[Extract.]
Mr. Otterbourg to Mr. Seward
No. 2.]
Legation of the United States,
City of Mexico,
July 29, 1867.
Sir: Major Robinson and Mr. Emile La Sere,
bearers of despatches, delivered to me on the 23d instant a telegram
dated on the 21st of June, advising me of my appointment as United
States minister near the republic of Mexico. Informed of the contents of
the despatches long announced, I directed to Mr. Lerdo, minister of
foreign relations, a note of which enclosure No. 1 is the copy, followed
by the correspondence, enclosures Nos. 2, 3, and 4.
In consequence of a meeting held with the French minister, and the
charges of Belgium and Italy, on the subject of their notes to me,
enclosures Nos. 5, 6, and 7, I touched in a conversation with Mr. Lerdo
upon the propriety of granting passports and security on the roads to
these representatives. He remarked privately, in return, that should I
address him an official note on the matter, he would, in his reply,
treat my intervention in terms of respect, but would require those
gentlemen to direct themselves to the minister of foreign relations in
acknowledgment of a government which the Emperor Napoleon had in 1861
declared did not exist in Mexico, and to which the representatives of
European powers had now to appeal in order to leave the country. Mr.
Lerdo was careful to impress me with the fact, that though not moved by
a spirit of provocation, he would insist on a manifestation of the
respect due to his government.
The reply, enclosure No. 8, was addressed to each of the representatives
who had solicited my good offices, on my retirement from this interview.
Nos. 9, 10, 11, and 12, are copies of a correspondence between the
French and Belgian representatives and myself, in regard to the
protection of the United States solicited by them in favor of subjects
of their respective nations, residents of Mexico.
This matter having been discussed in the public prints, to avoid
misrepresentation, I found it necessary to inform orally the minister
for foreign affairs of the terms under which, until the department could
have instructed me on the subject, I had consented to serve as a medium
of communication in behalf of foreigners, who had no agent of their
country near the government of Mexico. I had intentionally deferred
hitherto any notification on the point to the minister, in the
expectation of receiving from Washington instructions which might enable
me to take a position highly advantageous in the future, on treating of
subjects involving like principles, nor did I wish to influence, by any
question, towards an unfavorable decision of the government upon the
application of foreign representatives for their passports.
The complications threatening from this cause have been happily obviated
by the minister’s concession of their passports to the representatives
of France, Italy, and Belgium, and these gentlemen take their departure
at the beginning of August. * * * * *
A protest against the seizure of General Santa Anna from on board of a
vessel bearing the United States flag, with a request that the same
should be presented to the government, has been received at this
legation. This request has not been acceded to, since the instructions
in the matter, reported by the same party to be sent from the
department, have not as yet arrived, for doubt as to the facts in
General Santa Anna’s case, and of the views of our government thereon,
and, in order to gain time in the event of his sentence, I expressed a
hope to the minister that the judicial proceedings might be transmitted
to the capital for revision. The President, it appears, has no authority
to subject the cause to revision, though, as he may suspend the
execution of the sentence, our government can interfere officially
should the dignity of our flag or integrity of our commercial interests
require any action on the part of the United States.
[Page 440]
General O’Horan, late political prefect, was apprehended and brought,
despite the decree ordering the immediate execution of those who had not
presented themselves, to the city. It is now said that he is to be
subjected to a trial, and must be shot if the law be carried into
effect. My position in regard to this gentleman is very delicate,
inasmuch as the American community is greatly indebted to the late
prefect for many acts of kindness and attention during the period of
General Marquez’s rule. I shall, therefore, use every exertion,
consistent with my position as a representative of the United States, to
save General O’Horan’s life, and to manifest the full measure of
gratitude to which he is entitled as the friend of Americans through the
crisis of the siege of Mexico,
The organization of the several departments of administration makes but
slow progress; it would be premature, therefore, to attempt to indicate
what will be the policy of the government before the nomination of those
who must by their positions influence the conduct of the cabinet.
The want of means to meet the expenses of the country will prove the most
formidable difficulty to be encountered and overcome by the government.
Enclosures Nos. 14 and 15 furnish translations of President Juarez’s
proclamation of the 15th instant on the occasion of his entrance into
the capital, and of the address of Mr. Lerdo, minister of foreign
relations, pronounced at the banquet given on the night of the same
occasion to the President, ministers, &c, by General Porfirio Diaz
and others, to which I was, as consul of the United States, the only
foreign agent invited.
The Prussian minister, Baron Magnus, remains yet at San Luis Potosi,
whither he retired after the execution of Maximilian. He is reported to
be seriously ill in consequence of the impression left upon his mind by
the scene of which he had been a personal witness.
Baron Lago, Austrian chargé d’ affaires, through fear of uniting in
action with the French minister, whose friendship at this moment
promises but little advantage, has withdrawn from the capital without a
passport.
The British chargé Mr. Middleton, awaits instructions from his government
before he can take any decided step which shall influence his relations
with the republic.
The Marquis de la Rivera has been elevated to the dignity of counsellor
of state to her Catholic Majesty the Queen of Spain, and been relieved
as minister to Mexico.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Otterbourg to Mr. Lerdo
Legation oF the UniteD States,
Mexico,
July 24, 1867.
The undersigned has the honor to inform his excellency the minister
of foreign relations, Sebastain Lerdo, that he has received from his
government a commission naming him envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary of the United States of America near the government
of the republic of Mexico.
The undersigned avails himself of the occasion to express to his
excellency the minister of foreign relations the assurances of his
most distinguished consideration.
MARCUS OTTERBOURG, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the U. S. of
America.
His Excellency D. Sebastian Lerdo de
Tejada,
Minister of Foreign Relations of the
Government of Mexico.
[Page 441]
[Translation.]
Señor S. Lerdo de Tejada to
Mr. Otterbourg
Department of Foreign Relations,
Mexico,
July 24, 1867.
I had the honor to receive your note of to-day, informing me that you
had received a commission from your government naming you envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of
America near the government of the republic of Mexico.
It will be gratifying to the President of the republic to receive you
in your character of representative of the United States of America;
and I hope that you will communicate to me that you are prepared to
present to him your credentials, in order that he may designate the
day that he may be able to receive you. I avail myself of this
occasion, Mr. Minister, to assure you of my very distinguished
consideration.
His Excellency Mr. Marcus Otterbourg,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the U. S. of America near the government
of the United Mexican States.
Mr. Otterbourg to Señor Lerdo de Tejada
Legation of the United States,
Mexico,
July 25, 1867.
The undersigned, in reply to the note dated the 24th instant of his
excellency Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, minister for foreign affairs
of the government of the United Mexican States, has the honor to
say, that in compliance with instructions from his government, he
has at once proceeded to perform the duties of envoy and minister of
the United States before his credentials shall have been received
from Washington.
The undersigned regrets, therefore, that he cannot for the moment
exhibit any document Other than a commission signed by the President
of the United States, which shall enable him to defer to the desire
of the President of the republic to receive him officially upon
credentials accrediting his mission of envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of the United States near the government of
the United Mexican States.
The undersigned avails himself of the occasion to renew to his
excellency the minister for foreign affairs the assurances of his
most distinguished consideration.
MARCUS OTTERBOURG, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the U. S. of
America.
His Excellency Sebastian Lerdo de
Tejada,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Government
of the United Mexican States.
[Translation.]
Señor Lerdo de Tejada to
Mr. Otterbourg
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico,
July 25, 1867.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your
communication of to-day in reply to that I addressed to you
yesterday.
In your note you have been pleased to make known to me your regret in
not being able to present at present your credentials to the
President of the republic, as envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary of the United States of America near the republic of
Mexico, because you have not yet received them from Washington.
As I had already the honor to say to you yesterday, it will be
gratifying to the President of the republic to receive you in your
character of representative of the United States of America when you
may be pleased to communicate to me that you are ready to present to
him your credentials.
I avail myself of the occasion, sir, to assure you of my very
distinguished consideration.
Mr. Marcus Otterbourg,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the U. S. of America.
[Page 442]
Mr. Otterbourg to M. Dano
Legation of the United States,
Mexico,
July 24, 1867.
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note in which
you request me, in view of your early departure for Vera Cruz, to
extend to French subjects in Mexico the protection of the government
of the United States.
The cordial relations existing between the United States and France,
and the assurance derived from different conversations with the
Mexican authorities that the rights of foreigners in person and
property would be respected, enable me to accept the office of
mediator between those authorities and French subjects, whenever,
under circumstances equal to those in which it should be exerted in
favor of citizens of the United States, my mediation might be
invoked by the subjects of France.
In regard to the clerks, whose assistance you propose, on account of
the large French population in Mexico, I beg that you will leave me
at liberty to call for their services should at any time it become
necessary.
The archives of the French legation, deposited the 11th instant in
the consulate of the United States, for which I enclose a receipt,
are transferred to the legation, and the official certificate of
original deposit and transfer shall be, as you desire, transmitted
to your excellency.
Copies, not only of these documents but also of your excellency’s
communication, shall, in deference to your request for protection to
French subjects, be forwarded to the Department of State at
Washington.
I avail myself of the occasion to express to your excellency the
assurances of my distinguished consideration.
MARCUS OTTERBOURG, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the U. S. of
America.
His Excellency A. Dano,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the
French, Mexico.
[Translation.]
M. Dano to Mr. Otterbourg
Legation of France to
Mexico, No. 2, Mexico,
July 17, 1867.
Mr. Consul: My intention is to quit Mexico
in a few days and to travel towards the Gulf, to embark at Vera
Cruz, with all the agents placed under my orders.
I also propose to bring after me, or send before me, according to
circumstances, a convoy of 200 French, more or less, consisting of
men, women, and children, who have no resources in this country, and
wish to return to France.
I do not know what formalities are to be observed in carrying out my
proposal, and as I have no relations with the Mexican authorities, I
take the liberty to ask your friendly intervention to enable me to
effect my purpose as soon as possible.
Accept my thanks in advance, Mr. Consul, and believe in my
affectionate sentiments.
ALPHONSE DANO, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the Emperor of the
French.
Mr. Marcus Otterbourg,
Consul of the United States.
M. Curtopassi to Mr. Otterbourg
Legation of Italy,
Mexico,
July 17, 1867.
Mr. Consul: My intention is to quit Mexico
in a few days and to travel towards the Gulf, to embark at Vera
Cruz.
I do not know what formalities are to be observed, and, as I have no
relations with the Mexican authorities, I take the liberty to ask
your friendly intervention to enable me to effect my purpose as soon
as possible.
Accept my thanks in advance, with the assurance of my distinguished
consideration.
TH. CURTOPASSI, Chargé d’ Affaires of
Italy.
Mr. Marcus Otterbourg,
United States Consul in Mexico.
[Page 443]
M. Hooricks to Mr. Otterbourg
Legation of Belgium,
Mexico,
July 14, 1867.
Mr. Consul: My intention is to quit Mexico
in a few days and to travel towards the Gulf, to embark at Vera
Cruz.
I do not know what formalities are to be observed in carrying out my
proposal, and, as I have no relations with the Mexican authorities,
I take the liberty to ask your friendly intervention to enable me to
effect my purpose as soon as possible.
Accept, Mr. Consul, the assurances of my most distinguished
consideration.
FREDERIC HOORICKS, Chargé d’Affaires of
his Majesty the King of the Belgians.
Mr. Marcus Otterbourg,
United States Consul in Mexico.
Mr. Otterbourg to M. Dano
Legation of the United States in
Mexico,
Mexico,
July 23, 1867.
Mr. Minister: In reply to the request you
made of me, on the 17th instant, according to custom, for
information respecting formalities to be observed in quitting
Mexico, I have the honor to inform you that I learn from Mr. Lerdo
de Tejada himself that your object cannot be obtained without
addressing him directly.
Accept, Mr. Minister, the assurance of my distinguished
consideration.
MARCUS OTTERBOURG, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America in
Mexico.
His Excellency M. Alphonse Dano,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of France in Mexico.
M. Dano to Mr. Otterbourg
Legation of France to Mexico,
No. 1, Mexico,
July 12, 1867.
Mr. Consul: The Emperor Napoleon having
determined to recall his agents from Mexico, and my intention being
to leave as soon as possible for Vera Cruz. I have the honor to
request you to take the subjects of his Majesty temporarily under
the protection of the government of the United States, which you so
ably represent.
According to the verbal agreement with you, I send six boxes,
containing the archives of my legation, together with the proof of
the burning of all political documents for the years 1860, 1861,
1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, and 1867, up to this date.
You will please draw up a certificate of deposit of the
last-mentioned document, so that its existence may be proved without
doubt in any emergency. I will call at your office any time you may
fix to sign that certificate.
The relations that exist between France and the United States are
sufficiently cordial to induce us to hope the measure will be
approved by our governments.
As the French are numerous in this city, to save you labor I can send
two clerks from my office to aid you. Under your direction, those
clerks can draw up the same certificates they made out under me.
Accept, Mr. Consul, the assurance of my very distinguished
consideration as well as my sincere thanks.
ALPHONSE DANO, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of France.
M. Hooricks to Mr. Otterbourg
Belgian Legation,
Mexico,
July 26, 1867.
Mr. Minister: As my intention is to embark
for Europe soon, in the absence of a representative of Belgium in
Mexico, I temporarily place the Belgians residing in this country
under your protection and under the flag of the United States.
The friendly relations at present existing between the United States
and Belgium justify my hope that our respective governments will
approve a measure that gives me the satisfaction
[Page 444]
to know that when I leave the
interests I had charge of will be under the guard of the government
you so worthily represent.
I embrace this occasion, Mr. Minister, to renew the assurance of my
distinguished consideration.
FREDERIC HOORICKS, Belgian Chargé d’
Affaires.
Mr. Marcus Otterbourg,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America in
Mexico.
Mr. Otterbourg to Mr. Hooricks
Legation op the United States,
Mexico,
July 27, 1867.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 26th
instant, expressing your desire to place, in the absence of a
representative from Belgium, subjects of that country under the
protection of the United States flag.
The friendly relations which unite the two countries, and the
assurance expressed by the Mexican authorities that the persons and
property of all foreigners would be duly respected, justify my
acceding to your request, by acting as a medium of communication,
should it become at any time necessary, between the authorities at
Mexico and the subjects of Belgium.
The charge d’ affaires of Belgium will accept the assurances of my
most distinguished consideration.
MARCUS OTTERBOURG, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the U. S of
America.
Hon. Frederic Hooricks,
Chargé d’ Affaires of Belgium,
Mexico.
Mr. Hunter to Mr. Otterbourg
No. 8.]
Department of State,
Washington.
July 30, 1867.
Sir: I enclose you a copy of a letter
received from C. Cole, esq., United States senator from California,
asking the influence of this government in behalf of Ignacio
Sepulveda, a citizen of the United States, taken prisoner at
Queretaro.
You are instructed to make use of every effort in your power, and
bring every influence that can be made use of, to prevail on the
Mexican government to exercise its clemency in behalf of this
individual.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary.
Marcus Otterbourg, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Cole to Mr. Seward
Washington,
July 27, 1867.
Sir: I have just received a telegraphic
despatch from Los Angeles, California, in the following
terms:
“Get the department to intercede for Ygnacio Sepulveda, of this
place, taken prisoner at Queretaro, Mexico.
“V, E. HOWARD.
“P. BANNING.”
I have personal knowledge of the fact that there is residing at
or near Los Angeles, in my State, a very respectable Mexican or
Spanish family by the name of Sepulveda, but I am not certain
that I know this Ygnacio, who, it seems, is now a prisoner in
Mexico.
Mr. Howard, ex-member of Congress, and Mr. Banning, State
senator, are gentlemen of
[Page 445]
the highest respectability; and I hope
their natural solicitude, as well as that of the Sepulvedas, may
be gratified by a speedy application on behalf of Ygnacio to the
Mexican government.
Very respectfully, &c.,
C. COLE, United States Senator for
California.
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
