No. 281.
Mr. Seward
to Mr. Marsh.
Washington, September 12, 1877.
Sir: Mr. Wurts’s dispatch of the 7th of August, ultimo (No. 692), in relation to the case of Mr. Felice Largomarsino, has been received.
At the date of my instruction to you of the 17th of July last, the Department was possessed of no information in relation to the matter beyond that which was brought to its attention by the notice of the affair in the public press. Shortly after, however, a letter was received from Largomarsino’s brother-in-law, Mr. Onesti, who is also a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Francisco, Cal.
Mr. Onesti gives a frank and detailed history of Largomarsino’s life, from his early infancy up to the present moment, together with an account of the occurrences in Italy which have resulted in his present embarassment. This account corresponds in all respects with the information conveyed by Mr. Wurts’s dispatch. Upon receipt of the dispatch in question, the subject was referred to the law officer of the Department, who, after a careful examination of all the facts and circumstances, as well as the precedents referred to by Mr. Wurts, has made a report, the suggestions of which meet with approval. I transmit herewith a copy of the report, for your information and guidance in the future progress of the matter.
The circumstances under which Mr. Largomarsino is detained from his home and his country are not only onerous to him, but are also a severe and great distress to his family and friends in California.
His home has been in that State from his childhood, his relations and his property interests are there, and all his hopes and future prospects in life are centered in the institutions and opportunities of this his adopted—it might almost be said native—country. He appears, moreover, to be an intelligent, patriotic, and law-abiding young man. He exhausted [Page 462] every legal remedy before the Italian tribunals which the laws of that country afforded him. Under these circumstances the Department conceives that he is entitled to the friendly interposition of this government with that of Italy, with a view of securing his discharge from the military service of the King of Italy and his restoration to his home.
It is desired, therefore, that you will take the earliest opportunity of bringing the subject again to the attention of His Majesty’s Government in this spirit of friendly international request, and in such words of your own as you may deem best calculated to facilitate the success of your efforts, reporting the result to the Department with as little delay as convenient.
I am, &c.,
Acting Secretary.