Mr. Seward to Mr.
Courtney
Department of State, Washington, November 8, 1866.
Sir: I enclose the original of a letter
addressed to me by a person signing himself Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna,
and, as you will see, claiming to be a nephew of the general of that
name. My reply to the same is also enclosed. It is desired that you
should ascertain whether or not there is such a person as the writer of
the letter. If there should be, the answer may be posted. If there
should not be any such person, I will thank you to return the letter and
the reply to this department.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Samuel G. Courtney, Esq., Attorney of the United
States for the Southern District of New York.
Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna,
jr., to Mr.
Seward
New York,
November 7, 1866.
My Dear Sir: I am the nephew of Santa Anna,
the Mexican general, and as his only relative now near him, am bound
in all duty and conscience to see that he suffers no harm,
[Page 385]
from designing persons. I
have sufficient grounds to make me believe that the general is not
faithfully served, and that in consequence of trusting to
representations urged upon him, he may lose not only his reputation
and his fortune, but even more—his life, in a mistaken enterprise.
I, therefore, am driven to take this liberty of addressing myself to
you; and I beg you, not as minister of state, but upon your generous
instincts as a man ready to aid a fellow-man, to tell me (if it may
be done without detriment to the public interests) whether the
United States government is treating with my uncle, the general, in
reference to Mexico. The general believes, and is acting under the
belief, that such a treaty exists between himself and the
government, but I do not believe that he, in person, has ever met an
accredited agent of the government; and therefore it is that I pray
you for such an answer to this my respectful inquiry as may enable
me to disabuse his mind and save him from dangers to which his
present ill-advised course must expose him.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA, Jr.
Hon. William H. Seward.
I requested an American gentleman to write this letter, at my
dictation, because of my not being familiar with the language; and I
add this note, that a letter addressed to Mr. Antonio Lopez de Santa
Anna, jr., at New York post office, wilt reach me.
ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA, Jr.
Mr. Seward to Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, jr
Department of State,
Washington, November 8,
1866.
Sir: I have received your letter of
yesterday, representing yourself to be the nephew of General Antonio
Lopez de Santa Anna, formerly President of the Mexican republic;
that you have reason to believe that the general is not faithfully
served, but that, owing to improper influences, he may lose his
reputation, his fortune, and even his life, in a mistaken
enterprise. You then ask me if this government is treating with the
general upon the subject of Mexico.
In reply, I have to inform you that this government has not
recognized any other Mexican authority, or held correspondence or
entered into negotiations with any other, than that of President Don
Benito Juarez.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Jr., New York.
