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No. 3.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. McMath.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, July 1, 1862.

SIR: The despatch of your predecessor, Mr. De Long, dated May 23 and numbered 9, was duly received. It communicates a copy of a note addressed by him to the Viceroy, Prince Muley Abbas, in acknowledgment of the prompt assistance rendered by the latter on the occasion of the tumult at the United States consulate in February last, and also a copy of the prince's reply.

The expressions of cordial friendship conveyed in the communication of Prince Muley Abbas towards the government and people of the United States are fully appreciated and warmly reciprocated. Good relations between the two countries have existed too long to be in danger of disturbance from light causes, and serious ones are not likely to spring up between governments whose interest, not less than whose desire, it is that they should cherish towards each other good will, and practice frankness and justice. You will make a suitable communication of these sentiments to the prince, and at the same time assure him that his wishes for our success over those who are waging an unholy war against the government they had sworn to support, are honorable alike to his judgment and his feelings, and that they have given much satisfaction to the President and people of the United States.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

JESSE H. MCMATH, Esq.,

United States Consul, Tangier.

F. W. SEWARD,
Acting Secretary.

GUATEMALA.

No. 12.]

SIR:

Mr. Crosby to Mr. Seward.

LEGATION OF the United States of America,
Guatemala, May 6, 1862.

With all deference I beg to call your attention to the project of colonizing the free blacks of the United States upon lands in Central America. It appears to me by so doing the influence of our government may be made to act directly upon this country, and have much influence in shaping its policy and future destiny; at the same time operating as a check upon the encroachments of England, or other European nations.

In this view I submit for your consideration that the government of the United States arrange with that of Guatemala for the colonization of free blacks upon the territory of Guatemala, lying on the Atlantic side, and embracing the port and country around St. Tomas, and also the port of Livingston, at the mouth of the Rio Dulce, and thence extending settlements up the Dulce, on the borders and around the Lake Isabel.

By reference to the map of Guatemala you can see the importance of this location, embracing the country north of the state of Honduras, and extending to the south line of the colony of British Belize, which is defined by the river Larstoon. The front on the Atlantic is not very great, yet it embraces the important outlets of the Rio Motagere and the Rio Dulce, which afford facilities of water transit for an interior, and large breadth of very rich, healthy, and fertile lands.

I have personally visited and travelled over all this section of country, and speak of it from my own observation and personal knowledge. In my opinion, it is in every aspect the most desirable location and section of country on any part of this continent for the successful development of the project of colonizing free blacks by the government of the United States, or by the humane and Christian efforts of private individuals or societies.

At Livingston there is now a small settlement of blacks, and most of the very sparse population settled at isolated spots are of negro origin. Therefore there would be no conflict of races if our free blacks from the United States were to be introduced and settled on these lands.

Besides the colony of British Belize, which lies to the adjoining north, would present them with neighbors of their own race, speaking their own language, and with the same religious sentiments. These are circumstances that would at once establish good relations between the new emigrants and those with whom they would be first brought in contact, and to my mind they are most important considerations for the success and contentment of the new colonists.

The proximity of these ports to the southern coast of the United States and the facility and cheapness of transporting the emigrants is another important consideration.

Besides, whatever supervision our government might deem necessary could be conveniently given at these places, as they are so immediately under observation. If you desire, and will so direct, I will, with pleasure, prepare a statement of

the geography of the country, its climate, soil, and productions, and the kind of industry most proper to be encouraged, and also forward to you for your inspection some of the cotton, coffee, rice, sugar, corn, and other productions of this particular section of country, with suggestions as to the proper time and mode of introducing settlers, its capacity to maintain a large population, and such other facts and pertinent matters as I may deem of interest to you.

With every deference I submit whether the establishment of such a colony at the points indicated would not have the effect to divert the trade of this country very much towards the United States, and materially increase the influence of our government in shaping the future policy of Guatemala as well as the adjoining States, besides checking, without cause of offence, the future encroachments of the English colony of Belize upon the territory of the republic of Guatemala.

I confidently assure you that President Carrera would personally favor this project. And it is a great point gained to have the co-operation, if such an arrangement were desired, by the government of the United States with that of Guatemala.

Would it not be worth the effort to direct the attention of President Carrera away from the schemes of the monarchists of this country to the principles better harmonizing with our own. And may not this be done in connexion with the colonization of free blacks from the United States, whereby two good things may be done at one and the same time. And should you so direct, I would give to this work my most hearty efforts, firmly believing it can be accomplished with every success.

I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.

E. O. CROSBY.

No. 18.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Crosby.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, June 19, 1862.

SIR: The enclosed copy of an instruction of the 4th instant, addressed to our minister in Costa Rica, will give you all the information at present in my pos session in regard to the purposes of this government respecting the colonization of free blacks, to which you refer in your No. 12.

The same remarks which I have directed Mr. Riotte to make to the Costa Rican government you are authorized to express to that of Guatemala.

Any formal and authorized offer will be fairly submitted to the parties concerned; and when their own election shall have been made, every possible facility will be extended to enable them to consummate their wishes.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

E. O. CROSBY, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

GUATEMALA AND SALVADOR.

NOTES

Mr. Yrisarri to Mr. Seward.

[Translation.]

BROOKLYN, August 26, 1862.

The undersigned, minister plenipotentiary of the republic of Guatemala and Salvador, has the honor to make known to his excellency the Secretary of State of the United States of America that he has seen in several newspapers of this country a speech which is said to have been made by the President of these States to a committee of colored persons on the 14th instant, in which speech there is an offer made to that committee to provide for people of color by establishing a colony of their race in Central America, his excellency adding that "he would endeavor to have them made equals, and that he had the best assurance that they would be as good as the best."

As Central America is nothing more than the union of the five republics of Guatemala, Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, the two first being the most important on account of their population and extent of territory, and as the undersigned represents these two republics in the United States, he deems it his duty to represent to his excellency the Secretary of State of the United States that in those two republics no kind of colonization of foreigners, whether white, black, or other color, is allowed without a special permission from the respective governments, the colonists being held to the fulfilment of such conditions as it may be thought proper to impose on them.

The undersigned regrets to find himself under the necessity of addressing this communication to his excellency the Secretary of State of the United States, but as in the general term of Central America the two republics of Guatemala and Salvador are comprised, he has thought it his duty to signify that it ought not to be understood that they are comprised according to the strict terms of the speech published in the name of the President of the United States.

On this occasion the undersigned has the honor to renew to his excellency the Secretary of State of the United States of America the assurances of his highest consideration.

His Excellency WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

A. J. DE YRISARRI.

Secretary of State of the United States of America, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Yrisarri.

DEPARTMENT of State,

Washington, September 5, 1862.

The undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a note under date of the 26th of August last, from his excellency Mr. Yrisarri, minister plenipotentiary of the republics of Guatemala and Salvador.

In that communication Mr. Yrisarri refers to what is published in certain newspapers as a report of a speech which is said to have been made at the executive mansion on the 14th of the same month by the President of the United States, to some unofficial persons in attendance there, on the subject of a proposed colonization of Americans of African derivation in some part of Central America.

After presenting a portion of the said supposed report, Mr. Yrisarri remarks that Central America includes the two states which he represents, and, therefore, he proceeds to inform the Secretary of State that in those two republics no kind of colonization of foreigners, whether white or black, or of any other color, is allowed without a special permission from the respective states, the colonists being held to the fulfilment of such conditions as it may be thought proper to impose on them.

The undersigned has the honor to state, in reply, that the note of Mr. Yrisarri has excited some surprise on the part of this government, because, first, it is thought unusual to base diplomatic communications upon informal conversations of the executive head of the government as reported in public journals, and, secondly, it is not perceived that the remarks attributed to the President imply any purpose or desire on his part to colonize any class of persons in the states represented by Mr. Yrisarri, or in any other Central American state, without first obtaining by peaceful and friendly negotiation the consent of the government of such state to that proceeding.

Nevertheless, to remove all apprehension of such a purpose, the undersigned has great pleasure in stating that he is authorized to assure Mr. Yrisarri that, if this government should at any time hereafter find it desirable to effect such a colonization in any foreign country, the first proceeding to that end which will be taken will be a frank and literal application to the government of that country for its consent, and if such consent shall not at once be cheerfully accorded, the purpose will be promptly and unreservedly relinquished.

The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to offer to Mr. Yrisarri renewed assurances of his high consideration.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Señor Dou ANTONIO JOSÉ DE YRISARRI, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Yrisarri to Mr. Seward.

[Translation.]

BROOKLYN, September 9, 1862.

The undersigned, minister plenipotentiary of the republics of Guatemala and Salvador, has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note of his excellency the Secretary of State of the United States of America, dated the 5th instant, in reply to that from the undersigned of the 26th of last month.

As his excellency the Secretary of State signifies that it has caused some surprise to the government that the undersigned should, in the first place, have based his diplomatic communication on informal conversation of the chief of the executive power related in the public papers, and in the second place, that there should have been attributed to his excellency the President a wish to colonize any class of persons in the states represented by the undersigned, or in any other in Central America, without previously obtaining the consent of such states, the undersigned requests his excellency the Secretary of State to be pleased to accept his excuse for having based his communication on such grounds, even though they coincided with what was set forth by Senator Pomeroy, who has appeared publicly as a commissioner of his excellency the President to organize the colonization of persons of color in Central America. It is true that

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