Mr. Seward to Mr. Sullivan.
Sir: In my dispatch No. 7, of July 6, you were cautioned not to commit yourself by formally recognizing any constitutional change of government until you should have referred the subject to this department for the consideration of the President of the United States.
It has been the practice of this government to refrain from recognizing the various revolutionary changes which have occurred in the neighboring States of this continent until it had received satisfactory evidence of the acquiescence of the people concerned therein. Inasmuch as there now appears to be a general consent of the Colombian people to the change lately effected by the recent movement at Bogota, by which General Mosquera, the President, was deprived of his power and Mr. Santos Acosta substituted in his place, the President does not feel authorized to withhold his recognition of the present de facto executive [Page 1030] head of the government of Colombia. You are, therefore, instructed to present your credentials at the earliest convenient opportunity.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Peter J. Sullivan, Esq., &c., &c., &c.