Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1875, Volume II
Mr. Sutter to Mr. Foster.
[Received in Mexico 29th, 4.45 p.m.]
Minister of the United States:
It is more prudent for Mr. Hutchinson to go by water via Panama or San Francisco.
Mr. Foster to Mr. Lafragua.
Mexico , January 27, 1875.
Sir: Recalling to your excellency’s attention the information which I imparted to you in my visit to-day to the foreign office, communicated to me by the American consul at Acapulco, of an attack made upon a Protestant church last night at that place, and the murder of five persons, among whom was one American citizen, and the wounding of eleven others; and in view of the assassination, at Ahualulco, of Rev. John L. Stephens, an American citizen, I deem it my duty to inform your excellency that there are Protestant missions established in the States of Vera Cruz, Guerrero, Mexico, Puebla, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas, with all of which I am informed there are connected American citizens.
I take the liberty of suggesting to your excellency that specific instructions be issued to the governors or military authorities of said States to afford to them all necessary protection in the safe and peaceable enjoyment of religious worship, which is guaranteed to them by the constitution and laws of Mexico and the treaty between the two republics. It is to be hoped, for the safety of the lives of American citizens, as well as for the good name of Mexico, that such prompt, decisive, and severe measures may be taken as will prevent a recurrence of the shocking barbarity and intolerance manifested at Ahualulco and Acapulco.
With the assurances of my high consideration and esteem, I am your excellency’s obedient servant,
His Excellency J. M. Lafragua,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mexico.
Mr. Foster to Mr. Lafragua.
Mexico , January 28, 1875.
Sir: I inclose to your excellency a copy of a telegram received at a late hour last night from the consul at Acapulco. From this telegram it may be inferred that the local authorities at Acapulco have been either not able or not disposed to shield Rev. Mr. Hutchinson from the fury of the intolerant mob, which has successfully set at defiance the laws and authority of Mexico, and that he has been compelled to seek protection on board an American frigate and under the flag of my Government.
[Page 861]This event, following upon that of the assault upon the Protestant church and the murder of an American citizen, together with other persons, satisfies me that the earnest language which I used in our interview on yesterday was not too strong, neither did it exaggerate the gravity of that occurrence for the Mexican government. I embrace the opportunity afforded, by inclosing a copy of said telegram, to express the hope that you have communicated to the President the substance of our interview of yesterday, and that measures have already been ordered which will result, not only in the prompt and severe punishment of the criminals in this affair, but will satisfy American citizens in this country that the government has the ability and the disposition to protect them in the free and unrestrained exercise of religious instruction and worship.
I remain, with marked consideration and esteem, your excellency’s obedient servant,
His Excellency J. M. Lafragua,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mexico.
Mr. Lafragua to Mr. Foster.
Mexico , January 29, 1875.
Sir: I have the honor to remit inclosed to your excellency copies of five communications relative to the unfortunate affair which happened in Acapulco on the night of the 26th of the present month, and to which your excellency refers in your notes of the 27th and 28th of the same month.
By said communications your excellency will see that there have been ordered and there are being ordered the appropriate measures, by this department and by the departments of justice, interior; (gobernacion,) and war, to the end that peace and order may be insured in that locality, that religious liberty of the interested parties may be guaranteed, and the apprehension and punishment of those who may be found guilty may be secured.
I improve this opportunity to renew to your excellency the assurances of my very distinguished consideration.
To his Excellency John W. Foster,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of the United States of America.
Mr. Perez to Mr. Lafragua.
Section 2, Mexico , January 27, 1875.
To the Citizen Minister of Foreign Affairs, present:
I have to-day transcribed to the citizen governor of the State of Guerrero the communication which you were pleased to direct to me, under this date, relative to the attack which the Evangelical church had suffered in Acapulco, recommending to the said authority the measures which may be necessary in order to give security to persons and protection to liberty of worship, as also for the other ends which your said communication sets forth, to which I have the honor to reply.
Independence and liberty.
Chief Clerk.
Mr. Covarrubias to Mr. Lafragua.
Section 1, Mexico , January 27, 1875.
To the Citizen Minister of Foreign Affairs, present:
I to-day say to the citizen judge of the district of Acapulco that which follows:
“The government has had notice that the Evangelical church of your city has been attacked. If, as it appears, the deed is under the federal jurisdiction, you are urged [Page 862] to proceed to institute the appropriate investigation, hoping you will administer prompt and complete justice.”
And I transcribe it to you for your information and in reply to your communication of to-day.
Independence and liberty.
Mr. Gomez to Mr. Lafragua.
Section 2, Mexico , January 28, 1875.
To the Citizen Minister of Foreign Affairs:
The citizen secretary of the government of the State of Guerrero, in a telegram dated yesterday, reports to me the following, from Chilpancingo:
“To the Citizen Minister of the Interior, (Gobernacion:)
“The citizen governor of the State reports to me to-day from Dos Caminos:
“‘To the Citizen Secretary of the Government:
“‘On arriving here I received the following message from Acapulco:
““To the Citizen Governor of the State:
““Last night, at eight o’clock, about thirty men, armed with swords (machetes) and carbines, assaulted the Protestant church. They retired on the road toward, Carabalco.
“‘“Five dead; eleven wounded; much excitement. Measures are being taken to secure quiet, and an investigation.
“‘“MUNDIO M. MARTINEZ.”
“‘You will please transmit this to the Department of the Interior, adding that I am already ordering the appropriate measures in order that the disturbance may be quelled, and that, if my presence should be necessary, I will proceed to the port. I still await official details.
“‘D. ALVAREZ.’
“‘This I have the honor to lay before your superior knowledge as I am advised.’”
In response I have to-day sent the following telegram;
“This department is informed of the telegram with which you accompany the one which the citizen governor of your State sent you yesterday, communicating the fact that there had been an assault upon the Protestant church of Acapulco, by about thirty armed men. This I say to you in response, hoping that you may communicate to me whatever may occur relative to this unfortunate affair.”
This I have the honor to transcribe to you, in response to your communication relaative to the affair.
Independence and liberty.
Chief Clerk.
Mr. Covarrubias to Mr. Lafragua.
Section 1, Mexico , January 28, 1875.
To the Citizen Minister of Foreign Affairs, present:
In a telegram of the 27th instant to this department the judge of the district of the State of Guerrero reports the following:
“I inform you that last night, at fifteen minutes past eight o’clock, the Evangelical church of this city was attacked by the common people, armed with swords (machetes) [Page 863] and rifles, resulting in five being killed and eleven wounded of both parties, which this court found at the place of the unfortunate event. I learn that there are others in this community. The military commandant and the members of this court hastened at the time to render assistance with the force of the fort. The wounded and dead, among the last an American, were gathered up. The court was engaged during the whole night in the preliminary proceedings. Order has been re-established; no aggressor sound and well has been apprehended. I will communicate whatever occurs.”
This I transcribe for your information.
Independence and liberty.
Mr. Gomez Perez to Mr. Lafragua.
Section 2, Mexico , January 28, 1875.
To the Citizen Minister of Foreign Affairs, present:
The citizen governor of the State of Guerrero, in a telegram dated yesterday, at Dos Caminos, reports to me the following:
“Notwithstanding I have ordered the appropriate measures to be taken for the preservation of order and the protection of the persons threatened by the assault of last night, I have now the satisfaction to repeat the same, in obedience to the excitative of your department contained in the message which the department of foreign affairs incloses relative to that of the consul of the United States in Acapulco. Finally, I have made arrangements to collect a considerable force, notwithstanding the distance, in case that it might be necessary to make use of it to establish the disturbed order.”
I have the honor to transcribe this to you as a result of your communication of yesterday relative to the matter.
Chief Clerk.