No. 7.
Mr. Osborn
to Mr. Fish.
Buenos Ayres, March 19, 1877. (Received May 14.)
Sir: Much excitement and an intense feeling in this city have been developed within the past few weeks by the discussion in the public press as to the extent of crime committed daily in this city and province, in the shape of murder, assassination, and robberies.
The press at last declined to give any account of it except to give the number of assassinations and murders committed every twenty-four hours, and advised the people to keep off the streets at night, as it was exceedingly dangerous, and that it was undoubtedly true that assassins and murderers had almost possession of the city as well as the open country.
The pressure brought to bear by the public press and public opinion caused a change of ministers in the provincial cabinet, and Senor Quesada, some two weeks ago, was made minister of justice.
Upon examination by Minister Quesada into the matter, it was found that the jails in this city and elsewhere were crowded with parties tried or to be tried for the crimes of assassinations and murders; many had been tried and sentenced one and two years ago, and doubtless had been forgotten. In the jail at Mercedes, ninety miles west of Buenos Ayres, one hundred and twenty were found confined, tried already, or charged with the crime of murder or assassination.
The good people began to feel a relief, and applaud, as well as the press, Minister Quesada as the right man in the right place, as he at once ordered out five criminals convicted of murder to be shot, and the order was duly executed, and twenty more to be ready for the next execution.
I am, &c.,