Mr. Burton to Mr.
Seward
No. 213.]
Legation of the United States,
Bogota, January 18,1866.
Sir: Referring to my number 174, which related
to the firing on the steamer Antioquia in March, 1864, I now have the
honor to enclose the annexed correspondence concerning that occurrence,
in addition to that heretofore submitted.
The true nature of this case will be found more fully stated in a
paragraph of my number 196.
I regret to have to add that I have no expectations that any proceeding
will be taken to punish Señor Berrios.
The assurance given by the secretary in concluding his note D, that he
would notify me of the result of the orders given to the State of
Bolivar, is practically equivalent to saying that he wishes to hear no
more on the subject; for, as no steps will be taken, he will have
nothing to communicate, and will not mention the affair again unless I
call his attention to it, to be answered by a repetition of the
promise.
I have already waited more than a reasonable time, without receiving the
promised notice.
I have honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Burton to Señor Perez
Legation of the United States of
America, Bogota,
September 11,
1865.
The undersigned had the satisfaction to learn from the note of his
excellency, the secretary of the interior and foreign relations of
the United States of Colombia, dated on February 16th, 1865, that
the convenient measures had been taken anew in relation to the
firing into the steamer Antioquia, at Magangue, on March 9,1864, to
which it was his disagreeable duty to call the attention of the
Colombian government by his communications of May 4th, June 4th,
October 15th, 1864, and January 20th, 1865.
Resting assured that the authors and agents of this cruel and
unjustifiable act would receive due punishment, the undersigned has
refrained from further obtruding the matter on the notice of his
excellency. He has, however, lately learned, with painful surprise,
that Señor Julian J. Berrios, the officer who ordered the assault on
that boat, filled for three or four months afterwards the office of
contador general of Bolivar, discharging its duties in the capital
of that State, riding out daily and publicly in the carriage of the
president himself; and, moreover, that he was continued in the
office of governor of Magangue, the scene of his former barbarous
conduct, until November last, and is now going at large unmolested.
The simple statement of these scandalous facts dispenses with all
comment. The undersigned therefore confines himself, in accordance
with the positive orders of his government, to repeating the
expectation that condign punishment will be speedily inflicted on
Señor Berrios, his agents and accomplices.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to his
excellency Señor Perez the assurance of his very high
consideration.
The Secretary of Interior and Foreign
Affairs, of the United States of
Colombia.
Mr. Mathieu to Mr. Burton
No. 25.]
Consulate of the United
States, Cartagena, August 28,
1865.
Sir: In answer to your private note of the
13th instant, I have to report to you officially that Julian J.
Berrios, who, in March, 1864, ordered the steamer Antioquia to be
fired into, [Page 479] has been,
during three or four months, contactor general del estado—that is,
as far as September or October, 1864; that he was appointed governor
of the province of Magangue, and was governor when the late
revolution broke out; and, finally, that he is now in Ocaña, or its
neighborhood. He is called Doctor Berrios, not a pyhsician, but a
lawyer, and was born in that part of the country.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ALBERT MATHIEU, United States
Vice-Consul.
Hon. Allan A. Burton, Bogota.
Extract from a private note.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Nothing has been easier for me to find out than that Julian J.
Berrios was a public employé in Cartagena during three or four
months, and that he was governor of Magangue when the revolution
broke out in November last.
“He is now in Ocaña, or somewhere there. To pretend he cannot be
found is a * * *.
“The man was here last summer, driving almost every day in Mrs. or
Mr. Nieto’s (the president of the State) carriage.
“I understand that some kind of trial took place, but that it was
hushed up, and was merely a farce to cover and protect the man who
ought to have been punished.
“I should not be surprised if you were now answered that he is gone
from Ocaña and cannot be found any more.
“I make you this proposition: give me the order to carry to you this
man, bound hand and foot, and you will have him within two
months.
“I am used to these answers.
“You must only get the authorization from the executive, that I may
take hold of him, and you will see if I do not carry the man to
you.”
* * * * * * * * * *
I am well assured of the truth of the foregoing extract, and
communicate it in confidence to his excellency, the secretary of the
interior and foreign relations.
[Translation.]
Mr. Perez to Mr. Burton,
UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA—DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
AND FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Bogota,
September 19, 1865.
The undersigned, secretary of the interior and foreign relations of
the United States of Colombia, received the communication which the
Hon. Mr. Allan A. Burton did him the honor to address him on the J
lib instant, with the object of putting within the knowledge of the
Colombian government that Señor Julian J. Berrios, commander of the
troops which attacked the steamer Antioquia on the 9th of March,
1864, at Magangue, was, after that event, a public officer in the
State of Bolivar, and in which his honor expresses, at the same
time? the confidence he entertains that said señor will be duly
punished.
In answer, the undersigned informs the honorable Mr. Burton that,
notwithstanding, there has been received at this department the
report, a copy of which accompanies this note, and in which his
honor will see an explanation of the case which led to the cause of
the attack, the executive power, who has a strong desire that the
violators of the national laws shall not escape with impunity, not
deeming the explanation sufficient, has renewed the demand on the
government of Bolivar for the punishment of those guilty of that
act, and asking for the steps that may have been taken to that end;
and, likewise, explanations have been demanded as to Señor Berrios
having been continued in the exercise of public office in that
State, and why he is now found at liberty.
The undersigned will communicate to the Hon. Mr. Burton in due time
the result of these steps, and improves the occasion to renew the
assurances of his distinguished consideration.
Hon. Allan A. Burton, Minister Resident of the United States of America,
[Page 480]
[Translation.]
The Governor of Magangue to
the Secretary General of the
State
UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA—SOVEREIGN STATE OF
BOLIVAR—NUMBER 35.
CARTAGENA.
Your note, No. 148, of the 19th ultimo, including that addressed to
your department by the governor of the province of Baranquilla, has
been read, and, in obedience to the orders written in the margin
thereof, I report as follows:
At the time when the shots were fired at the steamer Antioquia by the
soldiers of the guard stationed on the confines of this place, in
the south of the province, I was confined to my bed by an acute
fever which had prostrated me, and neither saw nor knew anything
that took place on that day; but I was afterwards informed that as
the steamer Antioquia was approaching the point occupied by the
soldiers, the sentinel in due time hailed her repeatedly, without
the captain paying any attention to the call for changing the
movement of the boat, and a white flag was then set up as a notice,
and, nevertheless, the boat kept swiftly on her course, regardless
of everything, although the whole guard were running after her
demanding that she should land, and then go on her way undisturbed.
But the soldiers seeing that she did not check her speed, nor any
sign that indicated it, and seeing, finally, that she was not
inclined to land, but, on the contrary, instead of turning to the
landing, struck towards the opposite shore, which indicated that she
was going out of reach—then the soldiers fired on her, having orders
to that effect from the military commandant in chief, given in
consequence of the steamer Tequendama, or her captain, having made
irritating sport of the authorities of the plaza. So, taking these
things into consideration, it was to be supposed as probable that
the steamer Antioquia was going to imitate what the Tequendama had
done, and thereupon the guard fired into the pilot-house of the
boat, striking it almost in the centre.
The guard had followed the boat a distance of about three hundred and
twenty-five yards from the point where they were stationed before
firing, and it cannot be said that the steamer was seeking a good
landing, for the whole shore from where she was first hailed is a
good landing,
I submit the foregoing as the report which has been demanded of
me.
I am your attentive servant,
ANDRES GUTIERREZ.
April 26.—Return the note No. 35, that it
may be signed by the governor of Magangue.
By the citizen President:
United States of Colombia, sovereign state of Bolivar–Number
43–The governor of the province of Mangangue.
I return to you, signed, the official note which by an oversight,
involuntary, on my part, I left without my signature. I thus answer
your note No. 243, section of government, dated April last,
26th.
I am your attentive servant,
ANDRES GUTIERREZ.
The Secretary General of State,
Cartagena.
May 14.—Let this be filed.
March 10, 1865.
A copy:
M AMADOR FIERRO, Secretary General of
State.
A copy:
ENSPR. DE LA TORRE, Assistant
Secretary.
