Mr. Williams to Mr. Seward.
No. 37.]
Legation of the United States,
San Salvador,
February 6, 1868.
Sir: I have the honor to, acknowledge the
receipt of your dispatch No. 15, of date December 27, 1867.
The regular session of the legislative chambers was opened with the
customary ceremonies on the 22d ultimo. The President read his message
to the joint convention of the chambers. I inclose herewith pretty
copious extracts, both from the message, (marked A,) and from the report
of the minister of foreign relations and of public instruction, (marked
B,) which may serve to exhibit the progressive condition of the
republic, and the earnest disposition of the present administration to
improve the material, moral, and educational status of the people. The
endeavors made to extend primary education is particularly noticeable
and commendable. Hitherto but little has been done in that regard, and
the
[Page 919]
great mass of the rural
population, and of the villagers, have been living in profound ignorance
of books, and with not a few of the peculiar traits, habits, and modes
of life of the aboriginal people of America. Such a population, as
bigoted and superstitious as ignorant, furnish ready materials, as the
history of these republics shows, for the operations of discontented,
revengeful, or interested ambition, and for the evil exercise of
venturesome talents, or unscrupulous shrewdness, whether of church or
state.
That the present government has been able to awaken a general interest in
education, and to do so much to set in motion any liberal system, and
that its disposition is so earnest for universal instruction, even to
the extent of inforcing attendance upon schools, furnish the most
gratifying signs for the future peace and prosperity of the republic,
and especially so if we add to these favorable indications the important
influences of an increasing demand for labor, and steady employment,
consequent upon the many new agricultural enterprises that now engage
the attention and enlist the peaceful sympathies and efforts of
intelligence and capital.
It is understood that the legislative chambers are almost unanimously in
sympathy with the executive government. There would seem, therefore, no
probability at present of any serious opposition to the administration
of President Dueñas, nor any violent interruption to the admirable
progress the public is making in the development of its agricultural
riches.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
A.
[Translation.]
Extracts from the message of
President Dueñas to the legislative chambers of the republic of
Salvador, January 22, 1868.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Peace, the indispensable basis of the progress and well-being of
nations, has suffered no change nor molestation with us during the
year, and I have reason to believe will not be disturbed for time to
come, for it is founded on the justice and equity with which public
affairs are administered, and on our convictions and experiences of
past misfortunes.
The political institutions are respected and faithfully observed by
the executive and other public functionaries, to which circumstance
we owe the regularity with which the national powers move in their
proper spheres without conflicts; a point of difficulty with all
governments which, like ours, are divided into absolute independent
perogative and duties undisturbed by grave political questions, we
have been permitted to give our attention to other interests of no
less importance—to the regulation of the finances, public
instruction, important internal improvements, and to an impulse of
all those matters which produce positive benefits to the people. To
these topics I shall confine myself in this brief discourse.
The friendly relations which the republic maintains with all the
powers of Europe and America have been cultivated with the greatest
assiduity, and it is with much satisfaction I have to inform you
that no misunderstanding has occurred with any, but, on the
contrary, the government has received constant proofs of sympathy
and consideration. We have extended our political and commercial
relations by the appointment of additional ministers and consuls,
which represent us now in almost all foreign countries.
With the adjacent republics the greatest cordiality has been
preserved. The compacts which unite us, and the obligations of
national vicinage, have been religiously observed.
[Page 920]
The ecclesiastical authority has worked in harmony with the civil
power, and has contributed with the means it possesses, by its high
social position and by its ministry, to preserve order and morality
among the people.
The supreme tribunal of justice, and the inferior courts, have
labored during your recess with a regularity and independence which
have contributed to the conservation of good order.
Higher instruction has made greater progress than in the preceding
year. The national college and university are supplied with good
teachers, excellent instruments and books, and with whatever is
necessary for the better education of the youth. The revenues
assigned to this branch have increased, and are now sufficient for
the payment of the employes, for repairs of the buildings, and for
the purchase of useful objects.
The academies of drawing and painting make additional progress
daily.
A considerable expansion has been given to primary education, so that
there is now no village, however small, that does not possess its
public school regularly provided.
Equal care has been taken for the education of the female sex, and
the progress made in the schools for girls is very marked.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The total product of the revenues for the fiscal year was $832,150
79, the expenditures, including payments of unconsolidated debt,
$745,375, leaving an existing balance of $86,775 15 in the treasury.
A comparison of these figures with those of last year show an
increased revenue of $48,437 26. There is no foreign debt. The
interior debt, which consists of circulating bills at six per cent,
interest, reaches the sum of $694,380, having undergone a
considerable reduction during the year last past. During the present
season the harvests have had a regular augmentation, and commerce a
rapid extension. Increased wealth and increased revenues may be
expected during the current year. An arrangement has been entered
into for the establishment of a bank, which will give much impulse
to commercial transactions. Our money currency possesses defects in
depreciation from long use, which render its circulation difficult,
and the kind known as “clipped money” (Macuquina) should be wholly
retired.
The government, through the proper department, will submit the
project of a law to provide a remedy.
At the same time will be presented a new tariff-bill to correct the
many errors and inaccuracies, and to supply the deficiencies of the
existing law.
The public works have been carried forward with activity. The most
important roads are kept in good condition, and new wagon roads have
been opened, productive of great benefits to commerce and to the
people. The work on the national palace continues without
interruption. It is of considerable magnitude, and cannot be pressed
forward as rapidly as might be desired.
* * * * * * * * * * *
In the department of war many reforms have taken place, and arms and
materials have been purchased, which will be detailed in the report
of the minister. The storehouses are well provided, and care is
taken that they shall be kept prepared at all times for such
emergencies as may arise.
The work of recompilation of the laws has been concluded, though not
yet inserted into our codes. It will be presented to you for your
approbation by the minister of the interior.
The laws, decrees, and orders enacted by the last legislature have
been carried into effect.
The respective ministers will submit for your information certain
projects for supplying defects in existing legislation, and for
other objects of known utility. Your accredited patriotism, and your
enlightened intelligence will best instruct you in the line of your
high commission, and I invoke the Omnipotent to grant you the
requisite success.
San
Salvador,
January 22, 1868.
B.
[Translation.]
Extracts from the report of Don
Gregorio Arbizir, minister of foreign relations and of public
instruction of the republic of Salvador, made to the legislative
chambers, January 29, 1868.
* * * * * * * * * *
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
During the past year no question has arisen to interrupt tranquillity
and good relations with any of the countries of Europe or
America.
[Page 921]
With the republics of Central America we preserve perfect harmony,
and especially with Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, boundary
states of Salvador, our relations have been most cordial and
friendly. Our government has endeavored to pursue a line of conduct
that could give no cause of complaint to our neighbors, and there
has been a corresponding reciprocity on their part.
Under the shelter of this pacific and friendly condition, our
commerce with these countries has greatly enlarged, and with
intimate commercial relations unimpeded, harmony and fraternity
among the respective people have been more and more cemented, local
feeling removed, and a community of interests created, all of which
is leading to a possible realization of a unification, not in the mode formerly attempted by the
unjust, inefficacious, and destructive force of arms, but by those
pacific means which are in consonance with justice, humanity,
progress, and civilization. With some of the other republics of
Spanish origin we maintain friendly relations, and the government
has watched with anxiety the progress of deplorable occurrences in
several of those states. We cannot be indifferent to the fortunes of
these countries, with which we have a community of origin, of
religion, of language, and of customs.
The great republic of the north, whose political institutions have
served as a model for ours, has always given us proofs of sympathy
and friendship. Our legation near the government of Washington
continues established, and furnishes to the country important
services. It has always been well received by that government.
At the beginning of the past year the President of the United States
was pleased to accredit near this government, in the capacity of
minister resident, Mr. Alpheus S. Williams, who was received by the
President of the republic with all the consideration due to his
official character. He continues in this country, discharging his
functions in the most perfect accord and good intelligence with the
government.
The government of the United States has also established consulates
in various commercial places of the republic, to the incumbents of
which corresponding exequaturs have been
given.
With the powers of Europe with which we have treaties no occasion of
disagreement has occurred. These treaties have been faithfully
observed by both parties.
This government takes care that strangers shall enjoy every class of
guaranty to their persons and property, even those with whose
respective governments we have no express compacts.
The Italian government has been pleased to accredit to this
government a chargé d’affaires, giving the appointment to the Duke
of Licignano, with whom the undersigned, under the authority of the
President, is about to conclude a treaty of extradition, which will
be. submitted in due time for your consideration.
The government of her Britannic Majesty, with which our relations are
perfectly frank and friendly, has accredited Mr. Edwin Corbett in
the quality of consul general and chargé d’affaires.
Both Mr. Corbett and the Duke of Licignano have presented their
credentials to the department in my charge, and were cordially
received by his excellency the President of the republic.
Our legations in France, England, and Rome continue to the
satisfaction of the government, and our relations with those
countries remain on a footing of cordiality and good understanding.
The government has thought advisable to appoint chargés d’affaires
in Italy, Belgium, and Prussia, and has named for those posts
Señores Julio Thirion, D’José Maria Torres Caicedo, and D’Adolpho
Lindemann, citizens who under all aspects have merited the entire
confidence of the government. For the purpose of better attending to
the exterior interest of our international affairs, the government
has thought it advisable to establish consulates in several
commercial places of Europe and America, where the want of this
class of employés has made apparent. A separate list of the
ministers and consuls will be transmitted.
Such, Señores Representatives, is the actual condition of our foreign
relations, which the government has striven to preserve in a
satisfactory state by every endeavor compatible with the honor, the
interests, and the dignity of the nation, and which policy we see
now no reason to change.
A small state is constantly exposed to find itself involved in
unpleasant and grave questions with other countries, but this
government recognizes as a fact that its very weakness may serve as
a condition of guaranty and security when it does all in its power
to mark its policy with the stamp of good faith and of
integrity.
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
Public instruction, necessary and useful to all countries and in all
times, is indispensable in a state which, like ours, calls through
its institutions all citizens to take part in the direction of its
public affairs. A people exercising an act of sovereignty of the
highest importance, that of choosing its agents selected from among
all classes of society, without other essential conditions than
knowledge and virtue, can never properly
[Page 922]
discharge that duty without the qualifications
obtained through the instrumentality of public instruction.
From this conviction in the government springs its earnest endeavors
to improve and extend the education of the youth.
The university, an institution which already does honor to the
country, and which is especially charged with the direction of the
professional courses, furnishes daily evidences of improvement and
better results. In the capacity of its immediate chief, I have been
able to observe and know the progress made. During the last year
several studious and moral youth have concluded their respective
terms, giving proofs of valuable acquirements (elementary though
they may be) in many branches of the sciences.
* * * * * * * *
As to the professional studies, professorships have been established
in conformity to the university statutes, with the single addition
of a professorship of land-surveying.
The studies of the faculty of sciences and letters are arranged
according to the requirements of the ordinances, but especial
attention has been given to make more effective and advantageous the
study of living languages as well as those of natural history and
chemistry, so necessary to the practical uses of life, especially in
our epoch. With this object, several apparatus, instruments, and
other useful articles have been provided, without abandoning the
purpose of making still further important additions and improvements
in this regard for the university.
The national college, as I had the honor to say in my report of last
year, was in a deplorable condition. The government, comprehending
that this decline proceeded essentially from the organization of the
establishment, gave it a new form, from which the most beneficial
results have followed. A significant proof of its improved condition
is found in the increased number of students. At the end of 1866
there were not more than from twenty-five to thirty collegiates. In
the past year, in which commenced the new system, there were nearly
one hundred, and it is believed with confidence that in the present
year that number will be greatly increased.
* * * * * * * *
In conformity with the provisions of the university statutes the
council of public instruction has permitted the establishment of
departmental academies, where could be pursued the studies which
correspond to the faculty of sciences and letters, and with
conditions that the students should be subjected to an examination
in the university as to the validity of their course of studies.
* * * * * * * *
As to the primary instruction, the purpose has been to extend it to
every village. This education, gratuitous, as is that of the higher
schools, can never produce its full benefits until it is made
obligatory. In that way we may succeed in generalizing among the
most ignorant class a knowledge of reading and writing, of the
elements of morals, of arithmetic, and of the grammar of our
language.
The education of the female sex has not been neglected. Several
schools for girls have been established, and to others pecuniary aid
has been given. For the purpose or giving the female youth an
education superior to what hitherto could be given in this country,
the government has arranged to bring from Europe instructors to
found a female college.
We have encountered many difficulties in our endeavors to sustain the
primary instruction, at least in the form and extension in which it
actually is. The funds destined to this branch are deficient in some
of the departments. To meet the most urgent of these necessities the
government found itself obliged to make provision from the fund for
extraordinary expenses.
The inspection and superintendence of the schools for drawing and
painting having been put under the control of the secretaryship in
my charge, it is my duty to inform you that both establishments have
made great progress in both branches. The natural talent of our
youth to comprehend the delicate harmonies of the fine arts is so
remarkable that we may well indulge the hope of possessing in a
short time artists who will do honor to the country, and who will
demonstrate that the solicitude of the government to furnish this
artistic institution has not been fruitless.
* * * * * * * *
If this brief relation gives you no notice of diplomatic labors on
the part of the government to adjust difficult and disagreeable
questions, nor that new systems of public instruction (which,
perhaps, might soon prove inadequate) have been introduced, it will
at least demonstrate that the government has endeavored faithfully
to fulfill its obligations, has executed the laws with religious
solicitude, and has striven to maintain intact the good name of the
republic, and that it strives constantly to establish a system of
public instruction as perfect in its extent and character as the
peculiar circumstances of the country will permit.
San Salvador,
January 29,
1868.
