Mr. Bliss to Mr. Washburn.
Sir: When I have learned at various times within the last few days that I was accused of a grave charge; that I was designated as a member of a combination formed by agreement with the enemy for the overthrow of the government of this republic, and afterwards guilty of high treason, I have expressed the most unqualified amazement that charges of such a nature should be made against a person whose whole career in Paraguay forms an eloquent contrast to such imputations, and I have most sincerely and unqualifiedly denied that there exists the least foundation for such charges. To-day, however, when I have seen the charges made in a more specific form, stating that I have set my name to a secret compact as a member of a committee having for its object the assassination of the President of the republic, the mode of stating this charge has been for me a ray of light, explaining how such an idea could have arisen, and affording me the eagerly desired opportunity not only of clearing up a mystery, but also of completely exculpating myself by making known an antecedent of my career which places in evidence the strength and sincerity of my attachment to the glorious cause of the liberties of the Spanish American republics, menaced by Brazil, and so heroically defended by the republic of Paraguay, under the guidance of the first warrior of South America.
I have belonged to a small circle composed of five individuals, who, nearly two years ago, proposed to form themselves into a committee, or rather into an intimate society, not with the object of overthrowing the government of the republic, but for the precisely opposite purpose—that is, to co-operate with the noble efforts of the government in its grand crusade against the slaveholding empire, and against the success of its enormous ambition. It was an association of five friends, enthusiastic for the great cause of the American republics against Brazilian aggression, whose first proposition was mutually to swear an eternal hatred against the common enemy of all republics, and whose only object was to seek the most efficacious means of putting into action our combined talents for that purpose. Unforeseen circumstances prevented that project from being carried out, and it was abandoned directly after being conceived. But such as it was, it was the only association of any kind whatever to which I have belonged in the republic of Paraguay, and has undoubtedly been the occasion that erroneous information or suspicions of persons foreign to it have misrepresented it to such a degree that what was [Page 759] but the effect of indiscreet zeal has appeared under colors as opposite to the truth as heaven to hell.
To explain this circumstance, in what relates to myself, requires that I begin from some time previous, and beg your attention to the following statement:
You excellency knows that, during the year 1864, I edited in Buenos Ayres an English monthly review called the “River Plate Magazine,” principally devoted to historical investigations. In the articles of current politics I made myself a subject of remark, as the only writer in Buenos Ayres who uniformly sustained the legal government of Montevideo against Brazilian aggression. I wrote several biographical articles upon the chieftains of the Spanish American war of independence, such as Bolivar and San Martin. In preparing them, I learned that a secret patriotic association called the “Society of Lautaro” had played an important part in that movement, having extended itself to all the new republics. I obtained information concerning this society from the mouths of General Tomas Guido and General Anbonio Diaz, as well as others, who had belonged to it, and at last I had what I considered to be the good fortune to obtain a copy of its regulations, and from the autograph manuscript of a deceased general, in No. 12 of the magazine, I published a part of it, accompanied by a historical sketch in reference to it.
When, at the beginning of the year 1865, I came to Paraguay, impelled by a desire of becoming better acquainted with a country in which I took so much interest, especially at so interesting a moment, I casually brought with me this manuscript, which afterwards played a part in the subject of which I now treat.
I omit entering upon proofs of the cordial support which I have uniformly given to the Paraguayan cause, and of the constant efforts I have made to keep up the public spirit of natives and foreigners in this struggle. The facts are too notorious to require such proof. I will, however, say that one of the first ideas which engaged my attention was that of working upon the sentiment of the Pacific republics in favor of the cause of the balance of power in the Rio de la Plata, as represented by Paraguay; and as early as April, 1865, I made suggestions to the ministry of foreign affairs, with a tendency to be employed myself for that purpose. In August and September, 1866, after the great Paraguayan victories over the enemy, and the revelation of the iniquitous designs of the enemy by the publication of the “secret treaty,” and particularly after learning the state of opinion in the Pacific republics, as manifested by the celebrated protest of the quadruple alliance, my interest in the same project was quickened. It was at that time that I made a formal proposition to be employed in an agency in the service of the government, proceeding to Bolivia, and thence to Europe. The 22d of September, (date of the battle of Curupayti,) the Bolivians, Drs. Roca and Peña, arrived here, and I soon became intimate with them, consulting them respecting my ideas, and indoctrinating them into principles and antecedents of the present crusade against Brazil. I presented them to several members of the government, and to my friend, Dr. Carreras, who participated in many of my ideas. As the result, Dr. Roca commenced that series of patriotic manifestations by which his name has become so prominent in the republic. Those were days of patriotic effervescence over the whole republic, and, in particular, they were for me days of congratulation, since the government had honored me by ordering my drama of the “Triple Alliance” to be magnificently represented at the festivals of the approaching anniversary of the second presidency. Moved by a desire to repay so much honor, but undoubtedly badly advised as to the opportuneness of such a step, I took an active part in promoting a combination among a few friends, in order to guide our common efforts in favor of the national and American cause. It was agreed to form a small circle of five individuals, who were to organize for that object, under the name of “Hesperian Society,” and the manuscript to which I have alluded was consulted as being likely to afford some useful ideas in the preparation of the regulations. After one or two previous consultations, the only meeting at all formal took place in my room, in Calla Pasode laPatria, No. 8. Those present were Drs. Roca, Pena, and Carreras, the Oriental citizen Don Antonio Tomé, and myself. The occasion was the evening of the 12th of October, 1866, anniversary of the first armed aggression of Brazil in the Oriental Republic, and also a native festival of Paraguay, which had been celebrated that day by the departure of the committee which went to carry the national album to his excellency Marshal Lopez.
A formula was agreed upon, expressing that the object of the society was to promote, by all means within our power and by common accord, a sort of South American crusade against Brazil, against its ambitious designs and its slaveholding propaganda, contracting a mutual compromise of eternal hatred towards the empire, which we regard as the common enemy of all republics. This formula, drawn up in several copies, (upon blue letter-paper,) was to have been signed by all, each one preserving a copy, but the signing was never effected, and two or three of the copies remained in my possession. The preparation of the regulations was left for a future occasion, which never arrived; and it was then proposed to send memoirs, prepared by two of the individuals, to his excellency Marshal Lopez, proposing the sending of a commission to the Pacific republics, where they (in case of the mission falling to the lot of one or more of us) were to initiate other associations for the same object among influential men hostile to Brazil. [Page 760] These memorials, written by Drs. Carreras and Roca, were sent to their destination. A letter was also approved of, written by Dr. Roca to President Malgarejo, of Bolivia, exhorting him to become a champion of the American cause against Brazil, and promising, in that case, to lay aside the political enmity which he had against him.
I will add that we did not propose to establish such an association formally, without previously soliciting the approbation and support of members of the national government. All that was done was merely provisional, and finding inconveniences in its realization, no second meeting was held, nor was even the record of the first signed —that is, each one continuing to act individually in favor of the common object. In December occurred some differences of opinion between the persons who had formed part of the projected circle, concerning the convenience of a certain manifestation on the part of the foreign residents towards Marshal Lopez, and there was even a rupture of social relations between some of us, which, in part, subsists till the present time.
Such is the simple statement of a fact which, I doubt not, has, after so long a time, originated a suspicion that it was of an entirely different character. The truth of my statement can be proved by the testimony of the other persons mentioned, the only ones who, so far as I know, have had any knowledge of it. Such was the only combination to which I have belonged, in thought, word, or deed, and I am absolutely ignorant of any combination whatever for a contrary purpose, or for a repugnant and atrocious object, as well as of who may be its authors. I have never been sounded by any person for such a purpose, since my patriotic principles are very notorious in this republic, and who would have dared to make me the depositary of so horrid a secret? If such a circumstance had come to the knowledge of any one of us, I have the pro-foundest conviction that he would have hastened to denounce its criminal authors to the just vengeance of a country wounded in its most sensible fiber, and, for my part, I am most anxious that all the infernal plot which is said to have been lately formed may be discovered.
Having had the misfortune to attract the hatred of a considerable part of the foreign population by the conduct which, along with Doctor Roca, I observed in December, 1866, receiving for it the explicit approbation of the official newspaper, it would be very singular that I should afterwards enter, with my personal enemies, into an intrigue to undo all the titles which I had so carefully endeavored to obtain, to the confidence of the government of which I have always been an ardent partisan.
I forgot to say in its proper place that, after having abandoned the idea of the society above mentioned, I had no hesitation in employing the information contained in my manuscript of the “Society of Lautaro” as an element for the preparation of an entire act of a second drama, which I presented to the government, and which has not been published. Would not such conduct have been the maddest caprice on the part of a person who had an understanding with the enemy?
Not doubting that the preceding facts may be a ray of light for the supreme government of the republic in its investigations to clear up the present grave accusations, and to distinguish the innocent from the guilty, in an affair in which, by means of incorrect information, two series of facts of a totally opposite nature, as well in object as in date and in authors, have evidently been confounded. I beg your excellency will communicate this rapid statement of facts to the supreme government of the republic, and assure that government that I am most anxious to give it all the assistance in my power to clear up the truth in what relates to myself and to the other persons whose imprudent but patriotic reunion has drawn upon us such unfounded suspicions.
I have the honor to be, Mr. Minister, your attentive and humble servant,
Hon. Charles A. Washburn, United States Minister Resident in Paraguay.