Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Seward to Mr. Romero

Department of State, Washington, July 13, 1867.

Sir: I have the honor to communicate a copy of a memorandum of this department of yesterday on the subject of proceedings consequent upon the recent visit of Señor Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to Mexico.

I avail myself of the occasion, sir, to offer to you a renewed assurance of my very high consideration.

WILLIAM H. SEWAED.

Señor Don Matias Romero, &c., &c., &c.

[Memorandum.]

Department of State, Washington, July 12, 1867.

On the 6th of July, instant, a paper was presented to the Secretary of State, which bears the signature of G. Naphegyi. Mr. Naphegyi describes himself as attorney-in-fact and confidential agent in the United States of Señor Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, and in that character invites the attention of this department to certain transactions which recently occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, “by which,” as Mr. Naphegyi says, “the said Señor Santa Anna has been prevented from complying with the expressed wishes of his fellow-citizens with regard to the political affairs of their common country, (meaning Mexico,) and by which, almost immediately thereafter, he was deprived of his personal liberty, and his life itself placed in jeopardy.”

The paper, in the first place, implies a necessity for visiting some censure upon the consul of the United States at Vera Cruz, and upon Commander F. A. Roe, of the United States steamer Tacony, stationed in that port; and, in the (second place, suggests proceedings against the government of Mexico, to procure the restoration of Señor Santa Anna and his secretary, Señor Vidal y Rivas, within the jurisdiction of the United States

Two distinct grievances seem to be complained of on behalf of Señor Santa Anna, one of which is represented to have been suffered about the 7th of June last at the port of Vera Cruz, and the other about the 12th of the same month at the port of Sisal, both of which places are in Mexico.

I shall examine first the proceedings which are alleged to have taken place at Vera Cruz, and afterwards the proceedings which are represented to have occurred at Sisal.

We are to ascertain the facts upon which the complaints are based from certain documents which accompany Mr. Naphegyi’s communication, from official reports of the United States consul and the naval commander at Vera Cruz, and from documents which have been submitted by the minister of the republic of Mexico, all of which papers were gathered into the department in a somewhat hurried manner. The tenor of Mr. Naphegyi’s papers in relation to the transaction at Vera Cruz is, that the Virginia is a United States mail steamship; that she sailed from New York under command of Captain Deaken on the 22d of May last for Vera Cruz, having as passengers Senor Santa Anna; his secretary, Senor Vidal y Rivas; Mr. Hans, Baron Caspar Van Nostilz, his interpreter; Mr. Louis Ludwitz, and Mr. Edward Gottlieb, all of whom are described as belonging to the suite of Senor Santa Anna. It is complained that on the 6th of June Mr. Saulnier, the United States counsul, went on board the Virginia, together with her Britannic Majesty’s consul, Mr. Medford, where they were introduced by Captain Deaken to Senor Santa Anna; that a conversation was had by the consuls with Senor Santa Anna upon the policy which was intended to be pursued by him while in Vera Cruz. That the American consul professed to Senor Santa Anna his sincere support, saying that at first, not having known his views, the consul was opposed to Senor Santa Anna being received there; but now, having heard them from the Senor in person, the consul would do all in his power to favor them. . That after an interview of three hours, the consul left the steamer in the most friendly manner. That afterwards, on the 7th of June, Commander F. A. Roe, of the United States steamer Tacony, and Commander Murfay Ainsley, of the British steamer Jason, boarded the Virginia from a launch which carried the United States and British flags. That Commander Roe asked and obtained an interview with Senor Santa Anna and invited him to accompany the commander on board the Tacony. That Senor Santa Anna asked a reason. That the commander replied that he had no reasons to give; that Senor Santa Anna must go with him, or the consul would take Senor Santa Anna by force, at the same time calling the British sailors who were on board the Virginia. That Senor Santa Anna asked if he was a prisoner of war to the American and British men-of-war. Commander Roe replied he might consider it as he pleased; he must go willingly or the commander would force him, and roughly laid his hand on the arm of Senor Santa Anna. When some one represented to Commander Roe that Senor Santa Anna was a cripple and had only one leg, the commander replied, in a profane and offensive manner, that he would take Senor Santa Anna if he had to break his other leg. That Senor Santa Anna then yielded to the persuasion of one of his suite and went with Commander Roe on board the Tacony, and the commander directed the Virginia to come alongside the Tacony the next morning at 12 o’clock, at Sacrificios. That Senor Vidal y Rivas, on learning these proceedings, visited the American consul, who pretended entire ignorance of the transaction, and, refusing to receive any protest, said that Senor Santa Anna, on the next day by 12 o’clock, would again be placed on board of the Virginia. That on that next day, the 8th, Senor Santa Anna was sent on board the Virginia by a boat from the Tacony. That the Virginia then proceeded to sea and was attended by a boat from the Tacony 20 miles, when her pilot was discharged, but not without a close personal search made by an officer of the Tacony; and Commander Roe thereupon directed Captain Deaken to take Senor, Santa Anna anywhere he pleased to go, not in Mexico.

The object and purposes of Senor Santa Anna in visiting Vera Cruz are represented by Mr. Naphegyi to have been entirely peaceful and innocent, and in perfect harmony with the policy of the United States in regard to Mexico. Mr. Naphegyi denounces the proceedings of the consul and of Commander Roe as officious and in violation of the law and comity of nations.

The tenor of the documents submitted by Mr. Naphegyi in regard to the occurrence at Sisal is as follows:, The Virginia having been left at sea by Commander Roe, proceeded on her return voyage towards New York, and touched at Sisal on the 11th of June, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. That on the 12th of June the commander of the liberal forces of Mexico at Sisal went on board the Virginia, and said he had orders from General Pereza to take Senor Santa Anna on shore. The captain of the Virginia refused to deliver him up, stating that he was a passenger in transit, and a prisoner to the United States, and should be delivered at the city of New York. Mexican gunboats surrounded the Virginia. The commandant of the port then went on board one of these boats, when all of them anchored and brought their guns to bear on the Virginia. Don Louis Gomez, commander of the Mexican liberal fleet, then went on board the Virginia, and demanded the surrender of Senor Santa Anna, which the captain of the Virginia again refused. Don Gomez then left the Virginia. Soon after this, a boat with 12 armed soldiers, commanded by Manuel Romero, boarded the Virginia, three soldiers coming on board with that officer, when Senor Santa Anna, with Senor Vidal y Rivas and Mr. Van Nostilz, got into the boat and were taken on shore. That Senor Santa Anna and Senor Vidal y Rivas were conveyed away as prisoners, and the other persons were released and sent back to the steamer Virginia, which afterwards proceeded to New York.

Mr. Naphegyi appeals to this government for its interposition, among other reasons upon the distinct ground that creditors of Senor Santa Anna in the United States have large pecuniary interests in the safety of that person.

The Mexican government has presented to this government no complaint in relation to these transactions, either on behalf of Senor Santa Anna, his creditors, or otherwise. It would not be unreasonable to delay an examination of the proceedings until some complaint shall be presented by the Mexican government, or by Senor Santa Anna personally, or by his creditors, or by some person shown to be specially authorized and empowered by him or them to institute a complaint. This objection, however, will not be insisted upon, because, first, it is represented that Senor Santa Anna has been put under duress through improper proceedings of the United States consul and naval commander; and because, secondly, it is quite well known in this country that Mr. Naphegyi has been what he represents himself to be, an intimate and confidential friend or associate of Senor Santa Anna.

In order to a proper understanding of the case, it is well to remember that Mexico has been for several years, and at the time of these transactions still remained, a theatre of intestine civil war, aggravated by the most intolerable of all political evils, foreign armed intervention. That Senor Santa Anna came voluntarily to the United States, and took up his residence here some time in the year 1866. That on more than one occasion during that residence, he made application to the President of the United States, for confidence, sanction, material aid, and assistance, to enable him to carry on belligerent operations of some sort in Mexico. That during the civil war two parties have claimed sovereign power in Mexico; the first, the republican government of which Don Benito Juarez is president; the second, that of the late Prince Maximilian, who proclaimed and sustained himself by armed force and foreign intervention, as emperor of Mexico; that the United States have constantly disallowed the pretended imperial government of Maximilian and constantly adhered to the republican government of Mexico, even to the extent of insisting upon the discontinuance of, the military intervention by the Emperor of the French. That when Senor Santa Anna applied to this government for protection, aid, or favor, inquiries were made by the United States, which resulted in declarations by the republican government of Mexico that Senor Santa Anna was an enemy of the republic. The government of the United States therefore persistently refused to hold any correspondence or communication, personal or otherwise, with Senor Santa Anna Or his agents, and has constantly enjoined upon its civil and military agents vigilant and energetic proceedings to prevent any unlawful expedition by Senor Santa Anna from the United States against Mexico. Such were Senor Santa Anna’s relations to the republic of Mexico and to the United States, when he, without the knowledge of either this government or that of Mexico, or of any of their agents, left the United States on board the Virginia, and presented himself at the harbor of Vera Cruz, at a moment when under the remonstrances of this government the French intervention had been terminated; when the so-called emperor Maximilian had been captured with an army and was held a prisoner in Queretaro, and the republican government of President Juarez had so far reduced the country to a condition of peace that the military forces of Prince Maximilian occupied only the two towns of Mexico and Vera Cruz, and both of these were closely besieged by the republican military forces, with an expectation of their conquest and submission, which expectation, notwithstanding the attempted intervention of Senor Santa Anna, has since been fully realized.

Although the Virginia is a registered merchant vessel of the United States, and although she may obtain mails at the post orifice like other vessels, she is in no proper or just sense employed in the service of the navy or the post office, or the treasury, or any other executive department. She is entitled to the protection of the United States flag only when she is lawfully engaged in trade, and not when she becomes a belligerent against nations with whom the United States are at peace. The communication of Mr. Naphegyi gives no evidence that the Virginia was employed in the regular course of trade or passage, as a merchant vessel, but, on the contrary, fully implies what distinctly appears from other sources, that the vessel was employed exclusively by Senor Santa Anna, and was under his absolute control, in a military, or, at least, a political expedition of his own, in violation of the laws of the United States.

It is not pretended that she had commercial ventures either at Vera Cruz or at Sisal, or elsewhere. The papers which were submitted in behalf of Senor Santa Anna further represent that Senor Santa Anna was visited by the captain of the port, the mayor of the city of Vera Cruz, and another gentleman, whose name is not given, all of whom belonged to the Maximilian or so-called imperial party, which was then in possession of the castle of San Juan and of the city of Vera Cruz. Later she Was visited by the commissary of Prince Maximilian, Don Domingo Bureau, and by General Taboada, the commanding general of Prince Maximilian’s forces at Vera Cruz, and also the captain of the port, each with a military staff, who thereupon congratulated Senor Santa Anna upon his arrival and invited him to go to the city and take command of the same. Soon afterwards, General Perez Gomez, commander of the castle of San Juan d’ Ulloa, went on board the Virginia and incited Senor Santa Anna to accompany him to that castle and remain with him until proper arrangements could be made in the city for a grand reception. Senor Santa Anna accepted this invitation and repaired to the castle, where a military band played a march of welcome, and the whole garrison shouted, “Viva el General Santa Anna!” Imposing popular demonstrations followed.

It is further stated that Senor Santa Anna remained in the castle a day and a half, during which time the city authorities were invited by the commanding general of Maximilian to visit the castle and dine with Senor Santa Anna. During the same time, a meeting was convened by the so-called imperial commissioner, in the palace of Vera Cruz, to consider the manner of the reception of Senor Santa Anna, which meeting finally came to the conclusion to proclaim Senor Santa Anna to be commander of the garrison of Vera Cruz. It was then arranged that Senor Santa Anna should be escorted to the city of Vera Cruz on the 7th of June. One hundred and one guns were to be fired from the castle, and workmen had already begun to build arches and decorate the city. In conformity with these arrangements Senor Santa Anna issued and published a manifesto to the citizens of Vera Cruz, which, in effect, was an open defiance of the republican government of Mexico.

These dispositions thus made by the so-called imperialist insurgents in the city of Vera Cruz, in combination with the Senor Santa Anna, are understood to be what is meant by Mr. Naphegyi “as the expressed wishes of Senor Santa Anna’s fellow-citizens with regard to the political affairs of their common country.”

The United States consul at Vera Cruz gives his own account of the proceedings which took place at that port. In a despatch of the 8th of June, he reports that Senor Santa Anna came to Vera Cruz on the 3d of June, with his staff, on the Virginia, as passengers; that the staff consisted of his father-in-law, Colonel Vidal y Rivas, two Prussian officers, and an American interpreter; that Senor Santa Anna passed from the ship to the castle of San Juan d’Ulloa, then in the possession of the imperialists, and remained there until the next day; that, on the morning of the 5th, Senor Santa Anna was taken from the castle of San Juan d’Ulloa and placed again on board the Virginia, after the force that was in the castle had been changed; that, on the 7th of June, the commanders of the British frigate Jason and the United States steamer Tacony went alongside and on board the Virginia, and took Senor Santa Anna from the Virginia, and placed him on board the Tacony, then off Sacrificios, with orders that the captain of the Virginia should pass that island and receive Senor Santa again on board the Virginia at that place; that the object of this proceeding on the part of the commander was to avoid a conflict among the armed forces in the city, it being understood that it was the intention of a part of the garrison to make an attempt to have Santa Anna landed there that night.

On the 12th of June Mr. Saulnier reported that the history of Santa Anna’s reception was as follows: That he arrived on the 3d, on the steamship Virginia, from New York; that he landed the same day in the castle of San Juan d’Ulloa, and remaining there throughout the next day; that, on the 5th, in the morning, he was sent back on board the Virginia. On the 6th the consul received an invitation from Santa Anna to visit him on board the Virginia, which invitation was accepted; that he entertained the consul for one hour, representing to him that, at the solicitation of the President of the United States and the Secretary of State, he had come there with an agreement that he would be supported in men and money and recognized in preference to President Juarez. The consul reported this interview to Commander Roe, of the United States ship Tacony. The consul adds that it was made known to him on the 7th of June, through a reliable source, that a serious effort would be made to have Santa Anna landed that night; that it was resolved by Commander Roe that Senor Santa Anna should be forthwith invited to pass the night on board the United States ship Tacony, which resolution was immediately acted upon.

The consul further reports that, on the 8th of June, the Virginia left the harbor, passed by Sacrificios, received Senor Santa Anna on board that ship, and proceeded immediately after to sea.

The consul at the same time transmitted to this department an account of the proceedings of a council of war of the imperial insurgent military officers, which was held upon the proposals of Senor Santa Anna, at Vera Cruz, on the 3d of June, which report of proceedings is certified by those officers themselves. In that meeting the so-called imperial commissary said that the idea put forth by General Santa Anna was to set up a republic in place of the empire; a republic distinct from, and in opposition to, the organized republic was implied. General Taboada, who commanded the forces of Maximilian at; Vera Cruz, said that the arrival of Senor Santa Anna in that harbor, bringing with him the necessary means, (foreign soldiers,) and coming under American protection, as he (Senor Santa Anna) states, had aggravated the situation. The question to be propounded was, whether the garrison would adhere to General Santa Anna’s proposals. Lieutenant Colonel Edwardo Soudriez said that as soon as Senor Santa Anna should land at the head of American soldiers his command would be at an end. Don Jorge Murcia, lieutenant colonel, could not agree to Senor Santa Anna’s bringing American soldiers there. Don Edward Figararo, colonel of cavalry, stated that he highly esteemed General Santa Anna, but rejected the idea that he should fight against the empire with soldiers brought from the United States. Don Santiago Cuivas said that Senor Santa Anna should not be allowed to enter the place, since he was backed by American soldiers and sustained by the American government; that Mexico had already felt one foreign intervention, and it should be spared any more. General Marin, who commanded the naval division, was totally disgusted .with Senor Santa Anna, but he would rather fall into his hands than into those of demagogues, although he distrusted his good faith, on account of the protection given him by the American government.

The consul states the conversation which he held with Senor Santa Anna, as follows: That Senor Santa Anna entertained him with a long discourse as to his plans, and said that, after interviews with President Johnson and Secretary Seward, at their solicitation, he had come to Vera Cruz; that they had offered him men and money to sustain him; that Maximilian had offered to deliver the situation of the country to him, (Santa Anna,) &c., &c.

The consul further stated that he had had an interview with the so-called imperial commissary. He had declared that Senor Santa Anna should not land at Vera Cruz.

Commander Roe gives this account of the transaction: “On the 20th of May, the United States and English consuls came to Sacrificios, and reported to the English captain and myself that the imperial commissary at Vera Cruz had submitted certain terms for the surrender of that place to General Benavides, commanding the liberal forces, and that he (the commissary) had requested the two consuls to proceed to the liberal camp to propose them. He moreover requested that the British captain and myself should accompany them. On that day we accordingly visited General Benavides at his headquarters, and the propositions of the imperial commissary were in substance accepted. This was after the reception of the news of the fall of Queretaro and the capture of Maximilian. A trace of some three days was agreed upon, and hostilities suspended. At the end of this period, however, the (so-called) imperial commissary failed to meet General Benavides, and hostilities were once more resumed. * * * Affairs remained then in this position until the 1st of June, when, after repeated solicitations on the part of the Maximilian commissary to the United States and British consuls, those gentlemen again visited him. This time he declared that he would accept the propositions of General Benavides which the consuls had brought back from him in writing. They were requested to Visit General Benavides to notify him of the acceptance of his proffered terms, and of the desire of the imperialist to surrender Vera Cruz, its castle and fortifications. * * The consuls left the English ship-of-war Jason on the morning of the 2d of June, with full instructions to arrange for surrender,”

Well-grounded fears were then entertained of a general insurrection in the city and of scenes of horror to follow it. The consuls returned from General Benavides at 2 o’clock, in the afternoon of the 2d of June with a complete ratification of the original terms proposed by the imperialist commissary. The two consuls proceeded at once to Vera Cruz, there to report their success to the commissary and await developments. General Benavides suspended firing from his batteries. The so-called imperial commissary acceded at once to those terms, saying that he would require a little time to win over his officers to his wishes. It was at this juncture that the steamship Virginia arrived, bringing Senor Santa Anna. The imperial commissary-informed the consuls that Santa Anna declared that he brought letters from President Johnson and the United States government, authorizing him to assume the charge of affairs in Mexico; that he also stated that a squadron of ships was ordered to sustain him, and troops were also on the way to Vera Cruz. A letter was received by Commander Roe from the shore, which stated that a revolutionary conflict was oh the eve of breaking out in favor of and against Senor Santa Anna, who represented himself as an emissary of the United States government, and appointed to supersede Juarez and all others, and take charge as the chief in behalf of the United States.

It was under these circumstances and upon the application of the United States consul that Commander Roe required Senor Santa Anna, with his interpreter and body servant, to go on board the Tacony for the night, and he was the next day put on board the Virginia, and so required to leave Vera Cruz.

Mr. Naphegyi denies that Senor Santa Anna pretended to have had the specific authority of the President of the United States for his proceedings at Vera Cruz. Commander Roe in his report states that Senor Santa Anna, when on board the Tacony, denied that he had publicly declared that he came in the name of President Johnson and the United States. This denial of course cannot be expected to outweigh the distinct statements of the United States consul, the explanation of the policy of Senor Santa Anna given in the imperialist council of war at Vera Cruz, and other corroborating evidence.

Among certain papers which were found in the possession of Senor Santa Anna and his secretary, is the report of a conversation which occurred between that person and Commander Roe on board the Virginia. In this report, made by Senor Santa Anna’s interpreter under his own direction, it appears that his denial was in these words: “It is not true that I said I was sent, for the government at Washington could not employ me, nor would I obey the commands of a government not my own. I heard that the American consul prevaricated for the purpose of preventing me from landing, and I thought proper to satisfy him, and dispose him to a neutrality he ought to have observed. For that purpose I said to him, substantially, that my mission was one of entire peace, and that his President was not ignorant of my journey or of my intentions.”

In the opinion of the President, Commander Roe has truly stated the character of the transaction which occurred in Vera Cruz in these words:

“The attitude then, of Santa Anna was this: He was on board of an American ship, under the flag of the United States, in a city besieged by the government of Mexico, declaring and fomenting the civil war against that government, with which the United States are in friendly relations, under an assumed authority from the United States, and while he claimed to be under the protection and shield of their flag, he prevented the act of the surrender of Vera Cruz, after the terms of that surrender had been agreed to and accepted by both parties; and this under the declaration that he was acting under the authority of the United States.” In this view of the subject, this department not only does not disallow not censure, but it approves the proceedings of the United States consul, and of Commander Roe, at Vera Cruz.

I proceed to consider the transactions which occurred at Sisal. While Mr. Naphegyi gives no reason why the Virginia stopped at Sisal, he leaves us to infer that she was in fact returning directly to New York. The suggestion that the United States should institute proceedings against Mexico to procure the restitution of Senor Santa Anna to his liberty within the jurisdiction of the United States is based upon the following assumptions, namely: that Commander Roe had, in behalf of the government of the United States, captured Senor Santa Anna, at Vera Cruz, and placed him on board the Virginia, and held him there in custody, as a prisoner of war, or at least under duress, as an unwilling passenger; that the Virginia was thus constructively put into commission as a public vessel of the United States navy, and remained so while on her voyage to, and after her arrival at, the port of Sisal, in Mexico; and that the vessel was violently boarded off the port of Sisal, when at a distance of more than one marine league from the coast of Mexico, that is to say, upon the high seas, And that her detention and the arrest of Senor Santa Anna were therefore acts of piracy. It is contended by Mr. Naphegyi that, at least, the Virginia was a merchant vessel, lawfully sailing and remaining at or near Sisal, under the flag of the United States; that Senor Santa Anna, being a passenger, was forcibly and violently taken from the Virginia, and conveyed away by agents of the Mexican government.

There is not the least ground for the pretence that the Virginia was in naval commission, or that Senor Santa Anna was a prisoner of war to the United States at Sisal. The new allegation, that the Virginia lay outside of Mexican jurisdiction while at Sisal, will be made a subject of careful inquiry.

Reserving that question for the present, I proceed to state the transaction at Sisal, as it appears from explanatory documents. As soon as the Virginia was left free from the convoy of the Tacony, by Senor Santa Anna’s choice, and under his own direction, she made her way, not to New York, but to the port of Sisal. Arriving there, and coming to anchor on the 11th of June, Senor Santa Anna despatched from the steamer Virginia to General Martin Peraza, governor of Yucatan, at Merida, the capital of that State, a letter by the bonds of a Mexican colonel, Hilario Mendez, in which letter Senor Santa Anna declared that Colonel Mendez knew what had happened to him in front of Vera Cruz, and would tell the governor all about it. Together with the same letter he transmitted written reports of those proceedings, containing an indignant complaint against Commander Roe. Senor Santa Anna proceeded to say, in the same letter: “If I do not get back to Vera Cruz soon in a war steamer or merchant vessel, I shall remain some time in Havana; and whether I am in that city or Vera Cruz, I shall be at your service.”

With this letter Senor Santa Anna also transmitted a copy of a revolutionary address to the people of the State of Yucatan, which, on his way to Vera Cruz, he had sent ashore to be circulated there, and he now invited the governor to give publicity to that paper. This proclamation, like the one issued at Vera Cruz, was hostile to, and subversive of, the republican government of Mexico. On the 11th of June, Senor Vidal, the secretary of Senor Santa Anna, wrote on board of the Virginia, “in front of Sisal,” a letter to General Taboada, before named, of the Maximilian or so-called imperial army, at Vera Cruz. In this letter, Senor Vidal said that the passengers who embarked in that vessel (which passengers are supposed to be disloyal Mexicans) had expressed to Senor Santa Anna the general dissatisfaction of the inhabitants of Vera Cruz, then in the possession of the Maximilian party, and that he himself, on quitting the wharf there, was grieved to see tears shed by old soldiers, assumed to be Maximilian’s soldiers, annoyed at the flagrant disrespect shown to Senor Santa Anna. That the garrison, as well as the inhabitants of that city, must be in despair, easy to understand to those who had witnessed the spontaneous manifestation of enthusiasm and sympathy. Senor Vidal proceeded in the letter to say that, while he reflected upon the decided intention of General Taboada and that of other friends whom Senor Santa Anna had in Vera Cruz, and while he reflected that the affairs of Mexico could have no other favorable solution than that which Senor Santa Anna had proposed, to give, by means of himself as their leader, with the influence of his name and his gift of command, he (Senor Vidal) was persuaded to write to General Taboada to ask him to tell Senor Santa Anna frankly, without the loss of a moment, if the situation at Vera Cruz could be commanded till Santa Anna’s return; and if that could be done, whether Senor Santa Anna might expect better success in the realization of his undertaking. Senor Vidal proceeded to say that he thought it indispensable to remind General Taboada and his party, that they ought not to permit the Maximilian military forces to be delivered up to their enemies, (meaning the republican besieging army,) bearing in mind that those enemies do not know how to pardon nor to keep their promises; and that the besieged forces would surely be sacrificed as soon as they should be disarmed. That the safest way, in fact, the only way, was that which had been pointed out to General Taboada by Senor Santa Anna. That it was Senor Santa Anna’s intention to return to Vera Cruz without delay in a war steamer or a merchant steamer. He advised General Taboada to let this notice serve as a guide to him in the management of affairs. Senor Vidal proceeded further to ask why Senor Santa Anna was not assisted by General Taboada on the night of the 8th and 9th, as he expected to have been.

Senor Vidal wrote on the same 11th of June, on board the Virginia, at Sisal, a letter which was addressed to Charles Ray man, Spanish consul in Vera Cruz, but which by its tenor seems to be intended for General Taboada. In this letter Senor Vidal stated that it was the intention of Senor Santa Anna to proceed from Sisal to Havana, to see what kind of aid, direct or moral, the captain general of Cuba would furnish him. With this letter Senor Vidal transmitted a card to be delivered to General Manzano, the captain general at Havana. Senor Vidal proceeded to say that the chief object of his present writing was to ask the Spanish consul to deliver an enclosed card to General Manzano, and request him to ascertain the dispositions of those who were capable of aiding him. If they were ready and could do any good, then Senor Santa Anna would soon return to the front of Vera Cruz. Senor Vidal went on to say that all must have known that Senor Santa Anna’s arrival at Vera Cruz was not only opportune and efficacious, but necessary and was indispensable. He proceeded to say: “I may obtain permission for Senor Santa Anna to remain in Cuba for a month.” If not, he would be obliged to go back to St. Thomas. At all events, the Spanish consul was to understand, there, that Senor Santa Anna was ready to save Vera Cruz, and raise the siege by gaining Benavides over to his party, “and thus prevent much bloodshed in the city, and then go to the aid of the brave men (meaning the Maximilian army) who were struggling for their lives in the capital of Mexico. Alas for Vera Cruz, woe to Mexico, if unfortunately Senor Santa Anna should not be understood.” Senor Vidal went on to say: “Our present fears are that the vessel we are expecting from the United States to Vera Cruz, not finding Senor Santa Anna’s party there, might fall into the hands of some United States agents, and suffer all the indignities which that nation, the United States, is heaping upon Senor Santa Anna and his party.” That that party were taking all precautions at Sisal and were cruising about; but as there had been two stormy nights, the vessels might have passed each other without discovery. That in such an event, if the expected vessel should have arrived, and the troops on board of it should wish to land, then the Spanish consul would put the Irish battalion in the castle of San Juan, and the riflemen in the city, till the return of Senor Santa Anna, when he could march them into the country to shun the maladies peculiar to the Mexican coast. Senor Vidal went on to say that in the failure of that expedition they would not only lose the cost of the expected vessel, which was over $200,000, but the opportunity of aid, without reckoning the difficulties that they had already had to overcome in organizing that expedition. Senor Vidal went on to say that on the nights of the 8th and 9th, the Virginia was for more than two hours behind the castle of San Juan, from midnight till after two o’clock, with the lights and signals which had been agreed upon the Galleguilla shoals. That the noise made by blowing off steam and other movements must have been heard at the castle; that the sea was calm and the weather cloudy. “Why, then,” he asked, “did you not come to the place agreed on ? We did every thing we could. After two o’clock we put to sea.” He closed with saying that it (the letter) was not to be suffered to go out of the correspondent’s possession, though his name was not put upon it for fear of risking the loss of his situation.

On the 12th of June, being the same day on which it is alleged by Mr. Naphegyi that the Virginia was boarded and Senor Santa Anna forcibly removed from that vessel at Sisal, Senor Santa Anna wrote a letter on board the Virginia, which he addressed to General Mathias Peraza, governor of the State of Yucatan, at Merida. In this second letter to General Peraza, Senor Santa Anna referred to his first letter forwarded by Colonel Mendez, and presumed that it was then in the hands of his correspondent, General Peraza, together with the documents it contained. Senor Santa Anna then proceeded to say: “I was awaiting your answer, when Colonel Medina, the, military commander at this port, presented himself to me on hoard, and informed me that you invited me to land. I immediately began to get ready to accept your invitation, and commenced by shaving myself. The captain of the vessel (Captain Deaken) informed me that I could not land, as his orders from the commander of the American war steamer (Commander Roe) were that I might land on neutral ground, but could have no pretext to set foot on Mexican territory. This caused an altercation between Colonel Medina and the captain of the Virginia. * * * * * Finally, the captain yielded, and I was allowed to disembark, not, however, without protest,” (by Captain Deaken.)

Senor Santa Anna proceeds in his letter to General Peraza: “Now, I am at your disposal, and I hope I shall soon see you, as this commander” (meaning Medina) “has promised me I could. I wish my good intentions may give a happy result; and I do not think Mr. Salazar Illarequi will be so timid as to reject my generous mediation for the complete establishment of peace in this State of Yucatan. But if he persists in an obstinate resistance, an old veteran places himself under your orders to be sent wherever you think he can be of the greatest service to the nation.”

There seems no reason to question the authenticity of these letters. If authentic, they prove that at the port of Sisal, whether exactly within the Mexican jurisdiction or just beyond it, General Santa Anna was in command of the same military armed expedition against the republic of Mexico, which he had prepared within and conducted from the shores of the United States to Vera, Cruz, in violation of their neutrality laws, and in derogation of the relations of amity and friendship, and also—so far as the sphere of moral influences is concerned—within the relations of allies. They prove also that although Captain Deaken, perhaps in the interest of New York creditors, protested, Senor Santa Anna voluntarily disembarked at Sisal, and went into the camp of the defenders of the republic of Mexico. During a considerable part of the period in which Mexico has been the theatre of civil war, armed military and naval force has been maintained by the United States on the Rio Grande and in the waters around the ports of Mexico, among other purposes, to prevent and defeat invasions of that republic by any military and naval expeditions which might be set on foot in the United States. We are officially informed that Senor Santa Anna, after having landed at Sisal in conformity with his engagements, was sent forward by the military commandant at Sisal to the care of General Peraza, the governor of Yucatan, and is detained in custody, with a view to the safety of the republic of Mexico.

Upon this review of the facts, it seems proper that the government should wait for further and more definite information before entering upon communications in relation to the complaint of Mr. Naphegyi with the government of Mexico. That nation seems at last to have triumphed over all its internal and foreign enemies, and to have reached a crisis when, if left alone, it may be expected to restore tranquillity, and to reorganize itself upon permanent foundations of union, freedom, and republican government. Only some great national injury, wrong, or offence would justify this government in suddenly assuming a hostile or even an unfriendly attitude toward the republic of Mexico.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.