I also transmit herewith copy and translation of the said decree, and a
copy of my reply to Mr. Patrullo, which I trust will meet with your
approval.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Consulate of the United States
at Merida and Sisal,
Merida,
January 5, 1868.
hasten to address myself to you, informing you that by virtue of a
political movement effected in this city on the 10th of December
last, and which had for its result solely a personal change in the
government of this State, the expelled governor has launched from
the neighboring State of Campeche a decree which cannot but produce
the gravest injury to the commerce and interests of the United
States, if the supreme government of the republic does not speedily
take the necessary measures to avert the evils which the tenor of
the decree annexed hereto, already mentioned, is producing to
foreign commerce.
The neighboring State of Campeche has taken part in favor of the
expelled governor, and some days since there arrived in the waters
of Sisal several small armed vessels of war to impede all mercantile
movements.
The line of American steamers which for some time has been
established between New York and Vera Cruz, touching at the port of
Sisal, will be affected by this more sensibly than that of any other
nation, as there is carried on by these vessels quite an active
commerce between New York and Sisal.
[Page 429]
Until instructions are communicated to me, that have to govern the
conduct that I should pursue in these cases, I believe it to be my
duty to pass to the port of Sisal, as the American steamer by which
this letter will be sent, is momentarily expected, and to protest in
due form in case the flotilla does not permit the steamer to
enter.
The governors of the Mexican States having no faculties to decree
laws of the tenor of the decree referred to, it is desirable that
the American nation should not allow such abuses of authority to
pass unnoticed whenever, as in the present case, they operate to the
prejudice of the interests of our nation.
In this unfortunate country, where there is no other law than that of
force, there have been imposed, more than once, forced loans upon
American citizens established in it, and as no governor has ever
been admonished to faithfully comply with the tenor of the treaties
existing between the two republics, all, without exception, follow
the same example of disregarding said treaties, the only protection
that foreigners resident in this country have.
I beg you will take what I have said into consideration, and at the
same time excuse me that I write to you in my native language, in
violation of the circular of the 1st of June, 1853, issued by the
Department of State.
I protest to you my consideration and respect.
R. JUANES Y PATRULLO, United States
Consul.
The Hon. Minister of the United States,
Mexico.
[Translation of decree.]
Manuel Cepeda Peraza, general of brigade, governor and military
commandant of the State of Yucatan, to the inhabitants of the same
maketh known: that in use of the ample faculties with which I am
invested, I have thought proper to decree, and do decree, the
following:
Article 1. The port of Sisal is hereby
closed to the foreign and coasting trade, until it returns to
obedience to the supreme government from which it has separated by
the act of seconding the anti-national movement, which took place in
Merida, on the morning of the 11th instant.
Art. 2. Vessels which have been dispatched,
or which in future may be dispatched, for said port, will proceed to
the adjacent port of Campeche, where their discharge and other
custom-house operations will take place.
Art. 3. The duties which are paid on the
importation or exportation of effects made in violation of this
decree shall be considered as unpaid, and the violators will remain
subject to the payment again of the duties caused without prejudice
to such other penalties as are imposed in this case by the general
ordinance relating thereto.
Wherefore, I order this to be printed, published, and circulated for
its due compliance.
Dated at Jalacho, the 14th of December, 1867.
[Translation.]
Consulate of the United States
at Merida and Sisal,
Merida,
January 9, 1868.
Mr. Minister: The American steamer, which
in my preceding communication I stated was to arrive from New York,
reached the port of Sisal on the 6th instant. Before arriving at the
anchorage the flotilla of the State of Campeche sent a boat on
board, and without any doubt informed the captain that he could not
enter, as the port was declared closed, and, without communicating
with the shore, he continued on his voyage to Vera Cruz.
To avoid the necessity of this vessel taking back to New York the
cargo brought for the port of Sisal, I beg you, if you can do so, to
order that a war vessel of our nation come to these waters to
prevent the flotilla from placing any impediment in the way of
American vessels. Only in this manner can the injuries be averted,
which not only the steamers of this line but also the commerce of
New York will suffer, unless a speedy determination is taken.
I repeat to you my profound respect and consideration.
The Hon. Minister of the United States,
Mexico.
[Untitled]
Legation of the United
States,
City of Mexico,
February 21, 1868.
Sir: Your two communications of the 5th and
9th of January reached me only on the 17th instant.
[Page 430]
As the rebellion in Yucatan has now happily been suppressed by the
commendable vigor of this government, it is unnecessary for me to
enter into the questions relating thereto, raised in your
letters.
It is very clear the interests of our commerce with this country will
be promoted, if this government shall be able, as I trust will be
the case hereafter, promptly to crush all attempts that may be made
to subvert the constitutional order.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. Juanes y Patrullo, Esq., United States Consul, Merida.
