levied war directly. Their measures embrace all the operations preliminary to openly carrying on war-the supply of men and ships and arms and money to one party, in order that they may be the better enabled to overcome the other, which other is in this case a nation with which Great Britain is now under treaty obligations of the most solemn nature to maintain a lasting peace and friendship." # * This is exactly what the undersigned has solicited since the discussion of this affair began, in the note which he addressed to the Department of State on the 10th of December last. This view of the question is not exclusive to Mr. Adams: the honorable Secretary of State, in the despatch which he addressed to the minister of the United States at London, on the 2d of June, 1862, (page 108,) adopts it entirely in saying to him as follows: "There has just now fallen into our hands a very extraordinary document, being a report made by Caleb Huse, who calls himself a captain of artillery, and who is an agent of the insurgents in Europe for the purchase of arms, munitions of war, and military supplies, which have been shipped by him in England and elsewhere, in the mad attempt to overthrow the federal Union. It reveals enough to show that the complaints you have made to Earl Russell fell infinitely short of the real abuses of neutrality which have been committed in Great Britain in the very face of her Majesty's government." In writing those lines it seems the honorable Secretary of State had forgotten the doctrine which he now says is "conformable to the laws of the United States, and to the practical application of those laws which has prevailed since the foundation of this government." Among the so-called authorities which have governed the course of the honorable Secretary of the Treasury, and which were submitted to the undersigned, and have again been referred to by the honorable Secretary of State, is the following fragment of the instructions communicated by Mr. Webster to Mr. Thompson, on the 8th of July, 1842, that is as follows: "As to advances, loans, or donations of money or goods, made by individuals to the government of Texas or its citizens, the Mexican government needs not to be informed that there is nothing unlawful in this, so long as Texas is at peace with the United States, and that there are things which no government undertakes to restrain." This sentence, which in the opinion of the government of the United States is an authority that may be applied to Mexico with the same rigor as if it were an article of the international code, loses all its force when it concerns the United States. A while ago the consul of the United States at Liverpool learned that in that city a subscription was being raised of £40,000 to assist the insurgents of this country, to whom England had conceded all the rights of belligerents. Instead of the honorable Secretary of State seeing in this transaction a matter "in which there was nothing unlawful, so long as England was at peace with the southern States, and one of those things which no government thinks of prohibiting," he addressed, under date of the 1st of May, 1862, (page 78,) a despatch to Mr. Adams, recommending him to call the attention of Lord Russell to the transaction. Evidently the honorable Secretary of State did not propose that Mr. Adams should speak to Lord Russell of this affair with a view of approving of it and of manifesting that there was nothing unlawful in it, but that he should request the English government to apply a remedy to this want of neutrality. In the archives of the United States, as in those of other nations, there are opposite opinions on all questionable points; even on those which can hardly be a subject of discussion. In the present case, it seems to the undersigned that the honorable Secretary of the Treasury has only collected those authorities which do not favor the just cause of Mexico. The undersigned might pre sent, in support of his good right, another list of American authorities more numerous and more weighty than those which appear to have induced the honorable Secretary of the Treasury to concede to France what separates the United States from that neutrality which they declare that they wish to observe in the war between Mexico and the Emperor of the French. The honorable Secretary of State is pleased to inform the undersigned that the prohibition against exporting arms from the ports of the United States, which was first adopted to the prejudice of Mexico only, and which afterwards became general, is a temporary measure. The opinion which the undersigned holds respecting the motives which have induced the government of the United States to prohibit the exportation of arms to Mexico-an opinion founded on undeniable facts-would fail to be justified if the prohibition against exporting arms will be raised when, on account of the French having occupied or blockaded the whole coast of Mexico, it would be entirely impossible to introduce arms into the republic. The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to renew to the honorable William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, the assurances of his most distinguished consideration. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., sx. M. ROMERO. Mr. Seward to Mr. Romero. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, The undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, has had the honor to receive the note which was addressed to him on the 14th instant by Mr. Romero, concerning the action of the Treasury Department in relation to shipments of goods at New York for Mexican ports. The undersigned, while seeing no cause further to expatiate upon the reasons heretofore offered in explanation of that measure, avails himself of this occasion to offer to Mr. Romero a renewed assurance of his high consideration. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Señor MATIAS ROMERO, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Rankin to Mr. Seward. [Telegram.] SAN FRANCISCO, January 14, 1863. French consul desires me to prevent shipment of contraband goods to Mexico. Shall I comply? If yes, what articles deemed contraband? Hon. WILLIAM H. Seward, Secretary of State. IRA P. RANKIN, Collector. Mr. Seward to Mr. Rankin. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 15, 1863. Your telegram of the 14th has been received. Subjoined is a copy of an executive order of the 30th November last, which will serve as an answer to your inquiry. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Collector of Customs, San Francisco. IRA P. RANKIN, EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington City, November 20, 1862. Ordered, That no arms, ammunition, or munitions of war be cleared or allowed to be exported from the United States until further order. That any clearances of arms, ammunition, or munitions of war issued heretofore by the Treasury Department be vacated, if the articles have not passed without the United States, and the articles stopped. That the Secretary of War hold possession of the arms, &c., recently seized by his order at Rouse's Point, bound for Canada. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward. [Translation.] MEXICAN LEGATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Washington, January 20, 1863. The undersigned, chargé d'affaires of the United Mexican States, has the honor to address himself to the Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States of America, to inform him that he has received a communication, dated the 17th of this month, from the Mexican citizen Camilo Cámara, now sojourning in New York, and of which he encloses a copy. From this communication it appears that the custom-house at New York refuses to clear, for the port of Sisal, a cargo of powder, lead, and flint-stones, intended to sustain the war which the government of Yucatan is waging against the revolted Indians of that peninsula. As all that has come to the knowledge of the undersigned is, that the exportation of arms to Mexico is the only thing which the government of the United States has prohibited up to this time, he could not less than be surprised at seeing that the prohibition is being extended to the other articles contraband of war which Mexico is in want of, even though she does not intend to make use of them in the war which the republic is sustaining against the Emperor of the French. The undersigned would be thankful to the honorable the Secretary of State if he would be pleased to inform him, if it be possible, what are the articles, besides arms, the exportation of which to the ports of Mexico, which are in the possession of the authorities of the republic, this government has prohibited. The undersigned would also be pleased to know if the honorable the Secretary of State would have the goodness to inform him whether this government proposes to clear, or not, the cargo to which the said letter of Mr. Cámara refers. H. Ex. Doc. 11- -3 The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to renew to the Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, the assurances of his most distinguished consideration. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. M. ROMERO. [Translation.] NEW YORK, January 17, 1863. HONORED SR: I, the undersigned, a Mexican citizen, a native and a merchant of Yucatan, at the present time sojourning in this city for the purpose of commercial pursuits, as is customary, most respectfully do make known to you that I have been much surprised that the custom-house in this place should not permit me to ship, in either an American or a foreign vessel, a small quantity of powder, lead, and flint-stones, which my consignees in this city, Messrs. Riera & Thébaud, merchants thereof, bave endeavored to ship for my account on an English vessel, and destined to Sisal, for the use of that state. You cannot but know, sir, that we have no other means of supplying ourselves with these articles, unless it be from the United States, whence they have always been carried, and at the same time you know that in our country it is indispensable to us to have powder and other articles of war, owing most especially to the desolating war now being carried on against us by the rebellious Indians. Independently of these considerations we have to call your attention to the fact that, while we are prevented from a lawful trade in these articles of war, it is said they have permitted here the exportation of effects for the French, who are actually waging war against our republic. My aforesaid consignees have written upon the subject to the War Department at Washington, offering to give a security until we shall send a certificate from Yucatan, in which it is certified that these articles have been landed in, and are for the use of, that country, and to the said letter, of which I enclose you a copy, no answer has as yet been received. A disposition so arbitrary and illegal, preventing the shipment of certain articles to Mexico, not only does injury to the different states of the republic, by depriving them of the revenues which these articles would produce, and necessary to their consumption, but, in a very direct manner, to the commerce and government of Yucatan, which requires them to oppose the rebellious Indians. I do not see what lawful objection there is to prevent a traffic guaranteed by the treaties which exist between the two countries; and considering that my reasons are well founded, and that your co-operation in this case is made necessary, I take the liberty to request you to take the trouble to attend to this, my petition with the least possible delay, inasmuch as the vessel which will carry my invoice is now being loaded, by applying for this purpose to the War Department to obtain the permission for shipping these effects hence for Yucatan, with the guarantee, if they desire it, of the respectable signatures of Messrs. Riera & Thébaud, as has been done in other similar cases. The interest you may take in this matter, as our worthy representative, is the only means of favorably settling this business for us, and I do not doubt that you will be pleased to extend your protection to me. In the event of your needing my address, you will address me to the care of Messrs. Riera & Thébaud, and meanwhile I have the honor to place myself at your service. Señor DON M. ROMERO, Your very obedient servant, Minister from the Mexican Republic, in Washington. CAMILO CAMARA. Mr. Seward to Mr. Romero. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 21, 1863. SIR: In reply to your note of yesterday expressing surprise at the refusal of the custom-house authorities to clear for the port of Sisal a cargo of powder, lead, and flint-stones, and desiring to be informed what are the articles the exportation of which has been prohibited by this government, I have the hor or to state that, on the 20th November last, an executive order from the President of the United States directed "that no arms, ammunition, or munitions of war be cleared or allowed to be exported from the United States until further order." I am not aware that this order has been relaxed or rescinded, nor do I perceive the propriety or expediency of remitting it under existing circumstances. I avail, &c., &c., Señor MATIAS ROMERO, &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. General Canby to Mr. Seward. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, February 17, 1864. SIR: The Secretary of War instructs me to submit to you the enclosed letter and accompaniments from T. Lemmen Meyer, San Francisco, soliciting, for himself and others, permission to ship blasting powder from that port, for the use of designated mines in Mexico, and to request the expression of your opinion upon the propriety and expedieney of granting the privilege asked for. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, The SECRETARY OF STATE, Washington, D. C. ED. R. S. CANBY, Brigadier General, A. A. G. Mr. Meyer to Mr. Stanton. SAN FRANCISCO, January, 16, 1864. SIR: I beg to accompany two petitions, signed by me, entreating you to allow the exportation of a certain amount of powder for the use of two mines in Mexico in which I am interested. The damages that would accrue from the want of powder are so well known to your honor that I abstain from mentioning them, and I will limit myself to state, for the sake of not occupying your valuable time, that the French consul in this city having no objection to its exportation, and the French minister in your city consenting to it, (as he will most likely do,) the only party which, in my opinion, remains with the right to either allow or prohibit its exportation is the United States government. Allow me to offer you, honorable sir, my most sincere respects. Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, T. LEMMEN MEYER. Secretary of the United States War Department, Washington, D. C. SAN FRANCISCO, January 16, 1864. DEAR SIR: Most respectfully and earnestly do we request of you permission to make monthly shipments of twenty kegs of blasting powder to the " Agua Grande " copper mine, located at Sonora, Mexico, whereof W. Randall is superintendent. Said blasting or mining powder to be in kegs, holding 25 pounds each, purchased from Edward H. Parker, San Francisco, agent of the Hazard Powder Company, New York, and to be shipped by us to the port of Guaymas, Mexico, on board the steamer Sierra Nevada, or John L. Stephens, of B. Holladay's line. If in the affirmative, please answer by telegraph. Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Yours respectfully, T. LEMMEN MEYER. Secretary of the U. S. War Department, Washington City, D. C. |