Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation]
Señor Lerdo de Tejada to
Mr. Campbell
Santa Catalina,
December 24, 1866.
Sir: On the way from the city of Chihuahua
to that of Durango, where the president of the republic will arrive
day after to-morrow, I yesterday received the communication which
you addressed me from Brownsville, Texas, the 9th of this month,
with copy included of that which you addressed me at Tampico the
5th, the original of which I received at the same time.
With the extra-official character which you have addressed to me
these two communications, I have the honor to reply to them.
After referring in them to your voyage to the port of Vera Cruz with
Lieutenant General Sherman, and to your subsequent voyage to Tampico
and Brownsville, you advised me that Lieutenant General Sherman was
going to New Orleans, and that you yourself were going to Monterey,
desiring soon as possible to present your credentials as envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of
America near the government of the republic of Mexico. With this
motive you refer to the convenience and importance of beings
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able, so soon as possible,
to commence your official relations, and you express to me your
desire to know the place where you can present your credentials.
I have given information of your communications to the President, who
appreciates as is due your arrival as representative of the United
States of America, and desires much that you may be able very soon
to present yourself in your official character.
Although it is to be presumed that the President will not long delay
his departure to some city more in the interior of the republic,
nevertheless he considers that for the present it will be necessary
for him to remain a short time in the city of Durango to attend to
the administrative reorganization of various states, as well as to
give directions to the contributions they are making to push on
military operations in the war in which the republic is engaged.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
His Excellency Lewis D. Campbell,
&c., &c., &c.
