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President James Buchanan, Excerpt, First Annual Message, Dec. 8, 1857.
...With all other European Governments, except that of Spain, our relations are as
peaceful as we could desire. I regret to say that no progress whatever has been made
since the adjournment of Congress toward the settlement of any of the numerous claims
of our citizens against the Spanish Government. Besides, the outrage committed on
our flag by the Spanish war frigatea Ferrolana on the high seas off the coast
of Cuba in March, 1855, by firing into the American mail steamer El Dorado
and detaining and searching her, remains unacknowledged and unredressed. The general
tone and temper of the Spanish Government toward that of the United States are much
to be regretted. Our present envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to
Madrid has asked to be recalled, and it is my purpose to send out a new minister
to Spain with special instructions on all questions pending between the two Governments,
and with a determination to have them speedily and amicably adjusted if this be possible.
In the meantime, whenever our minister urges the just claims of our citizens on the
notice of the Spanish Government he is met with the objection that Congress has never
made the appropriation recommended by President Polk in his annual message of December,
1847, "to be paid to the Spanish Government for the purpose of distribution
among the claimants in the Amistad case. " A similar recommendation was
made by my immediate predecessor in his message of December, 1853, and entirely concurring
with both in the opinion that this indemnity is justly due under the treaty with
Spain of the 27th of October, 1795, I earnestly recommend such an appropriation to
the favorable consideration of Congress.
Source:Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1787-1897, Washington., D. C.,
1898 (vol. 5). Richardson, James D., ed.
