Mr. Clay to Mr.
Seward.
No. 54.].
Legation of the United States at the
Republic of Honduras,
Tegucigalpa,
November 26, 1865.
Sir: I herewith enclose to you a copy of the
translation of a note addressed to me by the minister of state of this
republic and my answer thereto.
You will perceive that he uses the words constitutional provisional
president, which appear to me to involve an inconsistency. Referring the
matter, however, to your better judgment,
I have the honor to be, respectfully yours,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Page 528]
[Translation.]
Mr. Cruz to Mr. Clay.
Comayagua,
November 8, 1865.
Sir: The undersigned, minister of state,
received and informed his Excellency the President of the republic
of your despatch of the 23d of last October, in which you advise him
of having received instructions of your government not to recognize
the provisional President of Honduras, in case of the adoption of a
new constitution by the congress assembled in this capital, and in
consequence not to take any action in this connection until the
proposed reform should be officially effected.
The supreme government of Honduras, being informed of the same, has
ordered a copy of the new constitution of the republic, which has
been published (promulgado) to the nation for
its exact observation, to be sent to you.
Further, it is requested of your excellency to transmit to the
Department of State in Washington the enclosed paper: the
publication of the new constitution, (carta,)
the constitutional nomination of a provisional President, and the
approaching election of a President, who on the first Sunday in
December should become in possession (propriedad.)
Thus, the reform to which the instructions communicated to your
excellency allude are fully consummated in such a manner that the
new order of things enjoys (gosa) a
legitimacy and advantages generally acknowledged in the whole
nation.
Notwithstanding what is said, and willing as the undersigned minister
has been to attend to the pending claim of the abandonment of the
sloop Muhlenberg in the port of Ruatan, we hope an explicit answer
of you. Do you admit or not the power of the constitutional
provisional President, who actually is in the exercise or power of
the executive of the republic of Honduras?
With sentiments of renewed respect to your excellency, and my
protestations of high respect and appreciation, I subscribe myself
your attentive servant,
Thomas H. Clay, Esq., Minister Resident, &c.
Mr. Clay to Mr. Cruz.
Legation of the United States at
the Republic of Honduras,
Tegucigalpa,
November 25, 1865.
Sir: The minister resident of the United
States at the republic of Honduras acknowledges the receipt of the
note of the minister of state, under date of November 8, 1865.
The copy of the new constitution of the republic of Honduras,
transmitted to the minister resident with the request that it should
be sent to the Department of State at Washington, will be forwarded,
as desired, by courier.
As it is no part of his duty or business to define or discuss the
powers of a provisional President, he has simply to refer the
minister of state to his note of the 23d of October last, which
contains his instructions from the Department of State of the United
States.
With sentiments of the highest consideration, he subscribes himself
the minister’s attentive servant,
Francisco Cruz, Esq., &c., &c.,
&c.
