Page images
PDF
EPUB

pounds in shell, 3 feet 9 inches long. After turret, 2 guns, rifled, shot 20 pounds in cartridge 10 pounds in shell, steel shell and shot, and sequent shot; has 4 engines, 2 screws; speed, 12 knots. Plates of turrets, 5, 7, and 8 inch.

He says the Niagara and Sacramento are outside, but give us little concern, as we shall run right into one of them and send her to the bottom.

The man to whom this is addressed has told my informant that he expects to go to the Stonewall as gunner, and that men are still being engaged for her, and that a Dutch vessel is to take them to her.

Other information from the same source has turned out correct, which gives me reason to believe this to be so.

Your obedient servant,

[blocks in formation]

SIR: Your despatch of the 20th of February, No. 168, has been received, and also your despatch of the 25th of the same month, No. 169. In my No. 74 I gave you the determination by which this government would abide in the case of the pirate Stonewall, at least until a change should come over the situation of the vessel.

It is now, therefore, only necessary to say that all your proceedings, as subsequently reported, are fully approved and heartily commended. Our naval force in European waters will soon be increased; but I cannot learn that this is likely to take place early enough for a contingency in the case of the Stonewall.

[blocks in formation]

SIR: Your despatches. No. 173, dated March 8, and No. 174, dated March 10, have been received, and have been submitted for perusal to the Secretary of the Navy.

The ceaseless vigilance and activity which you have shown in your efforts to protect the interests of the United States, in connexion with the affair of the pirate Stonewall at Ferrol, are especially commended.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

HORATIO J. PERRY, Esq., &c, &c., Madrid.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

No. 182.]

Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Madrid, April 1, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to' enclose Commodore Craven's letter to me of the 25th ultimo, written as he was leaving the harbor of Corunna, and giving his own account of the last scenes of the Stonewall affair in this jurisdiction. With the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington.

HORATIO J. PERRY.

Commodore Craven to Mr. Perry.

UNITED STATES SHIP NIAGARA,
Corunna, March 25, 1865.

DEAR SIR: After lying in the harbor of Ferrol some six or seven weeks, and there thor oughly completed her equipments and supplies, enlisted and drilled her men, the Stonewall on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week made her appearance outside and directly to the north of this harbor, but the stateof the sea was not favorable for her purposes, and while the Niagara and Sacramento were on their way out she returned to her old anchorage-the first time on the plea of having again sprung a leak; the second on the pretext that her ballast had shifted and that her gun had gotten loose.

On yesterday morning, the weather being remarkably calm and the sea perfectly smooth, she again made her appearance, and with feelings that no one can appreciate, I was obliged to undergo the deep humiliation of knowing that she was there steaming back and forth flaunting her flags and waiting for me to go out to the attack.

(I dared not do it.) The condition of the sea was such that it would have been perfect madness for me to go out. We could not possibly have inflicted the slightest injury upon her, and should have exposed ourselves to almost instant destruction-a one sided combat which I do not consider myself called upon to engage in.

This afternoon I have learnt that the Stonewall was last seen at an early hour this morning steaming to the westward.

I am now on my way out, and shall proceed towards Lisbon.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. H. J. PERRY, Chargé d'Affaires, &c., &c., Madrid.

THOMAS T. CRAVEN.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Perry.

No. 83.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, April 4, 1865.

SIR: I thank you for your very interesting confidential note of the 12th of March. It has been my earnest desire that Spain might anticipate the other maritime powers in retiring from the erring policy of 1861. I feel sure that she would have done so if she could have ever so little anticipated the events of the war during the present campaign. It is desirable that you press the question upon the Spanish government now while the advantage may even yet be secured. This proceeding in connexion with the restoration of peace in Peru, and the retirement of Spain from Dominica, would probably open harmonious and friendly relations between Spain and the United States for a period as long as statesmen are accustomed to foresee events.

[blocks in formation]

SIR: Your despatch of March 11, No. 176, has been received. I have been deeply interested in the conversation between yourself and Mr. Benavides and the Duke of Valencia which you have reported to me. The views you expressed on these occasions are in perfect harmony with those of this government, and I am glad to learn that they were received with marked attention by the ministers of her Majesty's government.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

HORATIO J. PERRY, Esq., &c., &c., Madrid.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

No. 86.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Perry.

DEPARTMENT of State,
Washington, April 4, 1865.

SIR: Your despatch of the 11th of March, No. 175, has been received. This government would hail with pleasure any determination that might be adopted by European maritime powers to assure the independence of the people existing upon the island of San Domingo. Surely the adoption of such a humane policy would only be a small instalment of justice to the Africans, who, having been brought from their native continent to that island as slaves, have now emancipated themselves and established civil government. Nor is it to be easily seen how European states could avoid complications dangerous to the peace of nations, if they, or any of them, should attempt intervention on that island or elsewhere in this hemisphere; certainly the United States will never interfere to disturb the peace of the African race in Hayti or elsewhere. Emancipation has become as necessary to our security as it has always been congenial with the principles of our government.

Nevertheless, while making these views known to the Spanish government, as you freely may, you must by no means forget that it is a fixed principle of this government not to enter into entangling alliances of any kind with foreign nations. While always respecting the Spanish authority in Spain, we once declined to enter into treaty stipulations for non-intervention with France and Great Britain, not because we desired to reserve a right to intervene, but because we cannot enter into political contests for any general purpose with foreign powers.

For the same reason we have often declined to enter into the congress of the American republics.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

HORATIO J. PERRY, Esq., &c., Sr., Madrid.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

No. 91.]

Mr. F. W. Seward to Mr. Perry.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, April 12, 1865. SIR: I transmit herewith a printed copy of three proclamations of the 11th instant, made by the President of the United States-one relating to the closing of certain ports of entry, another supplementary thereunto and relating to the · port of Key West, in Florida, and a third relating to reciprocal hospitalities to the vessels of foreign navies in the ports of the United States and to vessels of the navy of the United States in foreign ports. You will perceive by these proclamations that it is believed that the time has arrived when the United States, whatever claim or pretence may have existed heretofore, are now entitled to claim the same friendly rights and hospitalities for their naval vessels which they are willing to concede to those of all maritime nations.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

HORATIO J. PERRY, Esq., &c., &c., Madrid.

F. W. SEWARD,

Acting Secretary.

For enclosures see despatch to Mr. Adams No. 1350, p. 309, vol. I.

No. 188.]

Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Madrid, April 21, 1865. SIR: Your despatch No. 76, of March 15, has reached me at a time when I find it a little difficult to get the attention of this government.

My despatch of the 11th instant informed you of what scenes Madrid is now the theatre.

The sudden death of a cabinet minister, the usual seclusion of the holy week, capped by the serious illness of Mr. Benavides, minister of state, have prevented me from seeing that minister upon the subject of your instruction. In this state of things I have sought the Duke of Valencia at his private residence, and stating that I found myself practically without a minister of state with whom to treat, opened the matter of withdrawal by Spain from her policy declared in 1861, and from the concession. of belligerent rights to rebel cruisers, urging the same reasons before reported as used by me in conferences with Mr. Benavides.

I also took the liberty of reading to the Duke a part of your instruction. He seemed to be penetrated with a conviction of the justice and reasonableness of what was asked, and begged me to put the request into the form of a note addressed to the minister of state, and let him know when I sent it.

I immediately wrote the note, dated 18th instant, addressed to the minister of state, and sent it under cover to the Duke of Valencia.

When I called again to-day he was very much occupied and, I did not send in my name, but shall hope to see him to-morrow.

Meantime Mr. Benavides, who was very much affected by the death of his old friend Alcala Galiano, late minister of public instruction, has a severe attack of acute rheumatism, (as it is described,) and his friends have carried him away out of Madrid to day to some thermal sulphuric baths in Aragon.

I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant, HORATIO J. PERRY.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington.

Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward.

No. 189.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Madrid, April 21, 1865.

SIR: I beg to enclose copies of Mr. Beravides notes to me of February 12th and April 5th, on the subject of the recent visit of the Stonewall iron-clad pirate at Ferrol, which papers will complete the series of documents on this subject.

A good many consular letters, advices, &c., not considered material to your full understanding of this subject, and to its history in the archives of the Department of State, remain on file in this legation.

With date April 14th, at Teneriffe, our consul, Mr. Dabney, informed me that the Stonewall had called at that port and remained 24 hours, having made the run from Lisbon in three days; that she received 130 tons of coal, and sailed again on the 1st instant, and Mr. Dabney infers from what was understood to have been said by some of her officers that she started for Bermuda. She only carries coals for five days steaming, so that she will be obliged to depend upon her sails to make the voyage.

As soon as this information reached me last evening I sent you a telegram in the following words:

"Iron-clad Stonewall sailed April 1st from Teneriffe, supposed for Bermuda." But I may be allowed to hope that the same news may have been anticipated

to you through some other channel, as Mr. Dabney had an opportunity to communicate with Mr. Adams at London about a week earlier than he could with Madrid.

With the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington.

HORATIO J. PERRY.

[Translation.]

EPARTMENT OF STATE,

Palace, April 1, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, according to the report given by the captain general of the department of Ferrol to the minister of marine, the Stonewall left that port on the 24th of March last, at half past ten o'clock in the morning, accompanied by her Majesty's frigate Conception.

At noon, the frigate being within the following limits-Cape Prior north 53 east, Corunna light south 32 east, and the Stonewall about one mile ahead, about west-northwest of the meridian-the Conception stopped her engine, lowered and raised her ensign with a cannon shot to signify to the confederate vessel the extent of the jurisdictional zone, and then steamed back slowly to the mouth of the port of Ferrol, where she remained to watch the movements of the Stonewall, which vessel came back about two p. m., hoisting Spanish colors at the foretop, as a signal for communication.

The commander of the Conception says: "They sent the mate to me to ask permission to return to the entrance of the harbor and communicate with shore. I refused permission, and said as they had repaired damages and gone out without new accidents, they could continue on their course. The boat went back, but soon returned, insisting on the demand. I again refused, and added, it was an abuse of hospitality. I afterwards steamed a little north of meridian, and finding the Stonewall nine or ten miles north, at four o'clock I returned to this port, (Ferrol,) where I anchored at half past four."

In communicating to you these details, as another proof of the desire of the government of the Queen, my lady, to comply strictly with the duties of neutrality imposed by the royal decree, and to preserve and cultivate the good relations existing between Spain and the United States, I repeat the assurance of my distinguished consideration.

The UNITED STATES CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES.

A. BENAVIDES.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

Palace, February 12, 1865.

SIR: I have received your two notes of the 5th and 9th instant, in which, after informing me of the arrival of the iron-clad steamer Stonewall, with three guns, 300 horse-power, and 79 men, at the port of Ferrol, you request the government of her Majesty the Queen not to permit the said vessel to repair, nor to take coal and provisions, only enough to last her while in this port.

In the present case the government of her Majesty must adhere to the decree of the 17th of June, 1861, the object of which was to prevent Spaniards from interfering in the struggle now going on in the United States, as all private interest is stimulated by the hope of gain. It was to be feared they would take part on either side.

In consequence of this the government of her Majesty has ordered instructions to be given to the captain general of the department of Ferrol not to permit other than necessary repairs to the steamer Stonewall, to be determined by the commander of engineers, so as to make her seaworthy, but not to improve or increase her sea-fitness or military efficacy.

In reference to your remarks about the arrival of the Stonewall at Ferrol, I must say she came with papers in due form, without the least indication that she wished to take on articles contraband of war; whereas examinations of her damages show she put in under stress, for certain safety.

This being the case, the government of her Majesty could not disregard the voice of hu manity in perfect harmony with the laws of neutrality, and does not think they are violated by allowing a vessel only the repairs strictly necessary to navigate without endangering the lives of the crew.

I hope you will be satisfied with these lawful reasons for the resolution in regard to the Stonewall, and will accept the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.

The UNITED STATES CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES.

A. BENAVIDES.

« PreviousContinue »