Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Asboth to Mr. Seward

No. 45.]

Legation of the United States, Buenos Ayres, September 25, 1867.

Sir: In consequence of the wanton attack made upon the vice-president of the Argentine Republic by the Nation Argentine newspaper, reported in my despatch No. 43 of the 12th instant, which was the immediate cause of a change in the cabinet denoting a very important modification in the policy of the government, I deemed it proper to manifest to Dr. Paz, the vice-president, by an official letter, the indignation with which I viewed the occurrence, and accordingly addressed myself to him in the following terms:

Legation of the United States, Buenos Ayres, September 17, 1867.

Sir: Watching with interest, although from a sick bed, the daily course of political events in the river Plata, I have seen with surprise and sorrow the attack made by the Nacion Argentina upon your excellency while in charge of the highest trust of the nation, and I regret exceedingly that I am unable to express in person to your excellency how emphatically I condemn so wanton an act.

Your excellency’s standing in public as well as in private life is, however, too lofty, and the unbounded confidence and sincere esteem for your excellency in the hearts of the people at large is too strong to admit of any other issue to such an aggression but its recoil on the heads of those who attempt it. The mass of the people, natives as well as foreigners, is with you and against your assailants.

While, therefore, assuring your excellency again in my official capacity of the special regard of the government and people of the United States, I beg respectfully to express my own confident expectation that the measures taken by your excellency on this occasion will not fail to promote and secure the best interests of the Argentine Republic, as well as of the La Plata and Parana regions at large.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your excelleny’s obedient servant,

A. ASBOTH.

His Excellency Señor Dr. Don Marcos Paz, Vice-President of the Republic, in Charge of the National Executive Power.

I received yesterday in reply from the vice-president a letter, of which the following is a translation, and I beg to enclose a copy, marked A, of the original Spanish:

Buenos Ayres, September 23, 1887.

Sir: The words of your excellency, to which I attach great importance, both for the mighty standing of the country your excellency represents, for your excellency’s own personal worth, and for the sympathy which I profess for the people and government of the United States, have given me great satisfaction.

The justice meted out by worthy and enlightened men is a healing compensation for the injuries which evil disposed people often sew in the path of public men.

I truly thank your excellency for your letter of the 17th, and assure you that I am, with the most perfect consideration, your excellency’s obedient servant,

MARCOS PAZ.

His Excellency Gen. A. Asboth.

The change in the cabinet, as given in my report No. 42 of the 10th instant, replacing Señor de Elizalde as minister for foreign affairs by Doctor Don Marcelino Ugarte, and Señor Costa as minister for justice, religion, and education by Doctor Don José E. Uriburn, leaves no doubt of an approaching modification in the policy of the Argentine government more beneficial, I hope, to the general interest of this distressed republic.

The rumors of peace in connection with the prolonged stay of Mr. Gould, the secretary of the British legation in Paraguay, as alluded to in my report No. 43 of the 12th instant, and his repeated visits to President Lopez’s camp, as well as to the headquarters of General Mitre and Marshal de Caxias, are gaining more consistence; indeed the principal conditions as a base for a peace treaty purporting to be already approved by the commanders of the several contending armies, and to have been referred for final decision to their respective governments, are given with quite an official air, well calculated to make the Argentine people fully believe in the realization of what they are so anxiously longing for, viz., the speedy restoration of peace, even at the risk of the dissolution of the triple alliance.

For myself, however, I see too much mystery involved in so sudden a mediation of a single European power, applied de facto at the seat of war without preliminary official support, after the most formal offers of friendly mediation for the termination of this bloody war had been made by the United States of America and the Pacific republics to all the respective governments of the several contending parties, and had been emphatically rejected by the allies, to be able in the absence of anything like substantial proof to attach much weight to these flying rumors.

The following are the conditions as a base for a treaty of peace published in the Tribuna and the Standard:

PEACE WITH PARAGUAY CONFIRMED.

Terms of treaty the same.

The Tribuna published a bulletin yesterday evening confirming in almost every particular the bases of peace as given in our paper of Saturday. It is a remarkable coincidence that the Tribuna received a telegram from M. Video, and a letter from the seat of war, simultaneously, announcing the terms of arrangement in almost the same words. As our colleague takes the liberty of stating that our terms were not the correct ones, we now place the Tribuna and Standard versions side by side, for comparison; the difference is indeed very trifling:

TRIBUNA.	STANDARD.
1. The allied forces shall retire from Parauguay on the ratification of this treaty.	Art. 1. The allied army immediately evacates Paraguay, and the Brazilian fleet the Paraguayan waters.
2. Lopez to retire to Europe, and delegate his power to vice-president of Paraguay, according to the constitution of that country.	Art. 2. Marshal Francisco Solano Lopez, President of Paraguay and commander-in-chief of the Paraguayan forces, resigns the post of President to the vice-president, and that of commander-in-chief to General Barrios, and he, the said marshal, at once leaves for Europe for the term of two years from the date of the treaty.
3. Paraguay abandons all claim to the Gran Chaco and Misiones, and evacuates Matto Grosso.	Art. 3. Paraguay yields up her claims to all and every portion or portions of the Gran Chaco territory.
4. The navigation of the rivers is declared free to the flags of all nations.	Art. 4. The free navigation of the rivers, from their source to the ocean, is granted, acknowledged and ratified by Paraguay and theallied powers, and said free navigation to beguaranteed by two European powers, (supposed England and Prussia.)
5. The question of limits with Brazil to be settled by the new Paraguayan government, in case of difficulty, by the arbitration of a neutral power.	Art. 5. The question of limits between Brazil and Paraguay to be referred to the arbitraortion of a neutral power.
6. Paraguay is not responsible for the expenses of the allies.	Art. 6. The expenses of the war to be borne by the various belligerents respectively.
7. All prisoners of war to be set at liberty.	Art. 7. Prisoners of war of all grades to be exchanged without ransom.
8. Paraguay declares that she made war in self-defence, but, seeing her independence now safe, admits that justice was not with her but with the allies.	Art 8. No claims for indemnity to be made or admitted by any of the belligerents.
9. The independence of Paraguay is guaranteed.	Art. 9. The obstructions in the river Para guay to be removed by the Paraguayans within three months from the ratification of this treaty.
10. Each of the belligerents is to send a diplomatic agent to settle all questions pending before the war.	Art. 10. Each of the belligerent powers engages to send a diplomatic agent or representative to conclude a treaty of commerce and amity.
11. (This article treats of the various Paraguayan fortresses.)	Art. 11. The free navigation of the river Paraguay does not import the admission of vessels of war.
12. The Paraguayan army to be reduced to a peace footing.	Art. 12. An armistice shall be at once concluded, and the ratification of this treaty duly exchanged with the least possible delay.
These terms were brought by Mr. Gould from Lopez, and accepted (in the bulk) by General Mitre and Marquis Caxias, who have referred them to their respective governments.	The above terms, “mutatis mutandis,” may be relied on as the draught at present en route for Rio.

Notwithstanding the rumors of preparation for peace, the Paraguayan war still drags along. There is no armistice, and fighting in the palm and orange grove, on the line of communication of the allies, continues with increased severity and daily loss of-life.

The Brazilian iron-clad fleet rests still at anchor, as before, between Humaita and Curupaiti, bombarding Humaita, without, however, doing much harm to the fortress, but affording ample time to the Paraguayans to hem in more and more the Brazilian fleet in their isolated position, and to secure daily a fuller control over the river above and below Humaita.

By her Majesty’s steamer Dotorel, daily expected from Paraguay, I hope to receive interesting news for your department from our minister in Asuncion.

The condition of the interior provinces is again very alarming. Reactionary leaders, Saá, Videla, and Varela, are all on their march to invade the Argentine confederation from Chili and Bolivia with troops newly organized and well armed.

For further particulars I respectfully beg to refer to enclosure B, my daily memoranda of political events in the river Plata from the 13th to the 23d of September, 1867.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. ASBOTH.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Daily memoranda of political events in the River Plata from the 13th to the 23th September, 1867.

September 13.—The senate of congress sat yesterday in secret session, and ratified sundry stipulations in connection with the triple alliance treaty.

The Montevidean government has published a decree prohibiting subalterns obeying any orders save those of the chief of police, which seems to imply that there is something wrong with the military men. Governor Flores, it is said, is about to visit the country districts, and has absolutely and positively declined to give another man to the war. The Tribuna states that its candidate for the presidency of the Argentine Republic is Sor Sarmiento, and not Governor Alsina.

September 14.—The following relative to the return of cholera, and the perilous condition of the Brazilian iron-clad in front of Humaita, is taken from to-day’s Standard:

“The next advices from Paraguay are looked for with the greatest anxiety, not as respects the war but touching the cholera. Should the news be unfavorable we hear the government is prepared to take the most decisive steps, and close this port to all vessels coming from Itipiru or Corrientes. Something must be done, as the warm weather is setting in. All who can are going to the country for the summer.

“The mail has brought positive orders to Admiral Ignacio to return with his iron-clads as fast as possible, and a letter in one of the Rio papers, which we shall publish to-morrow, gives a very terrible version of what the iron-clads suffered going up. The return now promises to be an episode in our naval history. Should anything happen to the first iron-clad, so that she founders in the stream, then the remainder are locked up. However, as orders have been sent to come down, we suppose the admiral will not disobey.”

Congress here has finally passed the bill subscribing to 15,000 shares for the Central Argentine railway. This railway, due entirely to the indefatigable exertions of our worthy countryman Mr. Wheelwright, is intended to connect Rosario with Cordoba. It is now open from Rosaria as far as Villanueva, a town thirty leagues from Cordova. Mr. Wheelwright has been obliged to suspend the works for want of funds, but after the passing of the above bill it is to be hoped that he may soon bring to a termination this important undertaking which contributed so powerfully to put a speedy end to the revolutionary outbreak in Cordova of the 16th of last month.

September 15.—Senator Navarro has brought into congress a bill for the abolition of imprisonment for debt. The measure meets with the support of the principal organs of the press.

September 16.—Alarming news arrived yesterday from the interior provinces of the north. It appears that Varela, the indefatigable chief of the Monteneros, who was reported to have been completely routed by the national forces in Rioja, has succeeded in reforming his forces, and when least expected has burst into the province of Salta with 1,300 men. A few provincial militias, amounting to about 600, endeavored to make head against him, but were completely defeated, and the greatest portion of them passed over to Varela’s ranks. Thus a whole department remained at the mercy of this active chieftain. The governor of Salta informs that of Tucuman that if Varela marches on the capital of the province he will be obliged to evacuate it, and fall back upon Tucuman, as he has no elements with which to oppose Varela’s forces.

The Standard, in commenting on this news, makes the following remarks:

“THE INVASION OF SALTA.

“Whatever may be the sequel of the Paraguayan war, it may be doubly memorable in the history of this republic as the precursor and mould of the rudest political throes this country has ever witnessed. Scarcely had we dispelled the rebel force under Juan de Dios Videla, and congratulated ourselves on the success of Paunero, when the astounding intelligence of an uprising in Cordova, attended with the grossest mob violence, arrived by special chasque in this city. As the circumstance attending this second edition of rebellion compromised more than the ordinary routine of things in Argentine civil strife, since the minister of war had been kidnapped by the rebels, a most immediate effort was made to subjugate the disturbers. Thanks to the fealty of Luque and the discretion of Conesa, law and order were restored with rapidity only to be equalled by the suddenness of the outbreak. Conesa and his troops have come back, are feted in Rosario, and the joy-inspiring rockets from the office of the Nacional, but a few days past, told the glorious news of peace in the provinces; Cordova quiet and orderly; Rioja and lujuy rid at last of every vestige of the rebels; Paunero and Arredondo on their way back; special commissioners in Rosario appealing to the charity of the people for relief of the ruined, houseless, homeless inhabitants of Cuyo; dealers coming down in every steamer to purchase goods in this city, and everything conspired to persuade us that the civil strife had happily been extinguished, and no alloy to the country’s progress and prosperity save the Paraguayan war, when in an instant the scene changes. Saa and Varela, with a heterogeneous band of rebels, have crossed the mountains of Bolivia, and burst like “a wolf on the fold” on the once happy, prosperous, and contented province of Salta, On their march they impressed all; none were too old or too young. They swept the whole male population before them, and huddled them into their ranks. The lovely valleys of Salta have as yet been the scene of these feats; not a farm, not a house has been respected. The few who could, left their homes and rushed into the city of Salta.”

September 17.—With regard to the intelligence from the provinces the Standard of to-day says:

“The news of Varela’s invasion of Salta was confirmed to-day. Everyone was annoyed at the frivolous manner in which official despatches are written in the interior. Hardly have the public finished reading of the utter destruction of the rebels in Rioja, when facts prove that the same depredators are advancing in force at Salta or Catamarca. The most alarming feature in this case is that several dealers from the provinces have returned goods recently purchased, and, in one instance, actually disembarked goods, paying the freight to Rosario, acting on advices from the interior. These dealers are generally the best informed on this head, and evidently fear that a storm is brewing. Don Uladislao Frias has been named national commissioner to Salta, to endeavor to quiet that province.”

The Nacion Argentina published to-day a well-written and powerful article, signed Gutierrez, drawing a most gloomy picture of the state of the country, and proving with a great deal of truth and reason that things in the Argentine Republic were never so much out of joint as at present. The writer says that Varela and Saa will have at least 15,000 men under their orders by this time, and that President Melgarejo, of Bolivia, has lately concluded a loan for six millions of dollars and supplies the rebels with arms, ammunition, and funds to carry on the war. By last accounts from the seat of war in Paraguay it is reported that Mr. Gould, secretary of the British legation, passed over the lines to the allied camp, accompanied by three of General Lopez’s aides-de-camp, and, after holding a conference with President Mitre and Marquis de Caxias, recrossed the lines and went back to Lopez’s camp.

September 18.—It appears that there are at present at the seat of war an English, a French, and an Italian gunboat.

With regard to the affairs in the interior provinces the Standard publishes the following remarks:

“The Situation.—The invasion of Salta by Varela and Saa has caused little short of a panic in the republic. The few peaceful inhabitants who, reposing confidence in the official despatches of our generals, and believing that the rebels had been pulverized and law and order restored to her throne, find with a pang that all these victories and triumphs have been in fact but slight skirmishes, which, by Argentine generals, have been inflated into decisive struggles. Hypocrisy holds such undisputed sway that until events declare themselves the deluded citizens know but imperfectly what is the real state of affairs. Had the governor of Salta placed less importance on the recent victories over Varela, had he valued the despatches of the national government officers at their proper estimate, he would not now cut the despicable figure of a runaway Argentine ruler. He may, and doubtless will, survive his passing troubles, but in the eyes of a descriminating public he has proved himself the arbiter of his own misfortunes. Unlike the other cities and provinces of this republic, Salta is peopled by an industrious, hard-working class. The valleys where the invaders have made such a fell swoop are teeming with fertility and plenty. The towns are clean, orderly, and populous. The city is represented as second only to Cordova in its streets, public buildings, and population. Political rancor and anarchy have never before obtained such foothold there as in other provinces; and ruled by a man of energy and decision of character, no ruffian band such as that under the command of Varela could ever successfully carry out an invasion.”

September 19.—The rumors of peace are gaining consistence, and the principal conditions of a peace treaty, approved by President Mitre and Marquis Caxias, referred to their respective governments, are even mentioned. These are, 1st, that Lopez should resign in favor of the vice-president of the republic of Paraguay, and go to Europe fore a fixed period; 2d, that Paraguay shall renounce all claim to the Grand Chaco territory; 3d, that the navigation of the river Paraguay is to be free in all its course under the guarantee of European power; 4th, that the question of limits with Brazil is to be referred to the arbitration of a neutral power. These rumors, however, are all lacking official confirmation.

With reference to the interior provinces the Standard of to-day says:

“Precisely as we anticipated, the rebels under Varela have taken possession of Salta and levied heavy army contributions. Some of the principal families fled along with the governor to Tucuman, but we read with deep regret that in the whole province of Salta there is nothing to oppose the revolutionists, and the party opposed to Governor Ovejero have all joined Varela and Saa. All the riff-raff of the provinces, the scum of the country, is in arms. People are now leaving Tucuman, as it is greatly feared the rebels will make a dash on that province before the government party will be able to make headway; in fact, things never looked worse. Varela and his officers are enlisting the whole population, and they are not short of arms since supplies are obtained from Bolivia.”

From the same paper the following regarding the war in Paraguay is also taken:

“The steamer San José, with ball cartridges, shot, shell, and gunpowder from the Rio arsenal, has arrived at Montevideo bound up for Itapiru.

“In Montevideo it is stated that three more iron-clads are coming down to the Plata, and on board of one of them comes the Duke de Saxe, son-in-law of the Emperor, to take supreme command of the Brazilian army, vice Caxias, who retires into private life.”

Two important measures were yesterday introduced into congress: one requiring the executive to account in a special message for the use made of the habeas corpus suspension act; the other calling upon the executive for a report on the general state of the Paraguayan war.

September 20.—News of an alarming character has come by the last mail from the Pacific coast. Letters from Chili state that Colonel Videla, who took so prominent a part in the Mendoza revolution, which broke out in November of last year, is preparing to invade the province of Mendoza by the Pass del Planchon, for which purpose he has got, together with the promise of unlimited booty, 2,000 Chileno miners, all well armed and accoutred.

The Tribuna to-day states that the Argentine government sent, about a fortnight ago, instructions to its agent in Chili to demand explanations with regard to the warlike preparations said to be carried on there by Argentine exiles resident in that republic with a view of invading the Argentine territory.

September 21.—The Rio Janeiro papers mention the appointment of his Excellency Conselheiro Sinumbu to a special mission to the river Plata from the Brazilian government.

It is reported that the object of the mission is to make peace.

There are no less than eleven Brazilian transports in Montevideo awaiting orders.

The following Brazilian version of the passage of Curupaiti by the iron-clads, taken from to-day’s Standard, is highly interesting:

“Curupaiti—Interesting Brazilian Version.—The passage of the iron-clads past the batteries of Curupaiti took place upon the 15th of August.

“At 6.35 a. m. the division of the iron-clads received orders to proceed towards Humaita, and in a few minutes afterward the leading vessels were under the enemy’s fire.

“The order was as follows: The Brazil, carrying the admiral’s flag, and with the little steamer Lindoya on her larboard side; the Mariz e Barros; the Tamandaré; the Colombo; the Cabral, towing a flat carrying a mortar; the Barroso; the Herval; the Silvado; and the Lima Barros, with the flag of Commodore Alvim.

“When the movement commenced the wooden vessels drew up and opened their fire on Curupaiti, whose batteries, however, paid no attention to the wooden vessels, but rained the missiles of their 33 cannons upon the iron-clads passing at gunshot from the batteries.

“The time occupied in the passage was about two hours and a half, and the foremost vessels were already cannonading the great casemated stone fort called the ‘London’ battery, built for the first Lopez by an English engineer, while the rear vessel, the Lima Barros, was passing Curupaiti. The division received more than 240 80 and 63-pound shots during the passage. Some of the vessels broached to in the rapid current, and some even turned completely round, but finally succeeded in recovering their direction. Of these accidents the Paraguayans ably availed themselves. The Tamandaré’s engine got out of order, and the vessel became disabled while in front of the batteries. A shot from one of the enemy’s cannon entered one of the casemate ports and severely wounded Captain Elisario Barbosa and four of the crew. The Colombo, broaching to right under the principal battery, received considerable injury, and the Lima Barros, bringing up the rear, received 47 shots, some of which did much harm to the vessel. The loss of the division was 33 men killed and wounded. The vessels had their decks and weak parts protected to some extent with bags of sand.

“It is said that the channel furthest from the batteries had 10 torpedoes laid down, but as the iron-clads took that which was close to the other bank, they escaped that danger.

“In the order of the day of the 14th, the admiral, in referring to the passage to take place next day, used the following language:

“‘Brazilians! Be full of hope. The patron saints assigned by the holy church to preside over the 15th of August are the Holy Virgin of Glory, our Lady of Victory, and Assumption of the Mother of God.

“‘It is therefore with glory and with victory that we will go to Asuncion.’

“The iron-clads lie about one and a half mile from the casemated stone fort Huamita, and maintain a constant fire on it and a barbette battery close to it. Some of the vessels go within half a mile to give their fire greater effect. Meanwhile, as the Paraguayan batteries are constructed to cross their fire at particular points, they are able to do little against the vessels, and these can batter at long range almost with impunity.

“Before the stone fort and its supporters are silenced, no probability of success would occur to an attempt to force the passage by Humaita, as the casemate alone has 25 heavy cannon, and all the batteries some 60 pieces. The channel is narrow and tortuous, and besides a strong diagonal boom, consisting of three chains twisted together and partially supported by three boats, the river is reported to be obstructed, and sown with torpedoes.

“The communications of the division are effected by the Chaco, and some 500 men are employed in that duty and in making a road. The vessels have large supplies of munitions and coal, and have six months’ rations of food. Wood is also abundant on the banks of the river.

“The Tamandaré when disabled was taken in tow by the Silvado, and she and all the other vessels had repaired their injuries.” —Anglo-Brazilian Times.

Yesterday the three following bills were introduced into congress and referred to committee:

1. Authorizing the national authorities to reside in Buenos Ayres, and providing that congress shall designate the permanent seat of government at the beginning of the sessions of 1868.

2. Authorizing the national government to offer a prize of 8,000 patacones to the inventor or introducer of the best method for preserving meat for exportation.

3. Authorizing the government to employ the sum of 1,000,000 hard dollars in the purchase in the United States of 10 iron-clads fully armed, &c.

September 22.—The news which arrived yesterday from the provinces have a more cheering character. It appears by last accounts that the governor of Salta left the capital of his province to take up a very advantageous position a few leagues from it, where he was fortifying himself, and expected to make a successful resistance against the rebels, as forces were hurrying to his assistance, both from the province of Iujuy and from that of Tucuman, and General Taboada, on the first news of Varela’s invasion, had taken active measures and was hastening to advance from the province of Santiago to the theatre of disturbance.

General Arredondo arrived yesterday in Buenos Ayres from the province of Cuyo. It is said he comes on a special mission to the national government, although his absenting himself from his command at this moment gives rise to various comments.

The Tribuna of to-day publishes an article by the pen of a prominent lawyer, Dr. José F. Lopez, headed “The municipality, the cholera, and the alliance,” in which he pictures the Argentine Republic as a flying phantom with the alliance on its back, crossing in mid air over the once happy country, now a desert chasm, filled with the shed blood of 12,000 brave Argentines, while among those shattered bones are seen a few lonely palaces of the originators and contractors of the Paraguayan war, who are the only parties benefited by this bloody drama, and concludes with the words “More than a year ago, when our army was stuck in the mud at Estero Bellaco, and the fleet was of no use, being convinced of the sterility of the sacrifices imposed by the war, and seeing the ferment of anarchy to which it gave rise, we urged its being brought to a termination either by a decisive deed of arms or by peace, and thus we might have been spared the disaster of Curupaiti, the civil war, the pillage and destruction of towns and villages, and the anarchy which is dragging us into an abyss. And if, to-day, in order to put down the conflagration of our home we can succeed in obtaining peace, it will be as welcome as a brigade of firemen. And since the government has not been successful in putting out its own fire, it may still rehabilitate itself by extinguishing that of the nation.”

September 23.—The Nacional of to-day reviews the political career of Dr. Rawson, and endeavors to prove that his administration as minister of the interior has been one series of blunders, and that he will leave behind him no trace either of his talents, energy, or statesmanship, but only carry with him his undoubted reputation of honesty, which is all that remains to him. It concludes with these words: “When Dr. Rawson retires into private life the Nacional will make it its duty to praise, and recognize in him the eminent physician, the philanthropist, and the disinterested gentleman. Such is our opinion and may Heaven pardon us if we have erred with the best possible intentions.”

These attacks upon our able and popular premier seem, however, to emanate, not from any leading parties in power, but only from some retired malcontents.

A. ASBOTH.