Mr. Otterbourg to Mr. Seward
No. 6.]
Legation of the United States,
City of Mexico,
August 20, 1867.
Sir: Pursuant to instructions from the State
Department under date July 12th, 1867, received here on the 15th August,
I immediately addressed a note (enclosure No. 1) to Mr. Lerdo de Tejada,
minister for foreign affairs, to which enclosure No. 2 is a reply.
Enclosure No. 3 is a copy of the customary address to the President of
the Mexican republic on the presentation of my credentials. The spirit
therein displayed as a just interpretation of our policy towards Mexico
will, I hope, meet the approval of the President and of the
department.
No. 4 is a copy of the reply thereto of President Juarez.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D C.
Mr. Otterbourg to Seéor Lerdo de Tejada
LegatioN of the United States,
Mexico,
August 15, 1867.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
the United States of America, has the honor to communicate to his
excellency Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, minister for foreign affairs
of the United Mexican States, the copy of a letter of credence
addressed by the President of the United States to the President of
the Republic of Mexico, and to say that the undersigned is prepared
to present his credentials when the citizen President may be pleased
to appoint an hour for his reception.
[Page 449]
The undersigned avails himself of the occasion to assure his
excellency Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, minister for foreign affairs
of the United Mexican States, of his most distinguished
consideration.
MARCUS OTTERBOURG. Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States 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 Relations,
Mexico,
August 16, 1867.
Sir: I have had the honor of receiving your
note of yesterday, communicating to me that you are disposed to
present your credentials to the President, a copy of which you had
the kindness to furnish me, directed by the President of the United
States of America to the President of the republic.
It will be gratifying to the President to receive you next Monday,
the 19th of this month, at 12 m.
I avail myself of the opportunity of repeating to you the assurance
of my most distinguished consideration.
His Excellency Mr. Marcus Otterbourg,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America in
Mexico.
[Untitled]
Mr. President: I have the honor to present
to your Excellency my credentials as envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, to reside
near the constitutional government of the United Mexican States.
The nomination of a representative to be accredited so early after
the return of your government to the capital of the republic is an
earnest of the sympathy of the United States with the triumph
achieved through the heroic constancy of Mexico in her recent
struggle for independence and liberal institutions.
The government of the American people, true to the discharge of its
international duties and the obligations which it owes both to its
own citizens and to other nations, has, with a fidelity, honor, and
integrity which command the respect of the civilized world, upheld
the cause of republicanism, and in it the integrity of Mexico.
Its measures and policy in its intercourse with other nations, during
your struggle, have been frank, open, and undisguised. “Demanding
nothing but what is right, and submitting to nothing that is wrong,”
it has vindicated itself in the purity, integrity, and loyalty to
the principles cherished by the American people.
Allowed thus to characterize the brilliant national career of my
country, which, by her action, has won the confidence and respect of
the world, I am proud, Mr. President, to have been selected by the
President of the United States to express to you the profound
sympathy entertained for Mexico by the government and people so
characterized, and their desire of cherishing and advancing on all
occasions the mutual interest and happiness of the two republics;
and I but feebly interpret the thoughts of the government and people
of the United States, with the assurance that they look forward to
the time when the promise given by Mexico in her recent struggle for
free institutions shall be fulfilled in an equally prosperous
career.
Imbued by a long residence in Mexico with a like sympathy for the
welfare and prosperity of her people, I can, with equal frankness,
Mr. President, assure you that I shall, within the scope of my duty
and instructions, endeavor to co-operate towards these mutually
desirable ends.
[Translation.]
Mr. Minister: The satisfaction which I
would feel under all circumstances on receiving an envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of
America near the government of the Mexican, republic is much
increased when you manifest that your nomination is a proof of the
sympathy of the United States for the triumph which Mexico has
obtained in the defence of her independence, and her free
institutions.
The United States have given the weight of their moral support to the
cause of republicanism
[Page 450]
everywhere and to its free preservation in Mexico by sustaining the
just principles or international right. The people and the
government of Mexico in their struggle for the cause of the republic
against a foreign intervention have estimated to their full value
the sympathies of the people and government of the United States
which in the grandeur of their prosperity have demonstrated the
justice of their policy in sustaining the principle of
non-intervention as one of the first obligations of governments in
the respect due to the liberty of the people and to the rights of
nations. I am grateful to you, Mr. Minister, for the expression of
your benevolent sentiments for the welfare of the Mexican people,
and with them you give me the assurance of your efficacious
co-operation in the desire which animates the government of Mexico
of cultivating and improving its relations with the United States,
to maintain always good friendship, and to procure the mutual
interests of the two peoples.
