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"Chevalier de Argaiz to Mr. Forsyth, 3d October, 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.]
Chevalier de Argaiz to Mr. Forsyth.
NUEVA YORK, 3 de Octubre de 1839.
El infrascrito, enviado extraordinario y ministro plenipotenciario de S. M. Catolica,
tiene la honra de principiar su correspondencia oficial con V. E solicitando un acto
de justicia, que, no mezclandose de ningun modo con la cuestion principal, aun no
resuelta por el gabinete, relative a los negros que se hallaron en la goleta Amistad
a su arrivo a estas costas, no dude hallara en V. E. la acogida que le hacen esperar
todos los actos anteriores emanados de esa secretaria del cargo de V. E. dictados
siempre por los principios de rectitud y de reciproca amistad.
[13]
El vice-consul de S. M. en Boston, en escrito del 24 de Setiembre ultimo, dice,
entre otras cosas:
"Puesto que de los papeles de la goleta consta, que tanto ella, como el cargamento,
son esclusivamente propiedad Espanola, estrano parece que el tribunal de New London
no haya dispuesto ya la entrega de uno y otra, o bien a sus duenos si se hallasen
presentes, o a mi, como su agente nato en esta parte de la Union, conforme a uno
de los articulos del tratado que con ella tenemos vigente. La dilacion en la entrega
no seria para los propietarios de tanta consecuencia, si el buque, para evitar su
completo desbarate, no exigiese pronto reparo, y si una gran parte del cargamento
no reclamase por su mal estado que se procede a su venta."
Al elevar al conocimiento de V. E. esta reclamacion, que ha hecho a la legacion Espanola
el citado vice-consul, no duda el abojo firmado que V. E. se servira apreciarla,
y tomar los ordenes del Senor Presidente a fin de que una resolucion favorable y
pronta pueda desminuir los perjuicios que esperimentan los representados por el vice-consul.
El abajo firmado se aprovecha de esta ocasion para ofrecer a V. E. las seguridades
de su muy distinguida consideracion.
EL CAVALLERO PEDRO ALCANTARA ARGAIZ.
Al Hon. JOHN FORSYTH,
Secretario de Estado de los Estados Unidos.
_____
Chevalier de Argaiz to Mr. Forsyth.
[TRANSLATION.]
NEW YORK, October 3, 1839.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Her Catholic
Majesty, has the honor of commencing his official correspondence with you, sir, by
soliciting an act of justice, which, not being in any way connected with the principal
question as yet remaining unsettled by the cabinet, relative to the negroes found
on board the schooner Amistad on her arrival on these coasts, he does not
doubt will be received by you in the manner which he has every reason to expect,
from the circumstance that all preceding acts of the department under your charge
have been dictated by the principles of rectitude and friendly reciprocity.
Her Majesty's vice-consul at Boston, under date of the 24th of September last, says,
among other things:
"As it appears from the papers of the schooner that she, as well as her cargo,
are exclusively Spanish property, it seems strange that the court of New London has
not yet ordered the delivery of one or both to the owners, if they are present, or
to me, as their agent, born in that part of the Union, agreeably to the articles
of the treaty now in force between the two countries. The delay in the delivery would
not be of so much consequence to the proprietors, if the vessel did not require immediate
repairs, in order [to] preserve her from complete destruction, and if it were not
material that large portion of the cargo should be sold on account of its bad condition.
[14]
In submitting to you, sir, this solicitation, which has been addressed [by] the
said vice consul to the Spanish legation, the undersigned doubts [now] that you will
see the propriety of it, and will obtain directions from [the] President, to the
effect that the injuries which the persons represented [by] the vice consul might
otherwise sustain, may be lessened by means of speedy determination of the question.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to offer you, sir, the assurances
of his most distinguished consideration.
THE CAVALLERO PEDRO ALCANTARA ARGAIZ
Hon. JOHN FORSYTH,
Secretary of State.
