Mr. Seward to Señor Mesa.

The undersigned, the Secretary of State of the United States, has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication which was addressed to him on the 20th of July last, by his excellency Miguel Garcia Mesa, from the department of foreign relations at Puerto Cabello. In that communication Señor Garcia Mesa informs this government of the United States that the government of the United States of Venezuela has changed the federal district and seat of administration from the city of Caracas to the city of Puerto Cabello, which latter city is, for a while, constituted the capital of the United States of Venezuela in regard to their constitution and federal laws.

Señor Garcia Mesa further mentions that a notice of the same effect had already, before the date of his communication, been sent to the several diplomatic and consular agents of foreign countries residing at Caracas, who, it was supposed, would communicate the same to the governments which they respectively represent.

Señor Garcia Mesa further states that his government has thought proper to send the present communication directly to the undersigned, for the reason that it is necessary to appeal to the relations of peace and friendship by which the United States of America are connected with the United States of Venezuela, and to claim the fulfillment of the existing treaty between the two countries for the purpose of preventing, within the territory or dominion of either party, any act from being done by the agents of either party which would have for its object to prepare hostile expeditions or to acquire materials for war against the other party in the treaty.

Señor Garcia Mesa declares that the claim thus asserted rests on the fact that the government which is now established at Caracas is a factious and unconstitutional government, and that that unconstitutional government has sent an agent, José A. Velutini, for the purpose of obtaining, for the uses of the revolution headed by General José Tadeo Monagas, elements of warfare of all kinds, among them one or more monitors or iron-clads, with which to attack the vessels and forts held by the constitutional government in behalf of which Señor Garcia Mesa writes. Señor Garcia Mesa further states that his government (now at Puerto Cabello) has just accredited to the government of the United States a diplomatic agent, for the special purpose of counteracting the operations of the said Commissioner Velutini, and to seek in that respect the fulfillment of the obligations existing between the United States of America and the United States of Venezuela, as well as a disavowal of the consular and diplomatic agents whom the revolutionary party now at Caracas pretends to appoint and establish. Señor Garcia Mesa further states that his government is desirous of anticipating the delays which the diplomatic agent alluded to may incur in his journey, and therefore that government hopes that this government will without delay issue all the orders necessary to prevent the Commissioner Velutini from realizing the armament and expedition which he may have set on foot against the government which is now established at Puerto Cabello. Señor Miguel Garcia Mesa concludes with expressing a confident expectation that his communication will suffice to put a stop to the operations which the enemies of the government established at Puerto Cabello may intend to carry out in the territory of the United States of America, and that such [Page 991] enemies will be prevented and punished, in accordance with the treaty between the two countries and the neutrality laws of the United States of America.

In reply, the undersigned is directed to inform Señor Garcia Mesa that the commercial agent of the United States charged with the affairs of the legation at Caracas has already communicated to his government the notice which was transmitted to him by the government now established at Puerto Cabello, to the effect that that government had changed the federal district and removed the seat of administration from the city of Caracas to the city of Puerto Cabello. Señor Garcia Mesa is further informed that the provisional government of General Monagas, now established at Caracas, has given notice to this government that the diplomatic and commercial agents to the United States heretofore appointed by the government of Venezuela have been dismissed by the government now established at Caracas, from their employments.

Señor Garcia Mesa is further informed that no diplomatic or consular agent appointed by either the government at Caracas or the government now established at Puerto Cabello has yet presented himself for recognition at this capital. Señor Garcia Mesa is further informed that this department has no infomation of any designs or purposes, prosecuted or entertained by any party, foreign or domestic, now in this country, to violate the neutrality laws of the United States in regard to the republic of Venezuela.

The communication of Señor Miguel Garcia Mesa will be filed in the archives of this department for such reference as occasion shall hereafter require.

The government of the United States deplores the calamity of civil war which has overtaken the republic of Venezuela, and is desirous to lend its good offices, in any practical way, to contribute to a restoration of internal peace, good order, and effective republic government in the United States of Venezuela.

The undersigned avails himself of the occasion to tender to Señor Garcia Mesa the assurance of his high consideration.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Señor Miguel Garcia Mesa, At the Department of Foreign Relations, Puerto Cabello.