He had instructed the Spanish representative not to ask any pecuniary indemnity for any of these unfriendly acts. But the Spanish consul had been assaulted, his consulate rifled, and the Spanish flag insulted. He had instructed the Spanish minister to require the disapprobation of these acts from the Chilian government, and that the flag of Spain should be saluted by order of the government of the republic, with which customary act, in such cases never refused, the Spanish representative was to announce all disagreeable incidents between the two governments terminated satisfactorily. Mr. Benavides explained to me that in this case Admiral Pareja would not have the conduct of the negotiations, but the ordinary diplomatic representative of Spain resident in Chili. I expressed to Mr. Benavides my own hope that on this basis cordial relations between Spain and the Chilian government would be promptly restored. Your obedient-servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington. HORATIO J. PERRY. Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. No. 198.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Mr. Benavides has so far recovered his health as to be able to resume the discharge of his official duties as minister of state. Yesterday was his first reception of the members of the foreign diplomatic corps since his return to Madrid, and I took this occasion to read to him your important instruction No. 86, of April 4, concerning the project for the neutralization of Hayti and San Domingo. Mr. Benavides said he was not surprised by your decision, which was in complete consonance with the traditional policy of the United States in such matters. Some days previous I had seen Mr. Madíon, Haytien minister at this court, to whom I also read your instruction. Mr. Madíon was pleased with the tone of it, but thought that your decision would be the cause of the failure of the plan, as the other powers were all dependent upon what the United States should consent to do. The fact was, that the agreement of the United States to the project was the one thing essential on which the success of the whole project hinged, and this failing, though the United States should look with pleasure upon the realization of the plan by other powers, none of these would move. He therefore considered that the whole project would have to be abandoned without more trouble in the matter. Mr. Benavides also said that, in his opinion, in the absence of the co-operation of the United States, nothing would be done. Sir John Crampton, the English minister at this court, who had also been consulted in this business, expressed to me in conversation, also, that there would nothing come of it. With the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington. HORATIO J. PERRY. No. 199.] Mr. Perry to Mr. Hunter LEGATION OF the United States, SIR: Your circular instruction of April 17, giving me official information of the horrible crimes committed in Washington on the night of the 14th of April, your printed circular of same date, ordering crape to be worn for six months, and your instruction No. 92, of April 18, in which, among other things, you transmit the welcome intelligence that the condition of the Secretary of State and of the Assistant Secretary was improving, have been received. You will have learned by my recent despatches, Nos. 193, 194, and 195, that this intelligence was long since anticipated by the telegraph, and I have not hesitated to take official action based on a telegram from Mr. Adams, our minister at London, dated the 26th ultimo. My own dispositions have been communicated to the department, as well as the action taken by the Spanish government, Queen, and legislative bodies, in presence of these events. The full mourning ordered by me will be preserved in this legation and consulates during the thirty days, and afterwards reduced to the crape upon the left arm for six months from the 15th April, in compliance with your printed orders to that effect. I beg to congratulate you with all my heart upon the improved state of both the Messrs. Seward, which I am happy to find fully confirmed by more recent telegrams, and I trust, indeed, the permanent and complete recovery of both may now be reasonably anticipated. În this belief I beg to enclose the accompanying private letter, which, if he be able to receive it, I beg you will be so good as to have delivered into Mr. Seward's hands. The occasion also permits me to offer to yourself the sincere expression of my personal respect. Your obedient servant, SIR: Your several despatches, from No 188, of the 21st ultimo, to No. 191, of the 24th ultimo, together with your private note, dated April 8, have been received. The thrilling account given in your No. 190 of the effect produced in the Spanish capital by the news of the fall of Richmond is highly interesting. SIR: General Prim left Madrid yesterday at one o'clock, on the northern line of railway. General Milans del Bosch, who will be remembered as the gentleman who went to Mexico to treat directly with President Juarez before the rupture between the Spanish and French commanders, left also by the same line at half past eight o'clock last evening. There are certain persons in Madrid who are persuaded that a revolutionary movement is about to break out in this country, and that the throne of Queen Isabel is seriously threatened. In this connexion I hear it mentioned that Señor D. Salustiano Olozaga, former prime minister and a prominent leader of the progresista party, is now in Italy, after having been in Paris, and it is understood that money proceeding from Italy has been received by other prominent men in Madrid. At the same time, General Chialolini, of the Italian army, is on a visit here to his wife's relatives, who are Spanish, but I see no indications that the people in Madrid are preparing for a popular insurrection-certainly not at present; and it is to be supposed that this event, if it occur at all, is not so near as it is represented to be. I have the honor to remain, with high respect, sir, your obedient servant, HORATIO J. PERRY. Hon. W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary of State. No. 100.] Mr. Hunter to Mr. Perry. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 30, 1865. SIR: I enclose herewith, for your information, a copy of a note of this date, addressed to Mr. Tassara, on the subject of the surrender of the ram Stonewall to the authorities of her Catholic Majesty at Havana. I take this occasion to acknowledge the receipt of your very interesting despatches Nos. 194, 195, and 196, together with one not numbered, dated April 29. Your proceedings are approved. I am, sir, your obedient servant, W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. HORATIO J. PERRY, Esq., &c., &c., Madrid. Mr. Hunter to Mr. Tassara. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 30, 1865. The undersigned, Acting Secretary of State of the United States, is directed by the President to accquaint Mr. Tassara, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of her Catholic Majesty, that official intelligence has been received at this department, from the consul of the United States at Havana, that the insurgent ram Stonewall, alias Olinde, which has been a subject of recent correspondence between this department and Mr. Tassara, was, on the 19th instant, surrendered by the person in charge of her to the authorities at that port, in whose custody she is supposed to remain. As this surrender must have been made for the purpose of evading the capture or destruction of this vessel by the naval forces of the United States, on her leaving Havana, which it is believed were entirely competent for either of these purposes, the proceeding must have been actuated by a desire to defraud the United States of their incontestable belligerent rights. It is not conceived how, by the law of nations, Spain could acquire from the commercial possession of the Stonewall any title to that vessel, if the person who made the deposit with the captain general of Cuba had been, in fact, at the time of deposit a belligerent rebel. Yet he could convey no title in an armed and hostile ship to a neutral state; but, in point of fact, those in command of the vessel, had at the time of her surrender, lost all the characteristics and privileges of a belligerent. They were pirates; no more, no less. The Stonewall belonged to their true sovereign the United States, even without capture. Spain, as it seems to the United States, could not by purchase or conveyance defeat the right of the United States to the vessel. Under these circumstances, and for the reasons stated, it is expected that the vessel will be delivered to the consul of the United States at Havana. Any reasonable expenses which may have been incurred by her Catholic Majesty's authorities, in consequence of the surrender and custody of the Stonewall, will be paid by the Navy Department here, upon presentation of the proper accounts. The undersigned offers to Mr. Tassara, on this occasion, renewed assurances of his highest consideration. Señor DON GABRIEL GARCIA Y TASSARA, &c, &c., &c. No. 205.] Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. * * [Extract.] W. HUNTER. LEGATION Of the United STATES, * Madrid, June 5, 1865. * * * SIR: Your No. 83, concerning the withdrawal of the declaration of neutrality and belligerent rights by this government, was made the subject of a conference with the Spanish minister of state, Mr. Benavides, who answered as usual that he was desirous to take the step indicated. I have subsequently recurred also to this subject, but nothing practical has been accomplished till the knowledge of the President's proclamation of May 10 was communicated to Mr Benavides, as related in my No. 203 of June 2. To-morrow will appear in the official Gazette a royal decree, signed by the Queen, at Aranjuez, yesterday, simply declaring the termination of the civil war in the United States, and annulling the royal decree of neutrality of June 17, 1861, with its declaration of belligerent and neutral rights, and all the rest which it contained. I have said to Mr. Benavides, from the first, that I considered this the best form for terminating the objectionable state of international relations between Spain and the United States established by that decree of 1861, and I only regret not to have been able to obtain it until the President's proclamation of May 10 has come to stimulate the action of this government. The Gazette of to-morrow will be published in time for me to enclose the printed royal decree of the 4th instant with this despatch, which leaves in the mail of 11 o'clock a. m. to-morrow. With the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant, HORATIO J. PERRY. Secretary of State. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, [Translation.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, ROYAL DECREE. The war between the northern and southern States in the republic of the United States being terminated, and there being an end, in consequence, by the re-establishment of peace, to the circumstances which induced the provisions contained in my royal decree of June 17, 1861, referring to the neutrality of Spain in the said war, I decree what follows. Only article. My royal decree of June 17, 1861, is abrogated. Given at Aranjuez, the fourth of June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, under the royal rubric. The minister of state. ANTONIO BENAVIDES. No. 207.J Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to transmit the original report made by the consul of the United States at Alicant of the proceedings on the occasion of receiving a deputation of the democratic party of that province, who manifested their sentiments in view of recent occurrences in the United States, and requested that the same should be made known to our government. I also enclose the address presented by a deputation of the democrats of Keres, near Cadiz, forwarded by Mr. Little, and referring to the same events. With the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington. [For enclosures see Appendix, separate volume.] HORATIO J. PERRY. Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. No. 208.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Madrid, June 8, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to enclose the address signed by the natives of Cuba and Porto Rico resident in this capital, on occasion of the death of President Lincoln, and which was presented to me yesterday by a committee of their num ber. Remarks appropriate to the occasion were made by one of the committee and replied to by me. Your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. [For enclosure see Appendix, separate volume.] HORATIO J. PERRY. Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: On the night of the 10th instant the colonel, lieutenant colonel, two majors, and captains of the regiment of Bourbon, in garrison at Valencia, were surprised in the barracks as they were about to lead the regiment out in insurrection, and were made prisoners. At the same time a force surrounded the progresista club in that city and made sixteen of the leading members pris oners. In consequence of this event the captain general of that province, Lieutenant General Villalonga, marquis of Maestrasgo, formerly a Carlist leader, has also been dismissed from his command, and with him Major General La Rocla, second in command, with many inferior officers. Whatever this movement may have been intended to be, it seems to have been abortive. Nevertheless, the Queen's government seems to be convinced that it has not suppressed the revolutionary symptoms in the peninsula by its vigorous and timely action at Valencia. The military governor of Cadiz has also been removed. The position of troops is being constantly varied, and movable columus of one brigade of infantry, with artillery and cavalry in proportion, have been organized and are moving from point to point throughout the country. |