[Extract.]

Mr. Sullivan to Mr. Seward.

No. 33.]

Sir: In conformity with your Nos. 3, 5, and 8, of June the 5th, of July 6th and 16th last, (which reached me but a few days since,) I addressed a note to the Colombian government asking explanations touching the irregularity of the shipment of American citizens in the steamer R. R. Cuyler, alias Rayo, at New York, and their subsequent bad treatment by the Colombian authorities.

* * * * * * * * *

I have the honor to inclose herewith, for your consideration and instructions, copies of correspondence had between myself and the Colombian government, and some of our consuls on the coast, on this new painful subject, viz:

A is my letter to the Colombian government; B, the answer; C, my reply; D, E, letters from the United States consul at Carthagena; F, my answer and instructions; H, my letter to the United States consul at Panama, with instructions; I, my letter to United States commercial agent at Baranquilla; J, the Diario Oficial exposing General Salgar.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

PETER J. SULLIVAN.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

A.

Mr. Sullivan to Señor Martin.

Sir: I have the honor to inform your excellency that I have been instructed by my government to demand of the government of Colombia explanations touching the irregularity of the shipment of American citizens in the steamer R. R. Cuyler at the port of New York by the Colombian executive government, and its subsequent refusal to pay them their wages.

To the inquiry I have now to add that of the barbarous and cruel murder of some of these very men by the Colombian national army at Carthagena, aided by the cunning connivance of its commander, and that of his brother, the President of the State of Bolivar.

The United States consul at that place, in a note of the 14th ultimo, informs me of the recent disgraceful attack upon four of these men by a mob composed principally of the national officers and soldiers garrisoning the city of Carthagena, and of the brutal murder of George A. Borchart and J. W. Murdaugh, and the serious wounding of S. L. Dornin, all natives of the United States of America. That the assassins, while butchering their victims, derisively denounced them as Americans, and when they had completed the murder, robbed and denuded the dead bodies of everything of value found upon them.

That at the time these assaults and murders were being concocted and committed, the President of the State of Bolivar, who had been previously warned of the fact, was quietly seated in the “cuartel” when the national officers and soldiers went out therefrom to commit these foul and bloody deeds. And his brother, the commander of these troops, although duly informed by the murderers of their intention to commit these crimes, having taken no measures to prevent them, shows conclusively that the state and national authorities at Carthagena had with premeditated and deliberate malice cunningly connived at, and were parties to, the welcoming of these foredoomed Americans, “with bloody hands to inhospitable graves.”

[Page 1040]

If these men were guilty of any crime, why were they not duly arrested and tried according to Colombian laws and the laws of civilized nations?

A brief statement of their sad case will suffice to show that the Colombian government is unquestionably responsible to that of the United States of America for the fitting out, under false pretenses, the said steamer in the port of the latter, and for decoying those men from their native land and afterwards murdering them without cause, without trial, while in an utterly helpless condition on Colombian soil. On the 28th of August, 1866, the executive government of Colombia “in the name of God!” entered into a secret treaty with Peru, having for one of its objects the fitting out and manning in ports of the United States of America (without the knowledge or consent of the government of that country) vessels of war, to be ultimately used by Peru in her war with Spain.

Subsequently General Salgar, the Colombian minister at Washington, secretly acting upon and carrying out the unlawful purposes of this treaty, assured in the most positive manner the government of the United States of America that his government had entered into a contract with citizens of said United States for the purchase, arming, and equipping of said steamer, to be delivered at a Colombian port, and gave bond that this armed vessel was for the sole use and benefit of his own government, he then well knowing that said armed vessel was bought for the government of Peru to be used against Spain.

On the plighted faith of the Colombian government, pledged by its said minister, this vessel, with American officers and crew, was permitted to sail from the port of New York upon her voyage, in the expectation that she would become a public armed vessel of the United States of Colombia, and subsequently delivered up to, and was received by the Colombian executive government and its proper agents, on the Colombian coast.

Neither the subtlety of the logician nor the blandishments of the rhetorician can justly palliate or deny the accountability of the Colombian government to that of the country which I have the honor to represent, for the unlawful fitting out and bringing from the port of New York this armed vessel; for the duplicity and fraud practiced by the officials of Colombia upon these unfortunate Americans, for the purpose of alluring them from their native homes, under the plausible guise of splendid, honorable employment, and subsequently to abandon them without just cause, and leave them in a destitute and utterly helpless condition, as outcasts upon the shores of Colombia, and while in this situation to murder them in cold blood.

What redress can or will the Colombian government offer to that of the United States of America for these grievances, remains to be seen.

I now demand of the Colombian government, that the said commander of the troops at Carthagena be forthwith stricken from the army rolls in disgrace; that all parties, principal and accessories, to the said assault and murders, shall be forthwith arrested, tried, and punished according to law, and such other satisfaction as justice and the nature of this case may require.

I request an answer to this note within five days from its date, as by that time I shall prepare dispatches for my government and its consuls on the Colombian coast on this subject.

But ere I close this note I must state I believe in my heart the present government of Colombia is sincerely disposed to maintain good order and tranquillity at home, and to preserve its integrity and honor with all foreign powers; and that it loves the government, people, and institutions of the United States of America; and hence, I believe, will not sanction the inhuman conduct of the said commander of these butchers, or of his brother, the President of the State of Bolivar, nor of these atrocious murders.

I have the honor to reiterate to your excellency my unfaltering faith in your high sense of honor and love of justice, and to remain your excellency’s obedient servant,

PETER J. SULLIVAN.

His Excellency Doctor Carlos Martin, Secretary of the Interior and Foreign Relations U. S. C.

B.

[Translation.]

Mr. Martin to Mr. Sullivan.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive the note dated 5th instant, which your excellency has been pleased to remit to this office, in which you state that you have received instructions from your government to demand an explanation from that of Colombia [Page 1041] respecting the irregular conduct of the Colombian administration in shipping American citizens on board the steamer R. R. Cuyler, and afterwards refusing to pay them their salaries. And your excellency adds that you have to make another demand for explanations respecting the barbarous and cruel assassination of some of the above-mentioned citizens by the Colombian national army stationed in Carthagena, aided by the crafty support of their commander, and of the brother of the latter, President of the State of Bolivar, transmitting also certain details bearing reference to the occurrence, which the consul of the United States resident in Carthagena has remitted to the American legation.

The above-mentioned communication having been laid before the citizen President, I have received instructions to forward to your excellency the following reply:

The federal government of Colombia laments the events which your excellency has been pleased to communicate, and most profoundly deplores that the national forces organized and stationed in Carthagena, failing to fulfill their duties as protectors of rights and security, as appears by your excellency’s statement, should unfortunately have allowed themselves to be induced to act with the barbarous cruelty which you relate.

The federal government, in obedience to the sentiments of justice which animate it, and yielding to its natural indignation at such proceedings, as well as to the friendship which it entertains for the American people and their government, has dictated all the measures necessary to carry into effect an inquiry into the facts to which your excellency refers, and to discover the persons who have taken part in such conduct, and bring to effectual and rigorous trial all such as may be responsible for the same, be they who they may, in accordance with, the constitution and the law.

In the same manner the said government has issued peremptory orders for disbanding the battalion which was in Carthagena under the command of Señor Gonzales Carazo, to which the officers referred to by your excellency’s note belonged; the said force will therefore no longer be in the service of the republic.

The federal government will proceed, as respects the demand made by your excellency, for the dismissal from the service of the commander of the forces stationed in Carthagena, in the same manner as in the other reparations for which application is made in the note above referred to, with all the energy and decision which justice demands, and as are compatible with the constitution and laws.

No consideration shall avail to detain the federal government in the path which it has chosen for the purpose of giving the American government due and legal reparation for such acts.

The attorney general, our highest functionary, who can judicially speak for the nation, has received instructions and been peremptorily ordered to carry into effect all such measures as may bring to judgment the parties guilty of the assassination of the unfortunate American citizens Borchart and Murdaugh.

The government of Bolivar has also been called upon to give a strict account of its conduct in this respect, as an agent of the federal government.

Your excellency complains, also, of the irregular proceedings of the former Colombian administration in celebrating the secret convention of 28th August, 1866, among the stipulations of which appears one for equipping and arming, in the ports of the United States of America, certain vessels which were to be delivered by Peruvian agents; and demands an explanation of certain acts which have been performed in consequence of the said convention, and which affect the American government, as having been executed in its dominions, such as the sailing of the steamer Rayo from New York.

In order to remove every motive of complaint in this respect, I beg leave to remind the Hon. Mr. Sullivan that the executive government of Colombia, through this office of state, guided by a sentiment of of the highest esteem for the relations which unite it with that of the American Union, and with the object of maintaining the said relations upon the basis of a perfect understanding and cordiality, considered that the most perfect honor, frankness, and truth, would be the best means for securing in a permanent manner the said beneficial relations. In observance of such a line of conduct the honorable minister was invited to this office of state a very few days after his arrival in this capital, and the national government, with a spontaneousness which proves its good faith, lost no time to acquaint him with the said secret convention, as well as with all the acts performed in execution thereof which had any reference to the American government.

The conference took place on the 1st of August, and from the minute which was drawn up thereof, it appears that the Hon. Mr. Sullivan duly appreciated the said conduct, and accepted the explanations respecting the secret convention, which, from a sense of the justice due to his government, were spontaneously offered him.

In the above-mentioned conference, I informed your excellency that General Salgar had been superseded in his mission near the American government on the 31st of last May, on which day the executive power of Colombia had found reason to believe that he had taken part in the execution of the said convention; that he would be held [Page 1042] responsible to the supreme federal court of Colombia for his proceedings. Upon that occasion I also stated to your excellency that one of the causes of the responsibility which were then in course of being inquired into, as regards General Mosquera, chief of the former executive administration of Colombia, and at present suspended from the exercise of the presidential functions, and submitted to trial before the senate of the Union, is that of having celebrated and commenced to carry into effect the said secret convention, abandoning in this manner the line of conduct prescribed by the constitution. I informed your excellency, also, that on the 5th of July last, upon the present executive government receiving the first advice of the said act, its validity was repudiated in accordance with a resolution which has occasioned a controversy with the representative of the Peruvian republic in this capital.

The nation, the present government in its name, has done everything in its power. In order to vindicate its rights which were violated by unfaithful magistrates, the persons of the latter were seized for the purpose of placing them in the dock of the accused before the tribunal in such case provided, the senate of the plenipotentiaries. With a view to give satisfaction to friendly nations, to fulfill the international duties, and to carry into effect the institutions of Colombia, the said government has ignored the validity of the secret convention of 28th August, 1866, and especially with the American government, that of Colombia lost no time in proving its faithfulness by laying before the former a full account of the said convention, and of everything connected therewith, without having received any invitation in that respect, and guided solely by the greatest integrity and deference.

The expression contained in the above-mentioned note of the Hon. Mr. Sullivan, to which I have the honor to reply, by which he recognizes in my government a sincere desire to maintain public order in the interior, preserve its honor before all foreign powers, and continue its friendly relations with the government and people of the United States of America, is profoundly grateful to the federal government.

The act of justice which your excellency hopes to obtain, as a proof of these sentiments of consideration for your goverment, shall be an object of the special attention of the executive power of Colombia, who will endeavor to justify on this solemn occasion the faith which your excellency declares he has in its high sentiments of honor and love of justice.

In compliance with the desire manifested by your excellency to obtain an early reply, by reason of the approaching dispatch of the post, I have lost no time in attending thereto, and take advantage of the present opportunity to subscribe myself the Hon. General Sullivan’s most attentive and faithful servant,

CARLOS MARTIN.

C.

Mr. Sullivan to Señor Martin.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of the 10th, in reply to mine of the 5th instant, relative to the irregular shipment of American citizens in the steamer R. R. Cuyler, at New York, by the Colombian government, and the subsequent abuse of all, and murder of some, of these men at Carthagena.

I receive with infinite gratification the renewed token of the friendly spirit of the republic of the United States of Colombia towards the government and people of the United States of America; and in behalf of my government I reciprocate the sentiments of friendship expressed by you, in your said note, for my government.

So long as this friendly spirit exists, which I trust will be perpetual, the sister republics of America and Colombia will be happy in their mutual relations towards, and frank confidence in, each other; and the attempts of bad and designing men to disturb these relations will be speedily detected, exposed, and punished.

Neither thall the friendship of our respective countries be endangered, nor the republican institutions perish by the hands of assassins.

In the spirit of true friendship, I have the honor to remain your excellency’s most obedient servant,

PETER J. SULLIVAN.

His Excellency Señor Dr. Carlos Martin, Secretary of the Interior and Foreign Relations United States of Colombia.

[Page 1043]

D.

Mr. Hanaberg to Mr. Sullivan.

Sir: I refer you to my last report of the second instant, giving you an account of the horrible murder of the two officers of the Rayo, Messrs. Borchart and Murdaugh, and the serious wounding of Mr. Dornin, a son of Commodore Dornin of the United States navy. This case has appeared to me so much worse, from the fact that the authorities have not taken any steps for the punishment of the guilty parties, that I have thought it best to call your attention officially to the matter. At the time those poor fellows were being killed, the President of the State was quietly sitting in the cuartel, from which the officers and soldiers were going out to commit the bloody deeds. The commander of the troops, who is the brother of the President, was informed by the murderers of their intentions; but he took no active measures to prevent the commission of the crime. In consequence of this it will appear to those brutal officers and soldiers that they can kill Americans (as they consider those officers) with impunity, and I think the case should be brought to the notice of the national government by some one.

On the 5th instant a Spanish steamer arrived here from Santa Martha. There were on board three of the crew of the Rayo, and I thought it necessary to go on board and request them not to come on shore, or they might have been murdered. We have heard nothing from Santa Martha since this affair. The Rayo drifted from her moorings during a squall a few nights since, and brought up alongside of a coral reef. Although she received no immediate damage, it is my opinion she will never leave there.

The day before yesterday we received a mail from the interior; but these were only late dates from Honda, (August 29,) the correspondence, &c., from Bogota being from the month of May.

We have no later news from the United States since my last. There are rumors of further troubles at Barranquilla; but there is no reliable news from there.

I remain, yours, very truly,

AUG. S. HANABERG.

General Peter J. Sullivan, Minister Resident Bogota, United States of Colombia.

E.

Mr. Hanaberg to Mr. Sullivan.

No. 19.]

Sir: In my unofficial letter under date of the 2d ultimo, I informed you of the disgraceful attack upon four of the late officers of the steamer Rayo by a mob composed principally of the officers and soldiers of the garrison of this city, and of the brutal murder of Messrs. George A. Borchart and J. W. Murdaugh, and the serious wounding of T. L. Dornin, natives of the United States, who were at the time employed as officers of the Colombian steamer Colombia. As I had repeatedly expressed my opinion to those officers as well as to the authorities of this State, that the former having taking service under this government and an active part in the civil war in the State of Magdalena, as they were at the time, still in the Colombian service, I did not consider it my duty to take any official steps in regard to the affair. Although I applied to the President of the State, after the murder of the two officers, requiring him to afford protection to the other two, that they might leave the city, and also applied for the bodies of the two murdered persons, and attended to their burial, I did so unofficially. Nevertheless it is provoking and alarming to find that neither the local authorities nor the agents of the national government have taken any steps in this matter. Not only was there no protection afforded to these officers of the national government, when it was known that their lives were threatened, but since their murder, when, after going through the form of a judicial investigation, it has been impossible to prevent its appearing who were the principal assassins, no one has been arrested, and those assassins continue in the command of the national forces garrisoning this city. They not only killed those poor men whom they speak of as Americans, but robbed their dead bodies of everything of value which was found upon them, even to their clothing.

Besides being the bearers of official documents from the government of the State of Magdalena, two of those officers brought private letters from General Santos Gutierez, [Page 1044] the national President elect, recommending them to the protection of the President of the State of Bolivar; these letters were handed to his excellency the morning after the murder of one of the persons recommended, and were covered with the blood of the other.

In consideration of this criminal indifference on the part of the government of the State, I have thought it proper to state the case officially to you, and I have also sent a full account of the affair to the Department of State.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

AUG S. HANABERG, United States Consul.

General Peter J. Sullivan, U. S. Minister Resident, Bogota, United States of Colombia.

F.

Mr. Sullivan to Mr. Hanaberg.

Sir: Your letter of the 2d, and two of the 14th ultimo, detailing the late inhuman murder of American citizens at Carthagena, have been but recently received.

That you might see with what diligence and paternal care our government watches over the lives and property of its people both at home and abroad, I inclose herewith copies of correspondence had between myself and the Colombian government on this unlawful and cruel affair.

You will be careful in your deportment and expressions to and of the people of Carthagena on the subject to which this correspondence relates, and use your best endeavors to preserve the friendly relations that now happily exist between the government of Colombia and ours.

You will proceed at once to fully investigate the cause and mode of the assassination of George A. Borchart and I. W. Murdaugh, and the assault upon and wounding of T. L. Dornin, mentioned in your said letters, and duly report the result to our government.

These men having been fraudulently decoyed from their native land, have not lost their character or rights as American citizens. It may be a question whether that right did not become dormant while they were in the actual service of the Colombian government? Under the circumstances of the case, I think not; but of this hereafter.

To enable you to take testimony in this case without fear or intimidation, you will order to your aid the commander of any United States war ship or steamer at Colon, and retain him with his command at Carthagena until your task is well finished, or until you can safely do without him.

You will report to me from time to time the course of events in this matter.

I remain, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,

PETER J. SULLIVAN.

Augustus S. Hanaberg, Esq.,U. S. Consul at Carthagena, United States of Colombia.

H.

Mr. Sullivan to Mr. Smith.

Sir: That you might see with what diligence and paternal care our government watches over the lives and property of its people, both at home and abroad, I inclose herewith copies of correspondence had between the Colombian government and myself, on the subject of the irregular shipment of American citizens in the steamer R. R. Cuyler, at New York, by the Colombian government, and the subsequent abuse of all, and murder of some, of these men at Carthagena.

What may yet grow out of this affair I cannot now clearly see. The Colombian government, no matter how well inclined, is almost powerless to redress these grievances, or to afford sufficient security against a repetition of them. But I shall take good care that the name of an American citizen shall be respected throughout Colombia, and that the lives and property of our fellow-citizens shall be protected in the fature against unlawful violence and savage barbarism.

[Page 1045]

That there exists a premeditated scheme of heretofore baffled and designing men along the coast of Colombia, to murder and rob our people residing or sojourning among them, and provoke hostilities between our government and this, I firmly believe, and in order to examine into and frustrate it, if in existence, you will repair, without delay, to Mr. Robinson, our vice-consul at Colon, and consult with him on the subject, and report the result to me.

I have, as you are aware, great confidence in your sound discretion and ripe judgment. Mr. Robinson you will find to be a discreet, intelligent, and faithful officer, on whose judgment, in these matters, you can safely rely, and to whom you will promptly make known the whole contents of this and accompanying dispatches.

On reflection, I think that Mr. Robinson and yourself had better order any of our men-of-war at Colon to go immediately to the aid of our consul at Carthagena, who is ordered to take testimony in and report upon said assaults and murders in Carthagena. You will promptly report to me on the subject of this note.

I remain, dear general, very respectfully, you obedient servant,

PETER J. SULLIVAN.

General T. K. Smith, U. S. Consul at Panama, U. S. C.

I.

Mr. Sullivan to Mr. Pellet.

Sir: I have duly received your note announcing the arrival at Baranquilla of the President elect of Colombia and the Brazilian minister, and the attention paid to them at that place. Both of these gentlemen are now in Bogota, and have paid their respects to me.

That you may perceive the watchfulness of our government over the lives and interests of its citizens in this country, I inclose, herewith, copies of correspondence had between the Colombian government and myself, on the subject of the late inhuman murder of Americans at Carthagena.

I am sure I need hardly caution you to be very careful in your language to and of the people of this country on the subject to which these papers relate. I should not be astonished if there was a conspiracy on the coast to murder and rob more of our people who may happen to be among them.

I am, dear colonel, with great respect, your obedient servant,

PETER J. SULLIVAN.

Colonel E. P. Pellet, U. S. Commercial Agent, Baranquilla, U. S. C.