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"Chevalier de Argaiz to Mr. Forsyth, 25th December, 1839, and translation." U.S. Congress. House. Africans Taken in the Amistad. 26th Congress., 1st sess., 1840.H. Doc. 185.
The Chevalier de Argaiz to Mr. Forsyth.
WASHINGTON, 25 de Diciembre de 1839
El abajo firmado tiene la honra de acusar el recibo de la nota que, con fecha 12
del corriente, le ha pasado el Senor Secretario de Estado del Gobierno de la Union,
y a cuyo contenido seria ocioso contester, supuesto que el Senor Secretario de Estado
no descubre haya utilidad, en el presente estado de la transaccion, en combatir los
argumentos alegados por el abajo firmado. Mas la delicadeza de este no le permite
desoir algunas insinuaciones que aquella contiene; y dificil le sera, talvez, no
alegar aun algun nuevo argumento en apoyo de sus reclamaciones.
A dos partes viene a reducirse la contestacion que el Senor Forsyth da a las reclamaciones
del infrascrito, la primera se refiere al asunto de la demanda hecha para la entrega
de la goleta Amistad; y la segunda a la Situacion actual de Don Jose Ruiz.
Al tratar el primer punto, el Senor Forsyth se sirve recordar lo que dijo a esta
legacion en sus comunicaciones de 16 y 23 de Setiembre ultimo, y apoyando en su contenido,
dice " que el ministro de Espana hubiera alli encontrado una prueba de que su
demanda estaba recibiendo todo el examen y respeto que era debido al origen de que
emanaba, y era de esperar que el Caballero Argaiz, en las varias conversaciones tenidas
en este departamento sobre el mismo asunto, hubiera descubierto una nueva evidencia
del deseo de los Estados Unidos de hacer justicia a la demanda y representacion que
le habia sido dirigida en nombre de S. M. C."
Sensible y doloroso es para el abajo firmado que S. S. haya olvidado que desde el
6 de Setiembre la legacion de Espana, confiada en su buena causa, y en la alta opinion
que le merece la imparcial justicia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos, no tan solo
no dio ningun otro paso, sino que hasta cierto punto compremetio su deber descuidando
los intereses de subditos Espanoles; y si una vez el infrascrito en 3 de Octubre
reclamo el cargamento de la goleta, por que era de facil deterioso, tuvo cuidado
de decir en aquel escrito " al solicitar un acto de justicia que no se mezclaba
de ningun modo con la cuestion principal, aun no resuelta por el gabinete, relativa
a los negros que se hallaban en la goleta ;" todo lo cual prueba que el infrascrito
no hubiera molestado al Gobierno de la Union con sus urgentes reclamaciones, si los
dos Espanoles (que S. S. dice en su nota del 12 "fueron encontrados en esta
angustiada y peligrosa situacion por oficiales de los Estados Unidos, quienes, movidos
por simpaticos sentimientos que llegaron a ser nacionales") no hubiesen
sido victimas de una intriga, que el mismo Senor Forsyth califico con exactitud en
la conferencia que tuvo con el infrascrito el 21 de ()ctubre ultimo. Esta explicacion,
que el infrascrito ha creido indispensable, seria sin duda bastante para convencer
de nuevo al Senor Secretario de Estado de los deseos que animaron al Senor Argaiz
haste el 19 de Octubre ultimo, y a los que con sentimiento le hizo renunciar la prision
de aquellos dos Espanoles.
[31]
El Senor Secretario dice tambien, que "no puede sino percibir con sentimiento que el Caballero de Argaiz no ha formado un puntual conocimiento del verdadero caracter de la cuestion, ni de las reglas por las cuales, bajo las instituciones constitucionales del pais, el examen de ella debe considararse." Es posible que el infrascrito no forme ese puntual conocimiento, desde que este asunto ha entrado en el distrito de las sutilezas legales, no habiendo el seguido la carrera de las leyes: pero tiene la persuasion de que si la tripulacion de la goleta Amistad se hubiese compuesto de hombres blancos, el tribunal, o la corporacion a quien el Gobierno de la Union hubiese encargado el examen de la cuestion, siguiendo las reglas por las cuales, bajo las instituciones constitucionales del pais, debe conducirse, se hubiera limitado a averiguar el hecho de los asesinatos del 30 de Junio: y no comprende el privilegio de que gozan los negros, para que se abra un interminable juicio, en el que depone todo el que quiere, y hasta se hace venir con este objeto de la Habana a un Dr. Ingles, quien acusa al Gobierno Espanol de no complir los tratados, y calumnia al Captain-General de la isla de Cuba acusandole de soborno y de cohecho.
Con gusto recibe el infrascrito la seguridad que mas adelante le da el Senor Secretario
de Estado, de que " cualquiera que sea en fin la resolucion de la cuestion,
esta sera en consecuencia de una decision emanada del Gobierno, y no de ningun otro
origen ;" y no duda que aquella sea conforme a la opinion que confidencialmente
se le hizo conocer el 19 de Noviembre en ese departamento, la cual encontro fundada
en la de un sabio jurisconsulto, y se le aseguro habia sido adoptada por el gabinete.
El infrascrito, como ya deja manifestado, estaria, y estaba muy dispuesto a no quejarse
de la dilacion que ya ha ocurrido, y a " encontrarla," si necesario fuese,
" muy conmensurada con la importancia de las cuestiones," si los motivos
de desagrado que la expresada dilacion ha causado no hubiesen venido a agriar la
misma cuestion, o por mejor decir las buenas disposiciones de que se hallaban animados,
tanto esta administracion, como el infrascrito, y la misma que este espera hacer
renacer, si llega a convencer al Senor Secretario de Estado de que solo un deber,
que ha creido imperioso, le ha podido excitar a ser talvez importuno, cuando su caracter
personal es mas bien prudente y concilliado.
No le consta al infrascrito, ni esta en sus facultades, evitar las dilaciones, que
las reclamaciones de los Estados Unidos hayan encontrado en Madrid; sin embargo la
resolucion que ha recaido sobre la que ultimamente hizo en la Habana la fragata de
guerra Boston de estos Estados, no ha experimentado tal suerte; por la comunicacion
que hizo aquel Capitan General al Gobierno fue en 14 de Enero ultimo, y ya hace cosa
de dos meses que los autos seguidos ante aquel tribunal, estan en manos de este Gobierno,
y eso que segun tiene entendido el infrascrito, las faltas que a ellos dieron motivo,
fueron cometidas dentro del mismo puerto, aunque no puede asegurarlo positvamente;
y si esto fuese cierto, segun la opinion de respetables jurisconsultos, podria ser
de la competencia de aquel tribunal entender en ellas. Pero si ha sido asi, el Gobierno
de S. M. c. ha preferido sin duda renunclar a este derecho, dando en ello al de la
Union un nuevo testimonio de sus buenas disposiciones a estrechar mas y mas los vinculos
de amistad que felizmente los unen.
[32]
El Senor Secretario de Estado pasa en seguida, en su citada nota, a tratar del
segundo punto; esto es, del arresto de los Senores Montes y Ruiz; y pretende que
la asistencia del senor attorney de los Estados Unidos en el distrito de Nueva York
es un favor enteramente gratuito, por el cual Ruiz es deudor del deseo del Gobierno
de la Union, de tratar con el debido respeto la peticion hecha a su favor, en nombre
de S. M. C. El infrascrito ha pretendido demostrar que el expresado Gobierno estaba
en la obligacion de colocar a Ruiz en la posicion que le asegura el articulo 8°
del tratado de 1795. Desgraciadamente, las razones que para demostrarlo ha presentado
no han sido bastante poderosas para trasladar su conveneimiento al del Senor Secretario
de Estado; asi como tampoco este le convence diciendole que " ninguna causa
de disgusto se hubiera elevado en este asunto si ellos no hubieran diferido aprovecharse
de su Iibertad de dejar este pais hasta el momento de su aresto," &a.
Seguramente no hubieran ellos permanecido tanto tiempo en este pais y lo habrian
abandonado con perjuicio de todos sus intereses, si hubieran podido prever que ni
aun respetando las leyes del pais y condciendose honradamente estaban exentos de
las persecuciones de una atroz intriga, (y no es el infrascrito el primero que asi
ha calificado esta persecucion ;) o si se hubiesen imaginado, que por supuestas faltas
cometidas en su pais, o bajo bandera nacional, los encerrarian en una carcel, o les
exigirian una enorme fianza. Pero creyeron, muy al contrario, (y ya pocos Espanoles
podian persuadiselo,) que no infringiendo ninguna ley, ni ningun reglamento de policia,
gozarian en esta republica de su libertad individual. Y, senor, a quien no escandalizara
la demanda que se ha presentado contra ellos ? Y por quienes ? Ademas de todo lo
que acerca de esto tiene dicho el infrascito, anadira ahora, que los demandantes
(si lo son los negros) puede decirse que moral y legalmente no estan en los Estados
Unidos. No estan moral y legalmente en los Estados Unidos, por que el tribunal de
Connecticut no ha declarado aun si es o no competente para juzgarlos, si se declara
incompetente, declara que estan cubiertos con la bandera Espanola; y en este caso
se hallan fisicamente bajo la custodia de un Gobierno amigo, pero moral y legalmente
fuera del territorio y jurisdiccion de los Estadoa Unidos, y mientras duce esta duda,
ningun juez pudo admitir la demanda. Si este argumento es de algun valor para el
Senor Secretario de Estado del Gobierno de la Union, el abajo firmado le suplica
incline el animo del Senor Presidente a fin de que se sirva ordenar se presente de
oficio ante el tribunal de Nueva York una protesta fundada en este argumento.
E1 infrascrito se lisongea con la esperanza de que el Senor Secretario de Estado
de la Union conocera lo, sensible que le es a aquel molester de nuevo su atencion
con este asunto, como igualmente la obligacion que le impele a ello. Si la persecucion
que padece el Senor Ruiz fuese hija de sus faltas, si su conducta en estos Estados
hubiese merecido un arresto, el infrascrito lo hubiera dejado abandonado a sus propios
medios de defensa, y jamas habria causado la atencion del Senor Secretario de Estado.
Pero desgraciadamente este suceso esta muy ligado con el de la goleya Amistad, para
que sin cargar con una grave responsabilidad el infrascrito dejase de hacer todo
cuauto el sentimiento de su deber le ordena.
[33]
El infrascrito aprovecha esta ocasion para renovar al Senor Secretario de Estado
del Gobierno Federal de la Union las seguridades de su mas alta consideracion.
EL CABALLERO DE ARGAIZ.
AI Honorable Senor JOHN FORSYTH,
Secretario de Estado de los Estado, Unidos.
________
The Chevalier de Argaiz to Mr. Forsyth.
[TRANSLATION.]
WASHINGTON, December 25, 1839.
The undersigned has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note addressed
to him under date of the 12th instant, by the Secretary of State of the Government
of the Union, to which it would be superfluous (ocioso) to reply, inasmuch as the
Secretary of State does not seem to have considered it requisite, in the present
situation of the affair, to combat the arguments adduced by the undersigned. The
delicacy of the undersigned does not, however, allow him to pass over (desoir) certain
insinuations (remarks) contained in the said note; and it will, perhaps, be difficult
for him to avoid adducing some new argument in support of his demands.
Mr. Forsyth's answer to the demands of the undersigned may be considered as referring,
first, to the business of the demand for the delivery of the schooner Amistad; and,
secondly, to the actual situation of Don Jose Ruiz.
With regard to the first subject, Mr. Forsyth recalls to mind what he said to this
legation in his communications of the 16th and 23d of September last; and, referring
to these, he says tbat "the minister of Spain might have therein found a proof
that his application was receiving all the notice and respect due to the source from
which it emanated; and it was hoped that the Chevalier Argaiz would, in the various
conversations held with him at this department on the same affair, have discovered
additional evidence of the desire of the United States to do justice to the demand
and representation addressed to them in the name of her Catholic Majesty."
The undersigned regrets exceedingly that the Secretary of State should have already
forgotten that, since the 6th of September, the Spanish legation, confiding in the
goodness of its cause, and on the high opinion which it entertains of the impartial
justice of the Government of the United States, took no other measure whatsoever,
but even, to a certain extent, ran the risk of subjecting itself to the charge of
neglecting the interests of Spanish subjects. The undersigned did, indeed, on the
3d of October, request that the cargo of the schooner should be delivered to him,
as it might easily be injured; but he took care, at the same time, to say in his
note that "he solicited an act of justice, which did not at all interfere with
the main question, as yet undetermined by the cabinet, relative to the negroes who
were found in the schooner;" all which clearly proves that the undersigned would
not have troubled the Government of the Union with his urgent demands, if the two
Spaniards (who, as the Secretary of State, in his note of the 12th, says "were
found in this distressing and perilous situation by officers of the United States,
who, moved by sympathetic feelings, which subsequently became national") had
not been the victims of an intrigue, as accurately shown by Mr. Forsyth, in the conference
which he had with the undersigned on the 21st of October last.
[34]
This explanation, which the undersigned has considered indispensable, will doubtless serve again to convince the Secretary of State of the desires which animated Senor Argaiz until the 19th of October last, and which he was obliged with regret to relinquish, in consequence of the imprisonment of the two Spaniards above mentioned.
The Secretary of State, however, says that "he cannot but perceive with regret
that the Chevalier de Argaiz has not formed an accurate conception of the true character
of the question, nor of the rules by which, under the constitutional institutions
of this country, the examination of it must be conducted." Possibly the undersigned
may not have formed such an accurate conception of this affair, since it has heen
carried within the circle of legal subtleties, as he has not pursued the profession
of the law; but he is well persunded that, if the crew of the Amistad had been composed
of white men, the court, or the corporation to which the Government of the Union
might have submitted the examination of the question, would have observed the rules
by which it should be conducted under the constitutional institutions of the country,
and would have limited itself to the ascertainment of the facts of the murders committed
on the 30th of June; and the undersigned does not comprehend the privilege enjoyed
by negroes, in favor of whom an interminable suit is commenced, in which every thing
is deposed by every person who pleases; and, for that object, an English doctor,
who accuses the Spanish Government of not complying with its treaties, and calumniates
the Captain General of the island of Cuba, by charging him with bribery.
The undersigned with pleasure receives the assurance given to him by the Secretary
of State, in a subsequent part of the note, "that, whatever may be the final
settlement of the question, it will be in consequence of a decision emanating from
the Government, and not from any other source;" and he doubts not such decision
will be conformable with the opinion which was confidentially communicated to him
at the Department of State on the 19th of November, as founded on that of a learned
lawyer, and which he was assured had been adopted by the cabinet.
The undersigned, as he has already declared, would be, and is, fully disposed not
to complain of the delay which has occurred, and, if necessary, to "think
it commensurate with the importance of the questions." If the causes
of dissatisfaction consequent upon this delay had not exacerbated the question, or,
rather, the dispositions of the undersigned as well as of the administration, which
the undersigned hopes to see restored to their former harmony, if he can succeed
in convincing the Secretary of State that nothing but a sense of duty, which he considers
imperious, would have excited him to be at times importunate, while in his personal
character, he is more prudent and conciliatory.
The undersigned cannot and has no power to remove the delays to which the claims
of the United States are subjected in Madrid. The decision with regard to the demand
lately made by the sloop of war Boston, at Havana, was not, however, thus delayed.
The communication addressed by the Captain General of that island to the Government
was made on the 14th of January last, and the documents of that trial have now been
in the hands of this Government about two months; and, as the undersigned learns,
though he cannot assert it positively, the circumstances which led to that trial
were committed in that port itself. If they were there committed, the courts of Cuba
would, according to the opinion of learned lawyers, have the right to take cognizance
of them; and if they were so committed, the Government of Her Catholic Majesty has
doubtless preferred renouncing this right, and thus giving to that of the United
States a new proof of its disposition to strengthen farther the bonds of friendship
which fortunately unite the two nations.
[35]
The Secretary of State, in his abovementioned note, then goes on to treat the second
part of the subject--that is to say, the seizure of Messrs. Ruiz and Montes; and
alleges that the assistance given by the attorney of the United States for the district
of New York was a favor entirely gratuitous, afforded to Ruiz in consequence of the
desire, on the part of the Government of the Union, to give due respect to the petition
in his favor made in the name of Her Catholic Majesty. The undersigned has endeavored
to show that the Government of this Union wad undet the obligation to place Ruiz
in such a position as should assure the fulfilment of the 8th article of the treaty
of 1795. Unfortunately, the reasons assigned with this view have not been sufficiently
powerful to produce conviction in the mind of the Secretary of State; nor is the
undersigned more convinced by the declaration of the Secretary of State, that "no
cause of dissatisfaction would have arisen in this affair, had they not deferred
availing themselves of this liberty, to leave the country until the moment of their
arrest," &c. Certainly they would not have remained in the country so long;
and they would have abandoned it, to the injury of their interests, had they been
able to foresee that, though respecting the laws and conducting themselves honorably,
they were not exempt from the persections of an atrocious intrigue, (and the undersigned
is not the first who has thus styled this persecution,) as if they could have imagined
that, for supposed delinquencies committed in their own country, or under their own
national flag, they would have been confined in a prison, or required to give enormous
bail. They, howver, believed the contrary, (what few Spaniards acn now persuade themselves
of;) that, while infringing no law or police regulation, they would enjoy their individual
liberty in this republic. And, sir, who will not be shocked at the complaint preferred
against them? By whom is it preferred? The undersigned, in addition to all that he
has said on this subject will now add, that the complainants (if the negroes be the
complainants) may be considered, morally and legally, as not being in the United
States. They are morally and legally not in the United States, because the court
of Connecticut has not declared whether or not it is competent to try them. If it
should declare itself incompetent, it declares that they are under the cover of the
Spanish flag; and in that case, they are physically under the protection of a friendly
Government, but morally and legally out of the territory and jurisdiction of the
United States; and, so long as a doubt remains on this subject, no judge can admit
the complaint. If this argument be of any value with the Secretary of State of the
Government of the Union, the undersigned entreats him to prevail on the President
to cause a protest, founded upon this argument, to be officially addressed to the
court of New York.
The undersigned flatters himself with the hope that the Secretary of State of
the Union will conceive how painful it is to him to trouble that gentleman again
about this affair, and will also see that he is under the obligation to do so. If
the persecution under which Senor Ruiz is suffering were the consequence of his own
faults, if his conduct in these United States had been such as to render his arrest
just, the undersigned would have abandoned him to his own means of defence, and would
never have intruded upon the attention of the Secretary of State.
But, unfortunately, this affair is so closely allied to that of the Amistad, that
the undersigned cannot, without a heavy responsibility, refrain from, doing whatever
his sense of duty dictates.
The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to repeat to the Secretary of
State of the Federal Government of the Union the assurances of his very high consideration.
THE CHEVALIER DE ARGAIZ.
Hon. JOHN FORSYTH,
Secretary of State.
