Mr. Hovey to Mr.
Seward.
No. 142.]
Legation of the United States,
Lima,
August 14, 1868.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the
copies and translations of the correspondence which has taken place
between the minister of foreign affairs and myself, on the occasion of
the inauguration of the government of Colonel Balta, marked inclosures
Nos. 1 and 2.
On reviewing your dispatch No. 83, dated May 9, 1868, I find the
following:
What we wait for in this case is the legal evidence that the existing
administration has been deliberately accepted by the people of Peru.
When a republican form of government has been constitutionally
established, we hasten to recognize the administration, and to extend to
it a cordial friendship, * * * and, in accordance with the principles I
have mentioned, the United States will recognize the republican
administration which maybe organized in Peru so soon as it shall appear
to have been deliberately accepted by the Peruvian people
themselves.
You will perceive from the correspondence herewith transmitted, and from
the unanimous action of the Peruvian congress, that Colonel Balta has
been duly proclaimed constitutional President of Peru, without a
contesting element within the limits of the republic. In this view I
have deemed it to be the policy of our government, as well as in
conformity with the directions contained in your above-mentioned
dispatch, to acknowledge the present administration. I would have been
compelled to have taken issue with the actual government, after the
reception of the note from the foreign minister, if I had not accepted
the same.
The country is as peaceful now as it ever has been, or, probably, will be
for years to come, and the people seem satisfied with the new
administration.
[Page 868]
I will observe that the government of President Balta is not the
immediate sequence of force, but has been produced by the universal vote
of the people, and sanctioned unanimously by congress. Canseco took
possession of the presidential chair by force; Balta, by the peaceful
will of the people. In this view I consider that I am acting within the
letter and spirit of my instructions, and hope that my action will be
approved by our government.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Señor Barrenechea to Mr. Hovey.
No. 6.]
Lima,
August 5, 1868.
I have the honor of addressing your excellency for the purpose of
informing your excellency that the nation has chosen, and the
congress proclaimed as constitutional President of the republic,
Colonel José Balta, who assumed the supreme power on the 2d
instant.
After the agitations through which Peru has passed, your excellency
and the government of your excellency will view with satisfaction
the establishment of a government emanating from the free suffrage
of the people, and which has the firm intention of consolidating
order in all of the departments of public administration.
One of its principal duties will be the careful direction of foreign
affairs, which are intimately united to the internal order of the
republic, and the preservation and expansion of those kindly
feelings which happily exist between Peru and the United States. In
order to attain this end, the government will take the greatest care
in causing the persons and interests of all foreign citizens and
subjects to be respected within this republic, and to comply
faithfully with all existing treaties.
Far from having interests in conflict with those of any other
country, Peru, comprehending perfectly her own, desires to preserve
the greatest harmony with all nations, and the present government is
convinced that that of your excellency is animated by the same
wish.
The government now inaugurated, eminently national by its origin and
by the course it proposes to follow, is foreign to all parties,
since it considers itself, above them all, inspired by justice and
strict impartiality, far from blindly refusing to recognize the
events of the last few years in the republic; considers it a duty to
remember those events in order to carry into effect all that may be
just, and to profit by experience.
His excellency the President, doing me the honor to believe that I
can interpret his noble views has named me minister of foreign
affairs. In accepting this high post, I have flattered myself with
the hope of finding in your excellency’s government the same
friendly sentiments which animate that of Peru. The profound
satisfaction I experience in once more entering into relations with
the diplomatic corps resident in Lima, is so much the greater since
I have the hope that the cordiality of our relations will contribute
towards augmenting the good understanding of the two governments,
and towards strengthening the ties which unite Peru to the United
States.
I dare to hope that your excellency will aid me with your benevolent
assistance in this important object, and I beg to assure your
excellency of my most distinguished consideration, and to subscribe
myself your excellency’s most attentive and obedient servant,
His Excellency General Alvin P. Hovey,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States.
Mr. Hovey to Señor Barrenechea.
Legation of the United
States,
Lima,
Peru,
August 10, 1868.
Sir: I have the honor to receive your
excellency’s note, No. 6, dated the 5th instant, in which I am
informed that the nation has chosen, and the congress proclaimed,
Colonel
[Page 869]
Don José Balta as
constitutional President of the republic, and that Colonel Balta
assumed the supreme power on the second of the present month.
Your excellency remarks that, after the agitations through which Peru
has passed, the government which I have the honor to represent, as
well as myself, will regard with lively satisfaction the
establishment of a government called into existence by the free vote
of the people, and which has as its firm object the consolidation of
order in all of the departments of public administration.
Progress is often the fruit of the agitations and excitements through
which nations pass in the grand march of their destiny. I sincerely
trust that this may be the case in the late agitations to which your
excellency has referred.
The undersigned is gratified to know that the amicable relations
existing between the governments of the United States and Peru, have
from the earliest hour of the Peruvian republic always been such as
should exist between governments professing the same principles, the
most cordial and friendly, and that your excellency’s government
desire that such relations should so continue.
So far from Peru having interests inconsistent with those of other
governments, her geographical position, her productions, mineral and
agricultural, and her best interests in every point of view (in the
opinion of the undersigned) demand not only peace at home, but
friendship with the world.
The undersigned has learned with great pleasure, from your
excellency’s note, of the intention of your excellency’s government
to cause the rights not only of Americans, but of all foreign
citizens to be respected throughout the limits of Peru. This is not
only in accordance with the policy of all progressive governments,
but is a doctrine absolutely necessary for every republic of
America, north or south.
Your excellency further informs me that the government recently
inaugurated is above party, and is a government instituted for the
people, and desires to comply with all that is just. Nobler impulses
could not animate the hearts of those in power, and I hope that the
most sanguine expectations of his excellency the President and his
cabinet in this regard, may be fully realized.
Permit me to say to your excellency that my past experience in Peru,
and knowledge of your excellency’s character, assure me that nothing
but the kindest relations can exist between our respective
governments as long as your excellency holds the high position to
which your excellency has been so justly and so honorably
elevated.
I beg to assure your excellency of my most distinguished
consideration.
His Excellency Señor Dr. Don J. A.
Barrenechea,
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
