No. 322.
Mr. Nelson to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Mexico, June 15, 1872.
(Received June 28.)
No. 583.]
Sir: On the 8th instant Ministers Mariscal,
Romero, and Castillo Velasco presented their resignations, and on the
10th retired from the cabinet of President Juarez. Their successors are
Mr. Jose Maria Lafragua, as minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Francisco
Mejia, as minister of finance, and Mr. Francisco Gomez del Palacio, as
minister of the interior. At the same time, the ministry of justice,
which has been vacant for a year, was filled by the appointment of Mr.
Joaquin Ruiz.
Mr. Lafragua, the head of the new ministry, is an eminent lawyer, who has
more than once occupied a place in Mexican cabinets. He was lately a
justice of the supreme court, and is the principal author of the civil
and penal codes recently promulgated. He is, besides, distinguished for
his literary attainments, and his profound knowledge of Mexican
history.
[Page 432]
Mr. Joaquin Ruiz is also a distinguished lawyer, and has before filled
with prestige the post he is now to occupy.
Mr. Francisco Mejia was chairman of the committee on finance in the
present Congress. He has had a long experience in financial posts and is
well versed in the routine of his new office.
Of Mr. Gomez del Palacio it is unnecessary for me to say anything, as he
is well known to the Department of State at Washington, where he now
resides. His talents and integrity are recognized by all parties.
General Mejia and Mr. Bias Balcárcel remain in charge of the portfolios
of war and public works.
I herewith inclose a copy and translation (A and B) of Mr. Lafragua’s
note to me announcing his acceptance of the post of minister of foreign
affairs, and my reply to the same, (C,) both dated the 13th instant.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1.—Translation.]
Mr. Lafragua to
Mr. Nelson.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, June 13, 1872.
Sir: The President of the republic has been
pleased to appoint the undersigned to the post of secretary of state
and foreign affairs, and the undersigned has to-day taken possession
of his office.
On the occasion of communicating this measure of the President of the
republic to his excellency the envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary of the United States of America, the undersigned has
the honor to state that, cherishing the same sentiments which
animate the government of Mexico, in favor of the nations friendly
to the republic, and which were held by his enlightened
predecessors, he is disposed to maintain that spirit of mutual good
will and cordial friendship which happily exists between the United
States of Mexico and the United States of America.
Upon this occasion the undersigned, secretary of state and foreign
affairs, hastens to offer to his excellency Mr. Thomas H. Nelson,
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United
States of America, the assurance of the very distinguished
consideration with which he has the honor to be his excellency’s
very obedient servant.
[Inclosure C.]
Mr. Nelson to Mr.
Lafragua.
Legation of the United States,
Mexico, June 13, 1872.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your
excellency’s note of to-day, by which I am informed that the
President of the republic has been pleased to appoint your
excellency to the post of minister of foreign affairs. Your
excellency manifests, in respect to nations friendly to Mexico,
sentiments in accordance with those which animate your excellency’s
government, and assures me of a disposition to maintain that spirit
of mutual good-will and cordial friendship which happily exists
between our respective countries.
Fully reciprocating your excellency’s sentiments in this respect, I
take pleasure in tendering my congratulations upon your acceptance
of the high post which your excellency is so well qualified to fill.
I cherish the confident hope that my official relations with your
excellency will be of the same satisfactory character as they
fortunately were with your excellency’s distinguished
predecessors.
I avail myself of this opportunity to assure your excellency of the
very high consideration with which I have the honor to be your
excellency’s obedient servant,
