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"Mr. Calderon to Mr. Forsyth, 6th September, 1839, and translation." U.S. Congress. House. Africans Taken in the Amistad. 26th Congress., 1st sess., 1840.H. Doc. 185.
[Note: English translation follows original Spanish version.]
Mr. Calderon de la Barca to Mr. Forsyth
NUEVA YORK, 6 de Septiembre de 1839.
El infrascrito, enviado extraordinario y ministro plenipotenciario de S. M. Catolica,
la Reyna de Espana, tiene el honor de llamar la atencion del Senor Don Juan Forsyth,
Secretario de Estado del Gobierno General de los Estados Unidos, a un suceso reciente
y notorio del que S. E. tendra ya, sin duda, noticia; y con motivo del cual es el
imperioso deber del que subscribe reclamar la observancia del derecho de gentes y
de los tratados vigentes entre los Estados Unidos y Espana. Se trata de la captura
de la goleta Espanola Amistad.
Esta embarcacion salio de la Habana el 28 de Junio ultimo, con destino a Guanaja,
en las inmediaciones de Puerto Principe, capitaneada por su dueno Don Ramon Ferrer,
y cargada de varies mercancias y 53 negros esclavos; y antes de dar la vela obtuvo
su alijo en la aduana, el permiso necesario de las autoridades competentes para el
transporte de los negros, pasaportes y cuantos documentos se requieren por la legislacion
Espanola para navegar y hacer constar la legitimidad de la propiedad; circunstancia
sumamente importante, en el sentir del infrascrito.
En la noche del 30 del mismo mes, o hacia el amanecer del dia siguiente, los esclavos
se subllevaron, dieron muerte al capitan a un esclavo suyo, y a dos marineros y solo
dejaron malheridos y maltratados a dos blancos; Don Jose Ruiz y Don Pedro Montes;
el primero dueno de 49 esclavos que habia comprado en la Habana; y el segundo de
los otros 4, a fin de que dirigiesen el buque y enderezasen su rumbo a la costa de
Africa. Montes valiendose del conocimiento nautico que poseia, y favorecido por la
Divina Providencia, logro guiar la embarcacion a estas costas, y fue abordado por
varios barcos de cuyos capitanes comparon provisiones los negros; pero a quienes
no parece le pudiese ser posible manifestar su apurada situacion a causa de la vigilancia
con que era observado, haste que su buena ventura le trajo a la sonda de Long Island,
donde la Amistad fue detenida por el bergantin de guerra Americano, Washington,
Capitan Thomas A. Gedney; quien instruido del caso, sugeto a los negros, y los condujo,
con el buque, a New London, en el Estado de Connecticut.
La conducta observada por este oficial y sus subalternos con los desgraciados Espanoles
ha sido la que debia esperarse de caballeros y de los empleados de una nacion culta
y amiga de la Espana, cuya augusta Soberana y su Gobierno la apreciaran como merece,
y que sera correspondida, en ocurrencias iguales, por los Espanoles, en todos tiempos,
en extremo agradecidos a los beneficios que reciben.
Despues de este acto de humanidad ya no quedaba mas para completarle que el dejar
en libertad al buque, y enviar los negros a ser juzgados por el tribunal competente
y por las violadas leyes de la nacion cuyos subditos son. El infrascrito se complace
en creer que asi habria sucedido si el Gobierno Federai hubiese podido interponer
su autoridad en el momento, como la habia talvez interpuesto en el corto tiempo que
ha transcurrido desde el dia que se verifico el suceso haste el en que llego a noticia
del que subscribe por conducto fidedigno.
Entretanto, sin embargo el buque Amistad ha sido entregado al marescal de
los Estados Unidos en New Haven; el cual en union con el juez del distrito, A. T.
Judson, procedio a former causa y a adoptar resoluciones en consecuencia de las primeras
declaraciones: y segun se participa al
infrascrito por el consul de S. M. en Boston, que se ha dirigido al sitio donde esto
acontecia, los oficiales del Washington al servicio de los Estados Unidos, han presentado
a este tribunal incompetente una peticion, que ha sido admitida por el, reclamando
una suma por derecho de salvage; la cual el infrascrito, con presencia de los tratados
vigentes, cree que no se les debe bajo tal concepto.
[4]
Tales son los hechos con cuyos pormenores accesorios se abstiene el infrascrito
de molestar la atencion del Senor Forsyth; por suponerle circunstanciadamente enterado
de ellos, y por que poco o ningun peso anadirian a la justicia con que, en desempeno
de su obligacion, cree deber pedir, como en efecto pide:
10. Que el buque sea inmediatamente entregado a su dueno, con todos, Ios obgetos
que en el se encontraron al tiempo de su captura por el Washington; sin exigirseles
cosa alguna por salvamento o salvage, ni mas gastos que los que especifica
el tratado de 1795 en su articulo 10.
20. Que se declare que ningun tribunal en los Estados Unidos tiene derecho para formar
causa o imponer pena a los subditos Espanoles, por crimenes cometidos abordo de un
buque Espanol, y en las aguas del territorio Espanol.
30. Que se envien los negros a la Habana, o se pongan a la disposicion de las autoridades
competentes de aquella parte de los diminios de S. M. Catolica, para ser juzgados
por las leyes Espanolas que han quebrantado; conservandolos en custodia hasta que
asi se verifique, para evitar su evasion: y
40. Que, si por la intervencion que las autoridades de Connecticut han tomado en
este asunto, se difiriese la solicitada entrega de la embarcacion y de los esclavos,
se indemnice a los amos de aquella y de estos de los danos y perjuicios que se les
inoguen.
El infrascrito invoca, en apoyo de esta su reclamacion, el derecho de gentes; las
estipulaciones de los tratados; y la buena correspondencia que exigen las relaciones
de amistad existentes, para mutua ventaja, entre ambos paises.
El infrascrito creeria hacer una ofensa al Senor Forsyth en detenerse, un solo instante,
a traerle a la memoria las disposiciones bien sabidas de S. S. de la ley de las naciones
en la materia de que se trata; y no menos ocioso le parece enumerar los varios casos
en que, en observancia de aquella, han sido enviados por otros Gobiernos a los Estados
Unidos para ser aqui juzgados con arreglo a sus leyes, no solo los ciudadanos de
ellos que han cometido algun crimen en alta mar, mas los estrangeros cuando le han
perpetrado en buques Americanos.
Respecto a las estipulaciones existentes entre esta Republica y Espana, el infrascrito
cree que bastar para apoyar su demanda los articulos 8, 9, y 10 del tratado de 1795;
que quedaron en toda su fuerza y vigor por la declaracion ad hoc del articulo
12 del tratado de 1819; dicen asi:
" ARTICULO 8. Cuando los subditos y habitantes de la una
de las dos partes contratantes, con sus buques, bien sean publicos o de guerra, bien
particulares 0 mercantiles, se viesen obligados por una tempestad, por escapar
de piratas o de enemigos, o por cualquiera otra necesidad urgente, a buscar refugio
y abrigo en alguno de los rios, bahias, radas, o puertos de una de las dos partes,
seran recibidos y tratados con humanidad, y gozaran de todo favor, proteccion, y
socorro; y les sera licito proveerse de refrescos viveres, y demas cosas necesarias
para su sustento, para componer sus buques, y continuar su viage, todo rnediante
un precio equitativo; y no se les detendra o impedira de modo algundo el salir de
dichos puertos o radas, antes bien podran retirarse y partir, como y cuando les
pareciere sin ningun obstaculo o impedimento.
[5]
" ARTICULO 9. Todos los buques y mercaderias de cualquiera
naturaleza, que sean, que se hubiesen quitado a algunos piratas en alta mar,
y se tragesen a algun puerto de una de las dos potencias, se entregaran alli a los
oficiales o empleados en dicho puerto, a fin de que los guarden y restituyan,
integramente a su verdadero proprietario luego que hiciese constar debida y plenamente
que era su legitima propiedad.
" ARTICULO 10. En el caso de que un buque perteneciente
a una de las dos partes contratantes naufragase, varase, o sufriese alguna averia
en las costas o en los dominios de la otra; se socorrera a los subditos o cindadanos
respectivos, asi a sus personas como a sus buques y efectos, del mismo modo que
se haria con los habitantes del pays donde suceda la desgracia, y pagaran solo las
mismas cargas y derechos que se hubieran exigido de dichos habitantes en semejante
caso. Y si fuese necesario pare componer el buque que se descargue el cargamento
en todo o en parte, no pagaran impuesto alguno, carga, o derecho de lo que se vuelva
a embarcar para ser exportado."
El crimen de que se trata a quedar sin castigo es de aquellos que pueden perturbar
el sosiego interior y la seguridad de la isle de Cuba, donde los ciudadanos Americanos
no solo trafican, sino que poseen propiedades territoriales que benefician con los
brazos de sus esclavos Africanos. Alentados estos por la impunidad, que no dejaria
de llegar a su noticia por el conducto de sus amigos, intentarian, con frecuencia,
amotinarse en las repetidas veces que, a cada hora, son trasportados por mar de un
punto a otro de la Isla, y pare impedirlo seria preciso aumentar, a mucha costa,
las precauciones. Si por otra parse fuesen sentenciados a la pena de los piratas
y de los asesinos por el tribunal que, sin facultades suficientes ha tomado sobre
si el juzgarlos, su suplicio no produciria el saludable efecto que por este terrible
y doloroso, medio se proponen las leyes cual es el de evitar la perpetracion de crimenes
semejantes. En tal caso, la indemnizacion que formalmente pido para los amos seria
una tenue compensacion; porque si la propiedad que daria, como debe quedar, a salvo
la vindicta publica seria burlada. El temor de la repeticion de estos actos se apoderaria,
como es natural, del animo de los habitantes de 1as isles de Cuba y Puerto Rico;
en vez de la armonia y cordialidad que reyna entre ellos y los ciudadanos de la Union,
no seria de extranar, ni habria motivo de queja, que se fomentasen los sentimientos
contrarios tan nocivos a los intereses mutuos. Quien podria mirar con benevolencia
al vecino que promoviese o patrocinase la discordia en las familias ? ni como podria
decirse que obraria como amigo el que tal hiciese ?
El infrascrito no teme que se tache de infundado o exagerado este recelo. Nadie ignora
la existencia de un numero considerable de ciudadanos que, impulsados por un celo
que a el no le incumbo calificar, emplean todos los recursos del saber y de la riqueza
para obtener a cualquier precio la emancipacion de los esclavos. Muchos de estos
o persuadidos de la filantropia de su designio, o con la mascara de ella, no se detienen
en pagar la hospitalidad que reciben seduciendo a los esclavos, (a los habiles sobre
todo en aIgun oficio,) a que abandoner a sus duenos, y los embarcan en sus buques
en donde o los mantieneu en mas duro cautiverio, o los conducen a estos Estados para
darles la libertad; apoderandose asi de la propiedad agena y cometiendo un hurto,
de proposito deliberado o creyendo erroneamente hacer una buena accion; sin que le
quede al arruinado proprietario Espanol mas recurso que el de acudir, a fuerza de
gastos, a los tribunales de un pais estrangero en donde, en muchos partes, opone
la opinion publica obstaculos insuperables al logro de la justicia, en este punto.
Prueba de ello es, entre otros muchos, el caso del piloto Juan Smith del bergantin
Swiftsure, que escondio y se trajo al negro cocinero de la posada en que vivia,
y sobre el cual el infrascrito escribi6 al Senor Secretario de Estado en 19 de Noviembre
de 1836, y vuelve hoy a tratar en nota separada. Prueba es igualmente del fundamento
de los temores que expresa, la exaltacion que esta ocurrencia ha producido en el
publico, el lenguage con que algunos de los periodicos han dado cuenta de ella, y
los esfuerzos que muchos ciudadanos han principiado a hacer para abogar en defensa
de los amotinados esclavos de la Amistad, a cuyo efecto hen escogido jurisconsultos
de nota en Boston, New Haven, y New York.
[6]
Los Americanos gozan en las isles mencionadas de buena acogida y amparo. El Gobierno
Espanol, protegiendo sus propiedades, ordenaria, al momento, la extradiccion de los
esclavos del Sur que alli se refugiasen, y observador fiel de los tratados reclama,
el cumplimiento de estos e igual buena correspondencia de una nacion vecina y aliada
a la cual da constantes pruebas del justo aprecio que hace de su amistad.
El infrascrito, rogando al Senor Secretario de Estado de los Estados Unidos, Don
Juan Forsyth, que eleve esta note a la consideracion del Senor Presidente, aprovecha
esta ocasion pare reiterarle las veras de su alta consideracion.
A. CALDERON DE LA BARCA.
Senor Don JUAN FORSYTH,
Secretario de Estado de los Estados Unidos.
_______
Mr. Calderon to Mr. Forsyth.
[TRANSLATION]
NEW YORK, September 6, 1839.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Her Catholic
Majesty the Queen of Spain, has the honor of calling the attention of the honorable
John Forsyth, Secretary of State of the United States, to a recent and very public
occurrence of which, no doubt, Mr. Forsyth is already informed, and in consequence
of which it is the imperious duty of the undersigned to claim an observance of the
law of nations, and of the treaties existing between the United States and Spain.
The occurrence alluded to is the capture of the Spanish schooner "Amistad."
This vessel sailed from Havana on the 28th of June, bound to Guanaja, in the vicinity
of Porto Principe, under the command of her owner, Don Ramon Ferrer, laden with sundry
merchandise, and with fifty-three negro slaves on board; and, previous to her departure,
she obtained her clearance (alijo) from the custom-house, the necessary permit from
the authorities for the transportation of the negroes, a passport, and all the other
documents required by the laws of Spain for navigating a vessel and for proving ownership
of property: a circumstance particularly important in the opinion of the undersigned.
[7]
During the night of the 30th of said month, or about daybreak on the following
day, the slaves rose upon the crew, and killed the captain, a slave of his, and two
sailors--sparing only two persons, after ill treating and wounding them, namely,
Don Jose Ruiz and Don Pedro Montes; of whom the former was owner of forty-nine of
the slaves, and the latter of the other four. These they retained, that they might
navigate the vessel and take her to the coast of Africa. Montes, availing himself
of his knowledge of nautical affairs, and under favor of Divine Providence, succeeded
in directing the vessel to these shores. He was spoken by various vessels, from the
captains of which the negroes bought provisions, but to whom, it seems, he was unable
to make known his distress, being closely watched. At length, by good fortune, he
reached Long Island sound, where the "Amistad" was detained by the American
brig-of-war " Washington," Captain Gedney, who, on learning the circumstances
of the case, secured the negroes, and took them, with the vessel, to New London,
in the State of Connecticut.
The conduct of that commander and his subalterns towards the unfortunate Spaniards
has been that which was to be expected from gentlemen, and from officers in the service
of an enlightened nation friendly to Spain. That conduct will be appreciated as it
deserves by my august sovereign, and the Spanish Government, and will be reciprocated
on similar occasions by the Spaniards--a people ever grateful for benefits received.
The act of humanity thus performed would have been complete, had the vessel at the
same time been set at liberty, and the negroes sent to be tried by the proper tribunal,
and by the violated laws of the country of which they are subjects. The undersigned
is willing to believe that such would have been the case, had the General Government
been able to interpose its authority in the first instance, as it has probably done
during the short interval between the occurrence of this affair and the period when
the undersigned received an authentic statement of the facts.
In the meantime, however, the schooner "Amistad" has been delivered up
to the United States marshal in New Haven, who, in conjunction with the district
judge, A. T. Judson, has instituted proceedings in the case, and adopted resolutions
founded on the declarations first received; and, accordingly to information from
Her Majesty's consul for Boston, who repaired to the scene of this occurrence, the
officers of the "Washington," in the service of the United States, have
presented to that incompetent tribunal a petition, which has been admitted, claiming
salvage: a claim which, in view of the existing treaties, the undersigned conceives
cannot be allowed in the sense in which it is made.
Having related the principal facts, the undersigned will not trouble Mr. Forsyth
with the details, as well because he presumes that he is fully acquainted with them,
as because they would add little or no weight to the justice with which the undersigned,
in discharge of his duty, is induced to ask--
1st. That the vessel be immediately delivered up to her owner, together with every
article found on board at the time of her capture by the Washington, without any
payment being exacted on the score of salvage, nor any charges made, than those specified
in the treaty of 1795, article 1st.
2d. That it be declared that no tribunal in the United States has the right to institute
proceedings against, or to impose penalties upon, the subjects of Spain, for crimes
committed on board a Spanish vessel, and in the waters of the Spanish territory.
[8]
3d. That the negroes be conveyed to Havana, or be placed at the disposal of the
proper authorities in that part of Her Majesty's dominions, in order to their being
tried by the Spanish laws which they have violated; and that, in the the mean time,
they be kept in safe custody, in order to prevent their evasion.
4th. That if, in consequence of the intervention of the authorities of Connecticut,
there should be any delay in the desired delivery of the vessel and the slaves, the
owners both of the latter and of the former be indemnified for the injury that any
accrue to them.
In support of these claims, the undersigned invokes the law of nations, the stipulations
of existing treaties, and those good feelings so necessary to the maintenance of
the friendly relations that subsist between the two countries, and are so interesting
to both.
The undersigned would be apprehensive of offending Mr. Forsyth by supposing it in
the least degree necessary to bring to his recollection his own well-known construction
(disposiciones) of the law of nations in a case analogous to the one under
consideration; and he deems it equally unnecessary to enumerate the several cases
in which, in obedience to that law, not only American citizens who have committed
some crime on the high sea have been sent by other Governments to the United States
in order to their being tried according to the laws of said States, but even foreigners
who have offended against the laws on board of American vessels.
In respect to the stipulations subsisting between this republic and Spain, the undersigned
conceives that, in support of his pretensions, he cannot do better than to cite the
8th, 9th, and 10th articles of the treaty of 1795, which articles continued in full
force by the declaration ad hoc contained in the 12th article of the treaty
of 1819, namely:
" ART. 8. In case the subjects and inhabitants of either party, with their shipping,
whether public and of war, or private and of merchants, be forced, through stress
of weather, pursuit of pirates or enemies, or any other urgent necessity,
for seeking of shelter and harbor, to retreat and enter into any of the rivers, bays,
roads, or ports, belonging to the other party, they shall be received and treated
with all humanity, and enjoy all favor, protection and help; and they shall be permitted
to refresh and provide themselves, at reasonable rates, with victuals and all things
needful for the subsistence of their persons, or reparation of their ships, and prosecution
of their voyage; and they shall no ways be hindered from returning out of the
said ports or roads, but may remove and depart when and whither they please,
without any let or hindrance.
" ART. 9. All ships and merchandise, of what nature soever, which shall be
rescued out of the hands of any pirates or robbers on the high seas, shall be
brought into some port of either State, and shall be delivered to the custody of
the officers of that port, in order to be taken care of, and restored entire
to the true proprietor, as soon as due and sufficient proof shall be made concerning
the property thereof.
"ART. 10. When any vessel of either party shall be wrecked, foundered, or otherwise
damaged, on the coasts or within the dominion of the other, their respective subjects
or citizens shall receive, as well for themselves as for their vessels and effects,
the same assistance which would be due to the inhabitants of the country where the
damage happens, and shall pay the same charges and dues only as the said inhabitants
would be subject to pay in a like case; and if the operations of repair should
require that the whole or any part of the cargo be unladen, they shall pay no duties,
charges, or fees, on the part which they shall relade and carry away."
[9]
The crime in question is one of those which, if permitted to pass unpunished,
would endanger the internal tranquillity and the safety of the island of Cuba, where
the citizens of the United States not only carry on a considerable trade, but where
they possess territorial properties which they cultivate with the labor of African
slaves. These, on learning that the crime alluded to had been committed with impunity,
(and their friends would not fail to acquaint them with the fact,) would lose none
of the opportunities for attempting revolt and evasion, which are afforded by the
frequent and daily necessity of conveying negroes by sea from one quarter of the
island to another; and to guard against this, it would be necessary to use additional
precautions at a great expense. If, on the other hand, they should be condemned by
the incompetent tribunal that has taken upon itself to try them as pirates and assassins,
the infliction of capital punishment in this case would not be attended with the
salutary effects had in view by the law when it resorts to this painful and terrible
alternative, namely, to prevent the commission of similar offences. In such case,
the indemnification I officially ask for the owners would be a very slender compensation;
for, if the property remained unimpaired, as it would remain, the satisfaction due
to the public would not be recorded. The dread of a repetition of these acts might
be expected to take possession of the minds of the people residing in the islands
of Cuba and Porto-Rico; and, in lieu of the harmony and good feeling subsisting between
them and the citizens of the United States, it would not be surprising, nor would
it afford a cause for complaint, if sentiments were awakened of a different nature,
and highly prejudicial to the interests of both parties. How can the man who promotes
or advocates discord in families expect to be regarded with benevolence? or how can
he who acts in such a manner pretend to the title of friend?
The undersigned does not apprehend that the fears herein expressed by him will be
deemed exaggerated or unfounded. No one is ignorant of the existence of a considerable
number of persons who, prompted by a zeal which it does not belong to him to qualify,
are employing all the means which knowledge and wealth can afford for effecting,
at any price, the emancipation of the slaves. Many of them, either because they are
persuaded of the philanthropy of their designs, or assuming this virtue as a cloak,
have no hesitation in repaying the hospitality they receive by the seduction of the
slaves of their host, especially if they are skilful in any trade. Having induced
them to abandon their masters, they ship them on board some vessel, where they retain
them in a worse state of captivity than before, or send them to the United States
to be set at liberty: thus appropriating to themselves the property of another, and
deliberately committing a theft, while, perhaps, they believe that they are performing
a meritorious act. In the mean time, the only resource of the ruined Spanish proprietor
is to apply, at an enormous expense, to the tribunals of a foreign country, where,
in many places, public opinion throws in the way of the applicant for justice, in
matters of this nature, insuperable obstacles. Of the many cases that might be referred
to, in proof of the justice of this remark, one is that of John Smith, mate of the
brig Swiftsure, who concealed and brought away with him a negro who was cook in the
hotel where he was staying; upon which subject the undersigned wrote to the Secretary
of State on the l9th of November, 1836, and now addresses him again in a separate
communication. That the fears of the undersigned are not without foundation, is also
evident from the excitement which this occurrence has produced in the public mind,
from the language used by some of the public papers in relating it, and from the
exertions that many persons have commenced making in favor of the revolted slaves
of the "Amistad," for whose defence they have engaged some of the most
able counsellors of Boston, New Haven, and New York.
[10]
In the islands above mentioned, the citizens of the United States have always
met with a favorable reception and kind treatment. The Spanish Government, for the
protection of their property, would immediately accord the extradition of any slaves
that might take refuge there from the southern States. Being itself exact in the
observance of treaties, it claims the more justly the execution of them, and a reciprocal
good correspondence, from a nation, the ally and neighbor of Spain, to whom so many
proofs have been afforded of the high degree in which her friendship is esteemed.
The undersigned requests Mr. Forsyth, the Secretary of State of the United States,
to submit this note to the consideration of the President; and takes this opportunity
of renewing to him the assurances of his distinguished consideration.
A. CALDERON DE LA BARCA.
Hon. J. FORSYTH,
Secretary of State.
