there existed not remotely an alienation
between our respective people, founded partly upon an imperfect
appreciation of our sentiments, partly upon errors and prejudices
peculiar to themselves, and yet not altogether without fault on our
part; an alienation temporary in its character, and which I rejoice
to know has yielded to a better knowledge of the government and
people of the United States, and of the sincerity of our cordial
interest in the integrity of this and all our sister republics.
It has been my duty as well as my highest pleasure, both personally
and officially, to endeavor to remove every cause of complaint, to
soften prejudices, correct false impressions, and to place our
government and people in their true attitude; an attitude more
elevated than one of merely commercial or conventional amity,
fraternal in no mere diplomatic meaning of that word, and thoroughly
American in the broad, liberal, and continental sense of that term.
Upon the great question of European intervention in American
affairs, there has ever been an entire harmony of views and opinions
between us. No truth can be more self-evident than that two
antagonistical systems cannot permanently exist upon this continent.
America will be ruled by Americans, and
by its own chosen system of government. In a contest involving the
safety of the ark of our liberties, the government and people of the
United States will not, cannot remain indifferent spectators, but
will firmly maintain our traditional policy—a policy dear to every
true American heart—peaceably if possible, forcibly if necessary. We
cannot consistently consent to the permanent subjugation of any of
the independent states of this continent to European powers, nor to
the exercise of a protectorate over them, nor to any other direct
political influence to control their policy or institutions.
Mr. President, soon after I entered upon the duties of my office I
had the honor to declare to your excellency that I would present no
question, urge no demand upon this government, which did not
irresistibly commend itself to my clearest perceptions of right and
justice. Your excellency best knows whether the pledge has been
faithfully and conscientiously performed. It is to me and to my
government a source of profound gratification, that every diplomatic
discussion has been conducted in a spirit of fairness and frankness,
and with an earnest desire to arrive at just conclusions; that every
claim I have presented has been promptly adjusted, and that every
request has been cheerfully granted. The relations between our
respective governments and people have never been so cordial as at
this moment, nor have we ever been so strongly united in friendship,
sympathy, and interest.
During our fierce struggle for national existence, we cannot forget
that Chili was our first and best friend. No government on earth
occupied a position so distinct and unequivocal. You rejoiced with
us in all our triumphs, and mourned with us over our illustrious
dead. When the immortal Lincoln fell the whole nation was in tears.
And now that the dark cloud of war has been lifted from our border
and fallen upon this the most peaceful and prosperous of all the
Spanish-American republics, it is but natural that our feelings and
sympathies should be strongly enlisted in your behalf. I labored
long and earnestly to bring about a pacific solution of the
questions in dispute, and to avert the calamity of war, upon terms
alike honorable to both parties. It was not the fault of this
government that that end was not reached by the peaceful paths of
diplomacy. But the terrible issue of war has been tendered and
accepted, and may God defend the right.
It only remains for me, in closing my mission, to return to your
excellency, and through you to the people of Chili, my heartfelt
thanks for the innumerable courtesies and attentions that have been
lavished upon me ever since my arrival in your country. I will carry
with me and cherish to the latest hour of my life the memory of the
liberal hospitality, the generous, open-hearted friendship of the
people of Chili. It is my earnest prayer and confident belief that
the proud position of this beautiful republic in the family of
nations, won by the wisdom of her statesmen and the heroism of her
sons, may ever be maintained; that her national honor may never be
sullied, and that she may ever remain a monument of true liberty,
wisdom, and progress, on which the world may gaze with admiration
forever.
B.
[Translation.]
Reply of the President of Chili
to Mr. Nelson.
Mr. Minister: Your words have flattered and
profoundly moved me. I find in them another evidence of that spirit
of sincere friendship, conciliation, and loyalty, of that excellent
and noble spirit which you have invariably displayed in the
fulfilment of your mission near my government.
The convictions which you have just expressed, with equal urgency and
accuracy, in regard to the destiny and institutions of this
continent, are, as you well know, the convictions of the people and
government of Chili.
[Page 385]
This fraternity of ideas has not been sterile for you. You have
succeeded in converting it into a practical and fruitful fact,
awaking among us a cordial sentiment of sympathy and admiration
towards the great republican nation you have so worthily
represented.
Go, then. Mr. Minister, with the confidence that you leave in this
republic the most grateful and permanent memories of your residence
therein.
May God grant you a prosperous voyage, so that you may go and assure
your government and fellow-citizens that Chili will ever be a
faithful friend to the United States, and that in the contest to
which she has been unjustly provoked she is resolved to perish or to
demonstrate a second time that she is worthy to be a free republic
and independent country.
C.
Remarks of Mr. Nelson to
the President of Chili on introducing
General Kilpatrick.
Mr. President: I have the honor to present
to your excellency Major General Judson Kilpatrick, as envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of
America, and in doing so I bespeak for him, from your excellency and
the people of Chili, that consideration which is due to his eminent
abilities, his exalted position, and his brilliant services in the
cause of republican liberty.
D.
Remarks of Major General Judson Kilpatrick,
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United
States to Chili, on his
presentation to the President of Chili.
Mr. President: I have the honor to present
my credentials as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
of the United States of America, and in doing so I beg leave to say
to your excellency, and through you to the people of Chili, that it
shall be my constant study to maintain the friendly relations
heretofore existing, and now stronger than ever before, between the
republics of Chili and the United States.
I am now and ever shall be the warm, true, and uncompromising friend
of republican institutions and of a republican form of government,
the only one under which men should ever consent to live. Therefore,
I need not tell you that my mission to this country is to me a most
agreeable one.
Fresh from the great struggle for national existence at home, where
not only the life of the nation, but liberty itself, was the stake
for which we fought, I, in common with the people of the United
States, do not forget that during that dark and trying hour, in
sympathy and true friendship first of all nations stood Chili. This
was not only well known, but acknowledged and published to the world
in the last annual message of the immortal Lincoln to the Congress
of the United States. Therefore we watch, with no ordinary interest,
all questions that may affect favorably or otherwise your young
republic, so like our own in political institutions and form of
government.
My distinguished predecessor, who leaves you with regret, while
faithfully discharging his entire duty to his government, has at the
same time won for himself and his people the respect and love of
your whole body of citizens, and I trust that I shall be equally
fortunate, and that my stay in Chili will result in much good to
both nations.
In conclusion, let me express my heartfelt desire that your present
difficulties with Spain may speedily terminate honorably to
yourselves, and, if possible, without further bloodshed, and that
the future of Chili may be all that her past has been, prosperous
and free, uniting with us in all that relates to the welfare of man,
and second to none in the family of nations.
E.
[Translation.]
Reply of the President of Chili
to General Kilpatrick.
Mr. Minister: I accept with lively
satisfaction the sympathetic manifestation which you have just made
of your sentiments. Animated as you are with the same elevated
spirit as your worthy predecessor, you cannot fail to obtain the
same result reached by him, the maintaining and fortifying the
cordial intelligence and earnest friendship happily reigning between
the United States and the republic of Chili. It will ever be one of
my most agreeable and preferent duties to co-operate in the
maintaining of relations which are particularly dear to this
country.
This has been very clearly revealed in the friendly solicitude with
which it followed the vicissitudes of the late civil war in your
country, whose happy conclusion has proved the
[Page 386]
vigor and excellence of free and
republican institutions, for which Chilians profess a sincere love
and profound adhesion.
An eloquent testimony of this republican sentiment is the present
war, in which Chili has been involved much against her will by the
unjustifiable aggressions of an offensive and threatening policy
against the integrity of American republics, formerly colonies of
the Spanish monarchy.
When we see ourselves accompanied in this struggle by the generous
wishes of hearts like yours, Mr. Minister, we feel our confidence
growing stronger of a triumph in the just cause now sustained by
four republics.
