Mr. Burton to Mr.
Seward
No. 275]
Legation of the United States,
Bogota, September 15, 1866.
Sir: The secretary of the interior and foreign
relations delivered to me on the 4th instant the annexed communication
relating to an apprehended uprising on
[Page 572]
the isthmus against the national authority, and I
started copies on the same day to our consuls at Aspinwall and Panama. I
assured the secretary that the Colombian government need have no
apprehensions as to the course the government of the United States and
its agents would pursue in such event; that I believed his information
would prove to be greatly exaggerated, and that if any purpose
unfriendly to the general government existed on the isthmus, the Panama
railroad had nothing to do with it.
The real object probably is to send national troops to overthrow the
present State government of Panama, and this alarm feigned as an
excuse.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
A.
[Translation.]
Señor Garrido to Mr. Burton
Bogota,
September 3, 1866.
The undersigned, secretary of the interior and foreign relations of
the United States of Colombia, by order of his government, has the
honor to make known to the honorable Mr. Allan A. Burton, minister
resident of the government of the United States of America, that
private intelligence worthy of credit has just been received that
preparations are being made in the State of Panama for an uprising,
proclaiming its separation from the United States of Colombia,
which, according to indications, is instigated by agents of the
Panama railroad Company, it being a noted fact that that people do
not aspire to such a separation. It is possible that in such an
emergency the insurgents may create some conflict against Americans
or their interests, and it being proper to provide against this
immediately and to avoid the consequences of a like scandal, the
great general President hopes that the minister will be pleased to
give account of it to his government by this mail, dictating the
proper means to the American troops and to the citizens of that
republic, as also to the agents of the railroad company, to keep
themselves completely free from the events indicated, being as it
is, a duty of the government of the United States of America to
guarantee positively and effectively the perfect neutrality of the
isthmus, and consequently the rights of sovereignty and propriety
that the United States of Colombia hold and possess over said
territory.
With sentiments of deep consideration, the undersigned subscribes
himself Mr. Burton’s very attentive and obsequious servant,
Hon. Mr. Allan A. Burton, Minister Resident of the United States of
America, &c., & c., & c.
B.
Mr. Burton to Mr. Little
No. 7.]
Legation of the United
States, Bogota,
September 4,
1866.
Sir: I enclose for your information the
accompanying communication addressed me by his excellency the
secretary of the interior and foreign relations of Colombia, in
relation to an apprehended uprising on the isthmus against the
national authority, and delivered this morning at 11 o’clock.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. B. Little, Esq., United States Consul, Panama.
