Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
[Translation.]
Tours, Department of Indre
Loire,
May 26, 1864.
Sir: As soon as the blind apologists of the
sophisms and prejudices of another epoch roused the passions and
interests of the government near which you are accredited, producing
the unjustifiable invasion of which the Mexican territory is at
present the theatre, we comprehended the new field which presented
itself to the human race to continue its conquests of progress, of
improvement, and of perfection, to which it incessantly aspires in
compliance with laws which nothing can impede.
Abstracting ourselves from selfish thoughts, we enter in good faith
on the path of investigation, seeking the rules of morality, the
dogmas of philosophy, the precepts of justice, on which might hang
the pretext for overthrowing our independence, destroying our
institutions, stifling our opinions, and casting around our necks
the chains forged beforehand in the workshops of France. We must
confess, Mr. Minister, that neither in morality, nor in reason, nor
in justice, nor in history, nor in the annals of humanity, do we
find a single word which can justify so vast an outrage, but without
much effort we find that it rested on our wretchedness and on our
weakness, because we have labored enough in demolishing the ancient
edifice which social conditions were repugnant to burying beneath
its ruins the rights of the citizen in order to build up a new
edifice where might eternally dwell the rights of man. There was,
therefore, no room for hesitation; the sword is not argument. In
this idea, grasping ours in one hand, and bearing aloft in the other
the sublime tablet of the rights of man, convinced that an assault
upon the nationality of one people is an assault upon that of every
people, we gave a beginning to the struggle. Victory smiled on us
awhile, notwithstanding that our adversary to his indisputable
knowledge in the art of war, knowledge very superior to ours, added
[Page 103]
deception and perfidy
in order to conquer us. At length, at Puebla, we succumbed to the
superiority of physical force, and came to this country in the
character of prisoners of war of France.
We are in the firm conviction that in proportion as we strip
ourselves of our prejudices and of our privlieges, reason resumes
her place and civilization is aggrandized—not that civilization
whose electric shock produces the shock of arms, but that whose
torch is kindled in the conscience of the people. We, in
consequence, think that wars of ambition and of conquest are no
longer possible; those of emancipation and of liberty can alone take
place until the time arrive in which there can be no material forces
which can contend with moral force. The enlightened and magnanimous
American people thinks as we do, and although tormented by a civil
war whose end will be the security of the rights and immunities of
man, does not, on that account, remain indifferent in a strife which
affects its interests.
Even here we have heard its protest, and considering it to be an
unavoidable duty which gratitude counsels that your government
should know the sincere and profound sentiments of admiration and
respect with which we are inspired by the virtues of the people of
the United States of America, our position obliges us to address the
present letter to you, begging you to think proper to become the
interpreter of our fraternal affection.
At the same time we ask you, Mr. Minister, to deign to accept the
assurance of the very high consideration with which we are your very
humble and obedient servants,
Colonel JESUS GOMES, Portugal.
Colonel JOSÉ MONTESENOF.
Colonel LEWIS LEGONETA.
Commodore JUAN URBINA.
Lieutenant Colonel V. H. RUNERAS.
Commandant PABLO REUTEVIA.
Commandant FRANQUINTOM CORTEZ
His Excellency Mr. Dayton,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America near the
French Government.
[Untitled]
Gentlemen: As representative of the
government of the United States at Paris, it is my pleasing duty to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th of May last, and
to thank you for the kind sentiments and encouraging sympathies
therein expressed.
It will give me much pleasure to forward your communication to the
government at Washington.
Accept, gentlemen, the assurance of highest respect with which I have
the honor to be,
Your very humble and very obedient servant,
Colonel Jesus Gomes,
Portugal.
Commandant Pablo Reutevia,
Commandant Franquintom Cortez,
Tours, (Indre
Loire,) France.
