Mr. Plumb to Mr.
Seward.
No. 72.]
Legation of the United States,
City of Mexico,
January 28, 1868.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy
and translation of a note received last evening from Mr. Lerdo de
Tejada, in reply to the unofficial communication I addressed to him on
the 22d instant, with reference to the foreign merchants arrested at San
Luis Potosi.
I have just returned from the interview to which I was cited in the said
note, and am glad to be able to state that I am informed by Mr. Lerdo de
Tejada that yielding to the representations of the general government,
the governor of the State of San Luis has placed at liberty the
merchants who have been imprisoned, of which fact the government has
been advised by a telegram from San Luis, dated day before
yesterday.
The explanations offered by the governor of San Louis, communicated to me
by Mr. Lerdo de Tejada, do not require any remark; they only add to the
necessity of the step he has now been induced, by the influence of the
general government, to take; that is, to place the persons arrested at
liberty.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William E Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.—Unofficial.]
Señor Lerdo de Tejada to
Mr. Plumb.
Mexico,
January 27, 1868,
Dear Sir: I have received the unofficial
letter you have been pleased to address to me, under date of the 22d
instant, with reference to the case of certain merchants arrested in
the city of San Luis Potosi, by order of the government of that
State.
The government has had, and will have, in just consideration the good
offices you have been pleased to interpose in this affair, with
reference to which congress has already asked for information, and
the judge of the district of San Luis has also intervened in
conformity with the law relative thereto.
I can with pleasure make known to you in an interview the
explanations and the motives which have been given by the governor
of San Luis with reference to his proceedings, and if not
inconvenient for you, I will be at your orders for such interview at
the department of foreign relations, at four o’clock in the
afternoon of to-morrow.
I am, with great regard, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
Mr. Edward Lee Plumb,
&c., &c., &c.
