Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session of the Fortieth Congress
Mr. Plumb to Mr. Seward.
Sir: On the 2d instant a special courier, dispatched by the foreign merchants of Mazatlan, reached here, bringing communications addressed to me by the United States commercial agent, the English vice-consul, and the consul of Prussia at that port, relating to difficulties which have arisen between the commander of her Britannic Majesty’s ship Chanticleer, lying in that harbor, and the Mexican authorities.
These difficulties, it was stated, have reached so serious a stage that a
[Page 523]blockade of the port had been established, and the commander of the Chanticleer had announced his intention to bombard the town; but upon the representations of the foreign consuls and merchants was induced to suspend this latter purpose, unless further provocation should be offered, until he had communicated with the British admiral on that coast, and the matter, had been brought to the knowledge of the Mexican government.
The agitation and alarm among the foreign residents in Mazatlan, in view of these events, were represented to be extreme; and while commerce was already affected by the blockade, it was feared that General Corona, the chief military representative of the Mexican government in that part of the republic, in the event of hostilities being opened, would abandon his quarters in the city, and the town being left unprotected, the lives and property of the foreign residents would be in imminent danger.
At the request of Mr. Woolrich, the British vice-consul, made in anticipation of his having immediately to leave Mazatlan, the consul of Prussia inclosed to me a copy of the correspondence that had taken place between the commander of the Chanticleer and General Corona, which had had this unfortunate result, and I was requested, as the representative of a friendly nation, to lay the same before the Mexican government, and my good offices were appealed to towards bringing about a peaceable and satisfactory settlement of the affair, that thereby the destruction of life and property might be averted.
Under these circumstances it did not appear to me to be possible to hesitate about doing all that I could, without overstepping the limits of what is due to this government, to promote a prompt and pacific solution of the difficulty that has so unfortunately arisen.
I therefore had immediate interviews with the acting minister for foreign affairs, and with the President, and on the same day addressed to the government a note inclosing the correspondence that had been transmitted to me, and commending to its attention the gravity of the case therein presented.
I also inclosed to the government a copy of the notice of blockade officially communicated to the commercial agent of the United States at Mazatlan, and of two letters addressed by him to the commander of the Chanticleer, seeking an adjustment of the difficulties, and at least to avert the bombardment of the town.
A reply to my note was not made until the evening of Sunday, the 5th instant, when there was inclosed to me from the department of foreign affairs a copy of the orders that had been issued by the government to General Corona, containing its resolutions with regard to this serious affair.
The couriers bearing these orders of the government, and my own dispatches in reply to the several consular agents who had addressed me, left for Mazatlan at noon on Monday, the 6th instant.
I have now the honor to transmit to the department herewith the correspondence that I have had upon this subject, and respectfully submit my action in the premises, trusting it may meet with the approval of my government.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Fuhrken to Mr. Plumb,.
Sir: At the request of Mr. Woolrich, her Britannic Majesty’s vice-consul, I beg to hand you the copy of a correspondence between the commander of her Majesty’s ship Chanticleer and General Corona. Mr. Woolrich has to leave Mazatlan on account of this same correspondence, and cannot write himself.
You will learn by these documents the difficulties, and out of what they arose. The right of the captain to resent the insult seems to me to be beyond question; the answer of General Corona, pretending perfect ignorance of international laws, is ridiculous. He could have referred the first case to Mexico, and given full satisfaction for the insults received. He has privately recognized the captain’s right, and even offered the captain to obtain private satisfaction for him from the offender. Captain Bridges has blockaded our harbor since the 20th, and at 12 o’clock to-day will open fire on the public buildings. The town is in great consternation, and as General Corona will abandon his quarters and leave us to the fury of the mob, there is imminent danger for our lives and property.
Mr. Sisson and myself have directed a communication to the captain (not answered yet) requesting him to suspend the bombardment until he may have the necessary force to attack and defend; he can consult with the admiral, and if necessary, await reinforcements. In the meanwhile Mr. Woolrich requests you, as the representative of a friendly nation, to lay these documents before the Mexican government, and to obtain for the British flag the satisfaction so unjustly denied by the authorities of Sinaloa.
The Mexican government does but an act of justice, and all the foreign population will be grateful for your influence, as you save us from heavy losses in our commerce, and prevent the destruction of lives and property.
Mr. Woolrich will report to the foreign office, and in the name of his government anticipates his sincere thanks for your valuable services, which may, perhaps, prevent a serious international complication.
I beg to add an open letter for Mr. Valarta, minister de gobernacion, and hope he will assist you in obtaining a satisfactory answer from the government.
I have the honor to be, sir, yours, very respectfully,
Commander Bridges to General Corona.
Sir: As senior naval officer of her Britannic Majesty’s navy on the west coast of Mexico, I have the honor to bring to your notice the following case of insult to an officer of her Majesty’s ship Chanticleer, by the custom-house authorities, and also to their detention of the sum of $368 belonging to her Majesty the Queen of England, a permit to pass this money through the custom-house having previously been granted.
On the 16th instant Mr. Wallace, paymaster of her Majesty’s ship Chanticleer, received the sum of $633 from Mr. Fnhrken, for the use of her Majesty’s service, and a permit to pass the custom-house was procured. A portion of this sum was expended on shore in payment of provisions for the use of her Majesty’s ship under my command. On this officer’s arrival at the wharf in company with myself he was ordered into the customhouse, and was told that he was suspected of having money in his possession for which no permission had been granted, and was ordered to produce the money he had about him. He immediately gave the balance of the $633 he had received from Mr. Fuhrken, and was asked if he had any more money; he replied no; but afterwards, upon being told to be very careful what he replied, he stated he had some private money, of small amount, which he produced, and which was returned to him. After producing the whole of the money and stating he had no more, he was then ordered to be searched in the presence of the commandant; the permit having been produced, no notice was taken of it, but the money was confiscated; and on application again on the same day, and subsequently this morning, the custom-house authorities refused to return it.
When the paymaster was ordered into the custom-house I directed him not to give up the money, or go into the custom-house, as the permit would be brought. A person who spoke English explained to me in an insulting manner that I had no authority or command there, and was insulting in his manner. I therefore asked him what he was, and went away. (This person was the same as applied to me, some short time since, to [Page 525] give him protection, on General Martinez’s defeat, as he stated he was implicated with him.) Having failed to procure the money from the custom-house authorities, I beg to submit the injustice of the detention to your consideration, and request you will be pleased to order its repayment.
The insult the custom-house official above referred to states he received, I beg to inform you, is untrue; and I consider an officer of this ship has been grossly insulted.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
His Excellency General Corona, Commander-in-chief of the Mexican forces at Mazatlan.
General Corona to Commander Bridges.
Señor Commandante: I have received your communication of yesterday, in which you were pleased to inform me of the occurrence which took place the preceding day on the wharf of this port, there having been confiscated from the paymaster of her Britannic Majesty’s ship Chanticleer a sum of money amounting to $368, notwithstanding the competent permit to export the same was exhibited, and asking me to order the return of the money, as its seizure is considered unjust.
In due reply, I have the honor to state to you that the resolution of this affair is not within the competency of the headquarters under my charge, as by the laws of the country it pertains to the jurisdiction of the tribunals of the federal treasury.
You will therefore understand that it is to the said tribunals that you should address yourself in order that justice may be administered, with the assurance that the same will be rendered to you in a full and prompt manner in conformity with the laws.
I protest to you, Señor Commandante, my attentive consideration.
The Commander of her Britannic Majesty’s ship-of-war Chanticleer, anchored in the bay of this port.
Commander Bridges to General Corona,.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day, informing me that it is not in your power to accede to the demands contained in my note of yesterday’s date, requiring the restitution of the money forcibly taken from an officer of this ship, and referring me to the local tribunal for redress.
Your excellency must be aware that it is not the custom, in cases of insult and robbery by officials of any government upon the persons or government property of another nation, to arrange such matters by a local court, and I am of opinion that the extreme urgency of the case I have brought under your notice can hardly have been viewed by you in the light it merits.
I therefore request you will reconsider your reply to my application, and it becomes my duty to inform you that unless the money is repaid on board this ship by noon tomorrow, the 19th June, I shall be under the necessity of then considering what measures I must take to repel the insult offered, and to recover the amount illegally abstracted from an officer of her Majesty’s ship under my command.
The particulars having been fully set forth in my letter of yesterday’s date, it is not necessary to repeat them here.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
His Excellency General Corona, Commander-in-chief of the Mexican forces at Mazatlan,
General Corona to Commander Bridges.
Señor Commandante: I have the honor to acknowledge to you the receipt of your communication No. 2, dated to-day.
Having informed myself of its contents, I have again taken into consideration your No. 1, received yesterday, and my reply to the same; but not finding reasons for a change of opinion, I have to insist that the affair pertains to the jurisdiction of the federal tribunals, in conformity with the laws of the country, as it treats of an infraction of the fiscal regulations with reference to the export of money.
I have the honor to repeat to you the assurance of my consideration.
The Commander of her Britannic Majesty’s man-of-war Chanticleer, anchored in the bay of this port.
Commander Bridges to General Corona.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date, informing me that you had no reason to alter your decision relative to the restitution of the money taken from the paymaster of this ship, and again referring me to the law courts; the question of the insult offered to the officer and myself you entirely ignore.
It becomes my duty, in relation to the above facts, to protest most strongly against the illegality committed, and the insult that your officials have thought fit to offer to myself and the officer under my command.
I have now to bring to your notice that a still greater insult was offered to me yesterday afternoon, and I request you will give me an explanation at your earliest convenience.
On my arriving at the pier yesterday afternoon, to embark in my boat, I was arrested by a guard of three men and ordered into the custom-house. On entering an empty room, a man forced me in a most insulting manner against a wall, and then in the roughest and most outrageous way searched my person, and also that of an officer who was in my company. This gross insult was perpetrated without the presence of an officer or a word of explanation.
To comment on this outrageous conduct is quite unnecessary; but I demand a full explanation, which must be immediately followed—
First, by the disavowal on the part of the government of Mazatlan of any participation in the conduct of its officers who have been instrumental in offering the gross insult to me, and, through me, to the government of Great Britain.
Second, by the production of the officer ordering the insult on board the ship, and his immediate punishment to my satisfaction.
Third, by the repayment of the money abstracted from the paymaster of this ship on the 16th instant, and an apology for the insult he was subjected to.
Should these commands not be complied with in twenty-four hours from noon to-day, I shall then take such measures as I deem necessary to repel the insult, and to cause the uniform of her Britannic Majesty’s officers to be respected.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
His Excellency General Corona, Commander-in-chief of the Mexican forces at Mazatlan.
General Corona to Commander Bridges.
MEXICAN REPUBLIC, FOURTH MILITARY DIVISION, GENERAL-IN-CHIEF.
Señor Comandante: I have received the communication which, under the number 3 you have been pleased to address to me, dated to-day.
[Page 527]In it you attribute to the officials under my command the insults which you state have been committed against your person, and that of the paymaster, searching your pockets, and confiscating a sum of three hundred and sixty-eight dollars, which the said paymaster was taking out, on the 16th instant, from the port; and also the outrages which were repeated yesterday against yourself.
I presume that the want of information on your part of the attributes of the employe’s of the republic in the various branches into which the administration is divided is the occasion of the error into which you have fallen in addressing yourself to me, believing that I am the superior of said employés.
To remove that erroneous impression, and that you may use your rights in a manner more in conformity with the laws, I have to state to you that I am the chief of the fourth division of the Mexican army, now accidentally stationed in the State of Sinaloa, discharging a special commission from the president of the republic, and that none of the officials of my division have part, directly or indirectly, in the acts of which you speak.
If any officer under my orders had such participation, I should consider myself obliged to take action in the premises; but this not being the case, I cannot do so, but have to leave others to respond for their own acts.
From motives of courtesy, and in order that you may separate from the course that should be followed, I will state to you also that the authors of said acts, being employés of the maritime custom-house, you should address yourself with your reclamations to the administrador citizen Francisco Sepulveda, as their immediate chief; and if he does not render justice, you can apply, as I have before stated, to the tribunals or to the national government.
Having made the preceding explanations, I trust you will be convinced that I am not the authority to whom you should address yourself, and that my character of general-in-chief, under the orders of the supreme government of the republic, does not authorize me to interfere in questions foreign to the discharge of my military commission.
Having, with what I have stated, answered the communication referred to at the beginning of this note, I renew to you at the same time the assurances of my consideration.
The Commander of her Britannic Majesty’s ship Chanticleer, anchored in the bay of this port.
Mr. Fuhrken to Mr. Plumb.
On a new representation, signed by all the foreign consuls and principal merchants of the place, Captain Bridges has suspended his action against the city. He offers, on the strength of our request, to be lenient until he receives satisfaction, or instructions from the admiral, but reserves his firm intention of proceeding to extreme measures should new provocations be offered him.
In consequence of this, the mercantile community has resolved to dispatch this letter by express to you, and I have the honor to request you to return your answer, and that of the Mexican government, by the same opportunity.
Captain Bridges’s conduct has highly obliged us, and we strongly hope the government will take it into consideration and hasten to correspond by a prompt and satisfactory answer.
I have advised General Corona of the departure of the express, so that he may avail himself of this opportunity to forward his dispatches for the department.
I have the honor to remain, sir, yours, very respectfully,
Hon. E. Le Plumb, United States Minister Resident, &c., &c., Mexico.
Mr. Woolrich to Mr. Plumb.
Sir: Owing to a question of a very serious nature having arisen between the commander of her Majesty’s ship Chanticleer and the authorities of this port, I was on the [Page 528] point of embarking yesterday on board the mail steamer for San Francisco, and requested the Prussian consul, (who was himself addressing you,) in my name, to beg of you to use your friendly influence in arranging the matter of the gross insult offered to Commander Bridges, who intended taking summary measures to punish the same, having failed to obtain any redress from the commander-in-chief of the 4th division, (General Corona,) who, although the highest representative of his government, has expressed his inability to act in the matter or to punish the offender, and referred the commander to the collector of the custom-house, with whom he could not enter into communication on a national question of such a serious nature.
The Prussian consul has brought all the facts relating to said insult fully before you, and will also inform you that Commander Bridges has been prevailed upon to desist from bombarding the public buildings until he has communicated with Admiral Hastings, and the matter has been brought to the knowledge of the Mexican government. I have also to request you, as the representative of a friendly nation, (my government holding no diplomatic intercourse with Mexico,) to use your influence with the supreme government in obtaining prompt satisfaction for Commander Bridges, and thereby avoid destruction to life and property.
I anticipate you my best thanks for all that you may do towards bringing about a peaceable and satisfactory settlement of this matter.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient humble servant,
Hon. E. Lee Plumb, United States Minister Resident, &c., &c., in Mexico.
Mr. Sisson to Mr. Plumb.
Sir: I have the honor to forward you two inclosures—No. 1, a copy of the notice I received from Commander W. W. Bridges, of her Majesty’s ship Chanticleer; No. 2, copy of two letters sent by me to Commander Bridges.
As the correspondence is all in the hands of the English consul, who informs me that they are to be remitted to your honor by courier this day, I do not see that I can give you further information.
I have the honor to remain your obedient servant,
Hon. Edward L. Plumb, United States Minister, Mexico.
Commander Bridges to Mr. Sisson.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you, that having failed to procure redress from the Mexican authorities in Mazatlan for gross insults offered to myself by the customs department, that I am compelled to take summary measures to repel the insult. I therefore shall, from noon this day, close the port of Mazatlan, and make such seizures as I may consider necessary. Should force be required to carry out my intentions I shall be obliged to resort to it, but it will be my desire, while inflicting punishment on the government of Mazatlan, not to injure private property if possible. I beg you will be so good as to display the United States flag over your consulate, and that you notify to your countrymen in Mazatlan my intentions. Before opening fire on the customhouse and other public buildings I will display the English flag at the main and fire a blank gun, in order that the inhabitants may remove from danger.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
The Consul for the United States, Mazatlan.
Mr. Sisson to Commander Bridges.
Sir: At the request of citizens, Mr. Abwua, consul of Eucador, and myself called on General Corona this morning to try and arrange the difficulties between yourself and the Mexican authorities. General Corona stated that he intended to address you a note, and insists in the want of jurisdiction to give the satisfaction required. Very respectfully,
Commander W. W. S. Bridges, Her Majesty’s Ship Chanticleer.
Mr. Sisson to Commander Bridges.
Sir: In connection with the English and Prussian consuls I feel it my duty to call your attention to the great destruction of life and property that must be the result from the bombardment of this city. As the city is defenseless, and most of the property belonging to foreigners, I truly hope that you may be able to obtain redress in some milder way.
Very respectfully,
Commander W. W. S. Bridges, R. N., Her Majesty’s ship Chanticleer.
Mr. Plumb to Señor Azpiroz.
Sir: By dispatches which reached me this morning by extraordinary courier from Mazatlan, I am informed of very grave difficulties which have, arisen at that port, between the commander of the English man-of-war Chanticleer and the Mexican authorities.
These difficulties, as I am advised, have reached so serious a stage that a blockade of the port of Mazatlan has been established, and the commander of the Chanticleer had declared it to be his intention to bombard the town; but upon the representations of the foreign consuls and merchants, was induced to desist from this latter purpose until he should have communicated with the British admiral on that coast, and the matter had been brought to the knowledge of the supreme government of the republic.
Under these circumstances communications have been addressed to me, inclosing to me the correspondence that had taken place between the commander of the Chanticleer and General Corona, the chief military representative of the Mexican government, in that part of the republic which has had this lamentable result, and my good offices have been appealed to as the representative of a friendly nation, and the only foreign diplomatic agent in this republic, to lay this correspondence before the Mexican government, and to use my influence to the end that due satisfaction may be rendered, and thereby the destruction of life and property be avoided.
I have therefore the honor to inclose herewith a copy of the correspondence referred to, as it has been transmitted to me, and very respectfully but earnestly and seriously to commend the attention of the Mexican government to the gravity of the case therein presented.
I cannot but entertain a confident hope that the government of the republic will take such a view of this affair as will lead it at once to dictate such orders as shall fully meet the exigencies of the case, and avert more serious consequences, which it is to be feared may lead to very grave international complications, if, as the inclosed correspondence would indicate, subordinate officials, without the knowledge of the Mexican government, have committed acts that require immediate redress.
I also beg to inclose herewith copy of the notice of blockade, officially communicated [Page 530] to the commercial agent of the United States, and of two letters addressed by him to the commander of the Chanticleer.
The agitation and alarm among the Pacific foreign residents in Mazatlan, in view of these serious events, is extreme, and I trust the government of the republic will enable me to transmit, by the return of the present courier, such assurances as will show that this affair will have an immediate pacific solution, honorable alike to the government of Mexico and to the nation aggrieved.
To no party will such result afford more gratification, I am sure, than to the government I have the honor to represent.
With sentiments of the highest consideration, I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. Manuel Azpiroz, Chief Cleric in charge of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Mexico.
Señor Azpiroz to Mr. Plumb.
Sir: In due reply to the note of the 2d of this month, which you pleased to remit to me, with copies of various communications relative to events which occurred at Mazatlan on the 16th and subsequent days of June last past, showing that on addressing said communications to you, recurrence was had to your good offices, because you are the representative of a friendly nation, and the only foreign diplomatic agent in this country, I have the honor to say to you that the government has taken under consideration all that you have pleased to communicate to it, as well as the contents of a communication, with its annexes, from the general of division, Ramon Corona, in command of the fourth division of the army, and of another communication from the commander-in-chief of the navy department of the south, sent to the department of war and navy, giving to it information of the events indicated.
Through the medium of the department of war and navy there have been already ordered suitable measures, which are communicated to the general in chief of the fourth division of the army in the dispatch transcribed for this department, of which I send you a copy.
The government duly appreciates your desire to contribute, through your good offices and influence, to the smoothing away of the difficulties that occurred at Mazatlan, and will have the satisfaction of availing itself of them should needful occasion happen.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Mr. Edward Lee Plumb, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States of America in Mexico.
[Translation.] No. 15.—department of war and navy—Section 1.
To-day I say to the general of division, Ramon Corona, in command of the fourth division, as follows:
“I have laid before the consideration of the President of the republic your communication of the 22d of June last, with a copy, and the printed matter annexed, upon the reclamations of Mr. W. Bridges, commander of the ship of war of her Britannic Majesty the Chanticleer, anchored in the bay of Mazatlan. Your communication, with its annexes, and another from the chief in command of the navy at the south, brought by special mail, are the only documents which the governor has received, there not having arrived by that or other channel any communication or document from the maritime custom-house to the proceedings of which the reclamations relate.
“For this reason the President has decided, that through the department of the treasury the administrator of the maritime custom-house be notified by an express mail to transmit, if that has not been done, a report of all the circumstances in connection with what has happened, stating the reasons why he had not given immediate information, [Page 531] so that the government might at once have appreciated the events with exactness the moment they trenched upon national interests. Notwithstanding the absence of any statements from the custom-house, and with reserve always of what may be determined when they may be received, the citizen President has taken the business into consideration, so far as till now set forth and appearing on the documents received.
“The first reclamation of the commander of the frigate set forth that the agents of the custom-house, on the 16th of June, collected a sum of money which the purser of the vessel had with him at the time he was going on board the ship. The captain asked that the amount should be restored, complaining that himself and the purser had been insulted. It seems, from the very words of the commander in his first communication, that the agents of the custom-house made requisition from the purser when he had reached the wharf, which seems to signify that he was about to embark without making a manifest of the money, and that he had not with him even any permit to ship any amount; but that at the time of the discovery of that which he was carrying he said he had a permit for a smaller sum, which he was ordered to draw from a merchant, and presented afterwards; and that the commander says he warned the purser that he should not deliver the money nor go to the custom-house, which was to warn him that in Mexican territory he should resist and should not obey the agents of the Mexican authority. In the absence of reports from the custom-house, it is to be presumed that it collected the money, and then refused to restore it when afterwards the permit was presented, because it had not been used for making a manifest of the money, in the act of his going to take it on board. If by general rule this way of acting were permitted, a permit kept in a merchant’s office would serve for embarking a large amount in small quantities shipped in succession without manifests, trusting that, if at some time the fiscal officers should note and detain some partial amount, the permit would then be ordered to be brought and presented.
“The examination of the purser was not an offense or insult, especially when the fact appeared that he was going to ship a sum without the usual forms. Examination at the custom-house is not an exclusive practice of Mexico; there, on the contrary, it is not customary to make them so scrupulously as in other countries. Still less could the commander of the frigate consider himself offended by the simple fact that some one should have notified him that he could not exercise any power or authority on shore. He himself shows in his first note that he cautioned the purser, while on shore in Mexico, to resist and disobey the agents of the Mexican authorities. In place of the commander being offended, his warning might well appear to be an offense against, and disrespect of, Mexican laws and authorities. The officers and crew of a vessel of war anchored in a foreign port, when they go ashore are under obligation to hold in respect the authorities of the country and observe its laws, being responsible for their infraction or for disregard thereof. Although the commander of the frigate characterized as an insult what happened primarily with him and the purser, doubtless he did not think it sufficiently clear and demonstrated that there had been offense, because he limited himself to requesting in his two first communications the return of the money retained, without expressing that he wanted other satisfaction. He did not ask that until his third note, after what happened on the 18th June, with the same commander, who considered the fresh act as the greater offense. Until the government receives the report from the custom-house, it will not be enabled to appreciate the circumstances of the second act; but it may be considered, in view of the documents received, that the demands and measures of the commander of the frigate do not appear to be in conformity with the law of nations, nor founded on justice. In no way could it be just, nor could the authorities of the republic admit the demand of Commander Bridges, that the officer who had directed the occurrence of the 18th of June should be sent on board his vessel and be punished as should be satisfactory to him.
“Grave as the captain may consider the fault, he can only ask, in conformity with the principles and laws of civilized nations, that the offender or offenders should be tried, not by the offended but by their own judges, nor punished at the pleasure of the offended party but in such manner only as should satisfy justice. As little could it seem just or in conformity with the law of nations, that the commander of the Chanticleer should declare, of his own authority, the blockade of Mazatlan, and no less that he should attempt it upon his own authority to bombard an undefended city. Although by the attempted foreign intervention in Mexico the relations between Mexico and England have been interrupted, it is a fact that there has not for a long time been any hostilities between the two countries. Under such circumstances it could not be in conformity with the law of nations that the commander of an English ship of war should establish, of his own authority, a state of hostilities without orders from his government.
“This beginning of hostilities would be so much the less justifiable on the part of the commander of the Chanticleer, inasmuch as, if the acts of some public functionaries of Mazatlan were considered to be irregular, they would be deemed to be entitled to seek proper reparation; but the case had not happened in which it could be believed that this had been refused by the government of the republic.
“Far from so believing, it should be considered that it has been and is the constant [Page 532] purpose of the policy of the government not to give any well-founded motive for complaint, even to subjects of countries which have interrupted their relations with Mexico, although, indeed, the resolution may be held to make all the efforts and sacrifices necessary to uphold the dignity and the rights of the republic. On these subjects the conduct of the government has been in accordance with the enlightened opinion of the generality of the Mexican people, which has well demonstrated, in a recent epoch of trial, its determination to treat not merely with justice, but with kindness, all foreigners of every country who may reside in the republic or may desire to come to it.
“Observing the same principles in respect to what has happened at Mazatlan, the government would not consent to any irregular requisition, but as little does it question of being able to dispose of the proper investigation of the facts, so that if there have been wrongs they may be remedied as may be correspondent with justice. With this object the President of the republic has determined that the department of Hacienda issue appropriate orders on the two points following:
“1st. That the money taken from the possession of the purser of the frigate Chanticleer be held under the quality of a deposit until the government receive the reports of the maritime custom-house, in order to resolve, upon seeing them, whether the government can of itself determine that the amount be returned, or whether it is indispensable under the circumstances of the case, that it be submitted to a judicial decision.
“2d. That there be placed at the disposal of the judge of the district of Mazatlan, that he may proceed in accordance with the laws, the persons employed in the maritime custom-house who interfered in what happened on the 16th and 18th days of June last, in respect of the commander and officers of the frigate Chanticleer, as well as the employé who gave order to do those acts, giving information every week to the government of the state of the proceedings during which said employes may be absent from duty, until, in view of the result of the trial, the government may determine as to those who are ready to return to duty.
“The President has also determined to commission you to act in this matter in conformity, with the following directions:
“1. The provisions of this communication shall be without effect if, at the time of their receipt by you, the difficulties mentioned as having happened at that port shall already have been satisfactorily settled.
“2. In the contrary case you will please address a note to the commander of the frigate Chanticleer, sending him a copy of this communication.
“3. If, notwithstanding the disposition made by the government, the commander of the Chanticleer should insist in maintaining the blockade, and if he should again threaten to bombard Mazatlan, you will act in either case in conformity with the instructions I give you in a separate dispatch.”
And I send it to you for your information.
Mr. Plumb to Mr. Fuhrken.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, on the 2d instant, of your communication of the 22d, with postscript of the 23d ultimo, with which you have been pleased to transmit to me, at the request of Mr. C. Woolrich, the vice-consul of Great Britain at Mazatlan, copy of correspondence between the commander of her Britannic Majesty’s ship Chanticleer and General Corona.
This request is made of you by Mr. Woolrich in the anticipation of his having immediately to leave Mazatlan.
And you add that Mr. Woolrich requests me “as the representative of a friendly nation to lay these documents before the Mexican government, and to obtain for the British flag the satisfaction so unjustly denied by the authorities of Sinaloa.”
You also express to me in your communication the alarm and consternation which prevail among the Pacific foreign residents at Mazatlan in view of what has occurred, and refer to the loss of life and property that must ensue if the difficulties that have arisen between Commander Bridges and the Mexican authorities shall not be brought to a pacific solution.
It is with great pleasure that by the postscript to your letter I have learned that, acceding to the timely representations of the foreign consuls and merchants, the threatened bombardment of the town, which would inflict most damage upon innocent parties, has been desisted from by Commander Bridges, and it is to be trusted the blockade of the port, also seriously affecting neutral commerce, may, by a happy solution of these difficulties, speedily be raised.
[Page 533]In view of the appeal that has been made to me, and of the circumstances presented in your communication, I have not hesitated to use every influence compatible with my position to induce the Mexican government to take such action as shall facilitate a pacific solution of the difficulties which have arisen, and I cannot but most earnestly hope such a result may be attained.
Inclosed herewith I beg to transmit to you a copy of the note with which I communicated to this government the correspondence you desired me to lay before it, and also a copy of the reply which I have received from the department of foreign affairs.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Fuhrken, Esq., Consul of Prussia, Mazatlan.
Mr. Plumb to Mr. Woolrich.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, on the 2d instant, of your communication of the 23d ultimo, relating to the difficulties which have arisen at Mazatlan between Commander Bridges of her Britannic Majesty’s ship Chanticleer and the Mexican authorities.
I have also received the communication from the consul of Prussia at that port, to which you refer, with which there has been transmitted to me a copy of correspondence which has taken place between Commander Bridges and General Corona.
While advising me of the difficulties that have taken place, you request me, as the representative of a friendly nation, (your government holding no diplomatic intercourse with Mexico,) to use my influence with the supreme government to obtain prompt satisfaction for Commander Bridges, and thereby avert the destruction of life and property.
The occurrences to which your communication refers have deeply impressed me, and I have not failed immediately to use every exertion consistent with my position, in favor of such action by this government as shall lead to a pacific solution of the difficulties which have arisen.
I cannot but earnestly hope such a solution may be attained, and that thus the destruction of life and property and the interruption of commerce may be averted.
By this opportunity I have addressed the consul of Prussia, in reply to his communication, and have inclosed to him a copy of the correspondence I have had with this government upon the subject referred to.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. Woolrich, Esq., Her Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul, Mazatlan.
Mr. Plumb to Mr. Sisson.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt, on the 2d instant, of your communication of the 23d ultimo, transmitting to me copies of a notice received from and of two communications addressed by you to Commander Bridges, of her Britannic Majesty’s ship Chanticleer.
You also refer to a correspondence which you were informed by the English consul would be transmitted to me, and which has been remitted by the consul of Prussia, relating to the recent events at Mazatlan.
I have now to inclose to you herewith a dispatch for the consul of Prussia, with which is transmitted a copy of the correspondence I have had with this government upon the subject referred to.
I also inclose herewith a dispatch for the English vice-consul at your port, which, together with the above, I beg you will duly deliver.
I am, very truly, your obedient servant,
Isaac Sisson, Esq., United States Commercial Agent, Mazatlan.