No. 331.
Mr. Nelson to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Mexico, July 24, 1872.
(Received August 14.)
No. 600.]
Sir: In accordance with the provisions of the
seventy-ninth article of the Mexican constitution, Mr. Sebastian Lerdo
de Tejada, chief justice of the supreme court, took possession of the
presidency, ad interim, of this republic,
immediately after the death of President Juarez. His
[Page 441]
accession was announced to me by a note
from the ministry of foreign affairs, of which I send a copy and
translation, (A and B,) together with a copy of my reply, (C,) in which
I expressed my confidence in the prudence, ability, and patriotism of
the new President, founded on his honorable antecedents.
I lost no time in calling together the diplomatic corps, and, by previous
agreement, we were received by the new President, surrounded by the
cabinet, at 4 p.m. on the 19th instant, in the hall of embassadors at
the palace. The hall was densely crowded with spectators. As dean of the
diplomatic corps, I pronounced a brief discourse of condolence for the
loss of President Juarez, and of congratulation to the new chief
magistrate, (D.) Mr. Lerdo replied (E and F) in a few words of
well-timed eulogy upon Mr. Juarez as “author of the reform and savior of
the independence” of Mexico, and expressed his absolute confidence in
the maintenance of friendly relations with all the foreign nations
represented on the occasion.
I am, &c,
[Inclosure B.—Translation.]
Mr. Lafragua to
Mr. Nelson.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, July 19, 1872.
Sir: I have the honor to inform your
excellency that, in consequence of the death of the citizen Benito
Juarez, constitutional President of the United States of Mexico, the
citizen Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, president of the supreme court of
justice of the republic, has taken possession of the executive
power, a sconstitutional President ad
interim, in accordance with the prescriptions of the national
constitution.
The government of Mexico will communicate directly to the Government
of the United States of America this event, which I now hasten to
make known to your excellency.
I have the honor to renew to your excellency the assurance of my high
and distinguished consideration.
[Inclosure C.]
Mr. Nelson to Mr.
Lafragua.
Legation of the United States,
Mexico, July 19, 1872.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s note of this date, announcing that in
consequence of the death of President Juarez, the president of the
supreme court of justice, Mr. Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, has taken
possession of the executive power, in accordance with the
prescription of the national constitution.
The prudence, ability, and patriotism of Mr. Lerdo de Tejada, as
demonstrated by his past career, afford a sufficient guarantee that
the new chief magistrate of this republic will not disappoint the
high expectations formed of him as the constitutional successor of
the illustrious Juarez.
I improve this opportunity to renew to your excellency the assurance
of my very high consideration.
[Page 442]
[Inclosure D.]
Remarks of Mr. Nelson.
Mr. President: The members of the
diplomatic corps residing in Mexico desire to express their profound
sorrow, in view of the sudden death of that illustrious statesman
and patriot, Benito Juarez, late President of this republic.
At the same time, I have the honor to congratulate your excellency in
the name of the diplomatic corps upon your succession to the
presidency, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution
and laws, and to express the hope and confident expectation that
your wise and patriotic administration of the government will
promote the peace, unity, prosperity, and glory of the republic of
Mexico.
[Inclosure F.—Translation.]
Reply of President Lerdo.
Gentlemen: In the name of the nation, and
in my own, I am sincerely grateful for the sentiments that animate
the diplomatic corps. If the death of a distinguished man is a
public calamity, a proper name can scarcely be found for the
terrible misfortune which now afflicts the Mexican people. As the
author of the reform and preserver of our independence, the citizen
Benito Juarez has elevated himself to a height that cannot be
measured, even by a sentiment of the warmest and sincerest
gratitude.
I am also very sincerely grateful for the good wishes which the
diplomatic corps has expressed for the success of the administration
over which I am about to preside, according to law, and during which
the friendly relations that now unite the republic of Mexico with
the nation you so worthily represent will, undoubtedly, be
maintained.
