Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth Congress

Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton

No. 573.]

Department of State, Washington, June 8, 1864.

Sir: Referring to my instructions of the 23d ultimo, No. 557, and to its accompaniments, relative to the rude treatment of Mr. Chase, the United States consul at Tampico, by the French military commandant there, I now transmit a copy of a further despatch from Mr. Chase of the 10th ultimo, No. 21, which gives a more detailed account of the matter. I need only to say that the aggression on the consul, for which you can ask reparation, is the menace contained in the second note of the French commandant to Mr. Chase.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

William L.Dayton, Esq., &c.

Mr. Chase to Mr. F. W. Seward

No. 21.]

Consulate General of the United States, Tampico, May 10, 1864.

Sir: On the 27th ultimo I had the honor to address a letter to you on the subject of two notes sent to me by the French superior commandant of this place, with which I enclosed copies of the said notes and copy of my reply to the first. A press of business on this consulate, and the prompt despatch of the British steamer’s mail, prevented me sending a full report and the requisite translations, an omission which I now beg leave to supply, with the following explanations and enclosures.

From the outset of the French intervention with this country I have carefully pursued a strictly neutral course, and every American citizen residing in this place has followed my advice and example; and up to the present moment not one of them has been accused of meddling in the political or military affairs of the country. In the mean time I have firmly defended their just rights, but invariably manifesting a conciliatory disposition.

You will please perceive that in the first note of the French commandant he demands the names of certain individuals who, he alleges, entered this city on that day, (April 25,) and endeavored to hold me responsible for their moral conduct. That note was written in the French language, and not delivered to me until twilight on the day of its date; and, notwithstanding the unseasonable hour, I obtained a verbal translation, and sent my reply to it in thirty minutes after its receipt; but my clerk, not finding him in his office, went and returned with it three consecutive times without finding him. At 9.30 p. m. I received the second note, and, not knowing its contents, I again sent my reply to the first.

The second note was so written as to leave me in doubt whether the threat of imprisonment extended to me or not, and under that doubt I called at an early hour on the commandant, and pointed out the impropriety of his attempt to hold me responsible for the conduct of any persons entering this place. He excused himself on the plea of alarming reports there were in circulation.

In this state of affairs Captain Taylor, of the United States steamer Kanawha, happily arrived here, and, fearing that the appearance of that vessel might excite some real alarm, I lost no time in presenting that officer to the commandant, who courteously reported the presence of his vessel.

On my return to my office, I had a careful perusal of the second note, and ascertained that the threat of imprisonment was actually made against me, and I felt much regret that I had paid these visits.

The individuals who entered this city were those mentioned in my reply to the commandant, all of whom were duly reported to the captain of the port. Among the passengers there was only one American citizen.

I did not think it proper to reply to the second note from the commandant, but I expressed my astonishment at its contents to the acting French consul at this port remarking at the same time that no difficulty was pending between our respective governments, and that it behooved the authorities not to provoke any.

Shortly after that conversation the consul was sent to me with a message from the commandant offering to retire his notes. In reply, I stated that if the commandant felt any regret for his conduct towards me, and was willing to offer an apology in writing, I would take much satisfaction in forwarding it to my government, as the affair was now too serious to be decided by this consulate.

This offer was declined, and I now respectfully beg leave to submit this plain statement of the case to you, believing that you will consider it of sufficient importance to take measures for obtaining redress for this unprovoked wrong and in security for my future protection.

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

FRANKLIN CHASE.

Frederick W.Seward, Esq., Assistant Secretary of State, Washington.

[The two notes and reply referred to in the above despatch, and which formed its accompaniments, are the same as those enclosed in Mr. Chase’s despatch of the 27th of April last, No. 18, published in despatch of the 23d of May, No. 557, to Mr. Dayton.]