governments-principles which, on this day eighty-eight years ago, in the city of Philadelphia, were first promulgated to the world. The causes which inspired the declaration of American independence are stated in the language of its great author, Thomas Jefferson. He and his compatriots declared as self-evident truths, that "all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that for the security of these rights government was instituted, and that when it violates its trust, the governed might abolish it.' Repeating the long list of grievances they had borne, and appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of their intentions, in the name and by the authority of the people, the only fountain of legiti mate power, they shook off forever their allegiance to the British crown and proclaimed the United Colonies a free and independent nation. That declaration of independence forms a new era in the history of mankind. It questioned the divine right of kings, shook every throne in Europe to its base, and taught them that there was a power behind the throne greater than the throne itself—that the voice of the people is the voice of God. That sacred declaration received the baptism of blood. Inspired by its principles, and led by the immortal Washington, the patriot army marched forth boldly, and, by the blessing of God, triumphantly. Our success inaugurated that era of revolutions which resulted in the emancipation of almost the entire western continent from European domination. Emulating our example, the Central and South American republics sprung into existence, and their elder sister, the United States of America, ushered them into the family of nations. The origin and principles of government of these republics being substantially the same, and all founded upon our system, it is obvious that they must share the same fate, and that they and the system must stand or fall together. If we, who have tried the experiment of a free government and popular institutions, under the most favorable circumstances, fail in the attempt, I shall tremble for the system throughout the world. I wonder not, therefore, at the deep anxiety you manifest for the success of our cause, because it involves the soundness or fallacy of the principles enunciated in our declaration of independence. It involves the great problem of human society, whether mankind can be trusted with a purely popular government—a problem in the solution of which you are as much interested as the people of the United States. But, gentlemen of the Union Americana, you comprehend the magnitude of the contest now progressing in my country, and the mighty issues at stake. You understand that the labors, sacrifices, and blood of the patriot heroes of the Union army have not been expended merely to crush a gigantic rebellion and restore a discordant Union-not merely to destroy the curse of human slavery, the cause of all our troubles, but that we are also struggling for that system of government whose origin we this day commemorate and on which rest the hopes of the good and wise of every land. The fate of the great principles which lie at the foundation of all free republican governments is at stake-man's capacity for self-gov. ernment. The victorious cannon of Grant will soon solve these questions, finally and forever! God be praised for the glorious victories in Virginia and Georgia, and the prospect of an early close of the contest! The fourth of July, 1863, was rendered memorable by the great victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg. May we not indulge the hope that additional lustre will be thrown upon this glorious day by the capture of Richmond and Atlanta ? When the last mail left New York, millions of exultant voices were rejoicing over the suc cess of the federal arms, and the certain triumph of the great cause! Millions of the sons of liberty throughout the world will soon echo the jubilant shout of Miriam the prophetess: Jehovah has conquered; His people are free." Soon will the glorious American Union be redeemed and regenerated! Human slavery is doomed! A wall of living freemen will exclude this fruitful element of strife, as the cheru. bim of God kept sin out of Eden. Soon will European monarchs cease to interest themselves in American affairs, and learn that two antagonistical systems cannot permanently exist on this continent. America will be ruled by Americans, and by its own chosen system of gov ernment. To maintain and enforce these principles, the soldier of Chili and the soldier of the United States may yet march side by side to the battle-field. The republics of America will be united in strong and indissoluble bonds of friendship, sympathy, and interest, and upon all great international questions they will see and think alike, and act as one people. Again I return my thanks for this splendid demonstration, and especially to the patriotic and enthusiastic members of the Union Americana, whose generous and liberal sentiments, I trust, will soon be practically illustrated. No. 73.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Nelson. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 18, 1864. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 140, of the 11th ultimo, with your address to the society known as the "Union Americana," in Chili, delivered on the occasion of their visit to the legation of the United States on the 4th of July, 1864. The report which you transmit of the celebration by the government of Chili and the residents of the city of Santiago of the 88th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America is both gratifying and satisfactory; such a manifestation tending, as it does, to strengthen the bonds of friendship and good will which animate the government and people of Chili towards our government and people, and which, I am sure, are fully shared and cordially reciprocated on their part. You are therefore instructed to express this satisfaction to the President of Chili in a communication to the minister for foreign affairs of that republic, covering the subject referred to. I am, sir, your obedient servant, THOMAS H. NELSON, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Chili. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Nelson to Mr. Seward. No. 152.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Santiago de Chili, October 16, 1864. SIR: On the 7th instant, in obedience to your instruction of the 18th of August, No. 73, I had the honor to address a note to the secretary of foreign relations of the republic of Chili, manifesting the gratification with which my government and the people of the United States had learned the evidences of good will and friendship exhibited by the government and people of Chili, upon the occasion of the late anniversary of the independence of the United States. I further stated that I had been instructed to express to the government and people of Chili, and to the society of the "Union Americana," the profound satisfaction experienced by the government and people I have the honor to represent at these renewed proofs of friendship and sympathy, and my trust that such sentiments may ever exist between the two nations. On the 10th instant his excellency replied, in a very cordial note, reiterating similar expressions of earnest good will, and informing me that he had been instructed by the President to express to me the sincere satisfaction with which he had welcomed this new evidence of reciprocal good understanding between the governments and the people of the United States and Chili. I have the honor to transmit herewith, marked respectively A, B, and C, copies of the correspondence above mentioned, together with a printed copy of the same in Spanish from the official organ the "Americano." Under date of the 7th instant I also addressed a note to Mr. Covarrubias, (D,) acknowledging the receipt of a communication from him, dated September 29, and transmitting me a copy of the decree of the President of the 27th ultimo, declaring coal to be contraband of war. Copies and translations of these two latter documents accompanied my despatch No. 149, of September 30. In consequence of certain publications copied into a portion of the press of Chili, from foreign and prejudiced sources, and reflecting unfairly upon the foreign policy of the government of the United States, I took occasion, in an interview which I had with Mr. Covarrubias on the 8th instant, to explain to him the true position of my government towards foreign powers. Mr. Covarrubias replied as follows: "In the present position of the government of the United States, it must be evident to the mind of any statesman of calm reasoning that the position it has assumed in regard to its foreign relations could be none other, in justice to the high and important interests involved in the mighty struggle now in progress. Much as it might desire to intervene in other American affairs, its hands are tied by domestic obligations which it cannot ignore. In my opinion the present policy of the government of the United States is temporary, not fixed and permanent, but born of the very exigencies of the situation, and a natural consequence of the very difficult position of its domestic affairs. The earnest sympathies of Chili are for the cause of the Union, the cause of justice, right, and humanity, and under no circumstances could those sympathies be enlisted in behalf of the cause of the south.” This expression of sentiments, on the part of the secretary of foreign relations, was most gratifying to me, and I assured his excellency would be no less so to my government, to which I should take pleasure in communicating it. I have the honor to remain your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State of the United States. THOMAS H. NELSON. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The evidences of good will and friendship exhibited by the government and people of Chili on the occasion of the celebration of the eighty-eighth anniversary of the independence of the United States, on the 4th of July last, were of a character so marked and gratifying that I addressed a special communication to my government descriptive of that patriotic and enthusiastic demonstration. The government and people of the United States received this intelligence with the utmost satisfaction, and I take great pleasure in complying with the instructions of the honorable Secretary of State of the United States, by manifesting to the government of your excellency, to the members of the "Union Americana," and to the people of Chili who participated in that patriotic celebration, the sincere gratification with which the government and people whom I represent have received these renewed proofs of friendship and sympathy, tending, as they do, to strengthen the sentiments of friendship which animate the intercourse between the two republics, and which are shared in and cordially reciprocated by my government as well as by the people of the United States. I trust that such sentiments may ever continue to exist between Chili and the United States, and that all the republics of this continent may be indissolubly bound together by similar ties of friendship and sympathy. Availing myself of this occasion, I beg to renew to your excellency the assurances of the high consideration and respect with which I have the honor to remain Your excellency's obedient servant, His Excellency the SECRETARY OF FOREIGN RELATIONS THOMAS H. NELSON. Of the Republic of Chili. [Translation.] SANTIAGO, October 10, 1864. SIR: By the official note which your excellency did me the honor to address me on the 7th instant, I have been made aware of the satisfaction with which your government and the people of the United States have received the manifestations of friendship and sympathy of which they were the object in Chili, upon the occasion of the late anniversary of the independence of that republic, and of the friendly sentiments with which they cordially correspond to those which animate this country. His excellency the President of the republic, to whom I gave account of the instructions in the premises which your excellency informs me you have received from the most excellent Secretary of State of the United States, has felt highly flattered thereby, and has charged me to signify to your excellency the sincere satisfaction with which he has welcomed this new evidence of the good friendship and reciprocity between the government and the people of the United States and the people and government of Chili. My government heartily joins in the grateful confidence expressed to me by your excellency, that such sentiments may ever exist between the United States and this republic, and that all those of America may be indissolubly united by these same bonds of friendship and sympathy. I have the honor to reiterate to your excellency the expression of my most distinguished consideration and esteem, with which I am your excellency's most obedient servant, ALVARO COVARRUBIAS. The ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY AND MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY [Translation.] of the United States. [L. 8.] SANTIAGO, September 29, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to transmit to your excellency a copy of the declaration issued by his excellency the President of the republic in regard to coal destined for the vessels-of-war of a nation engaged in hostile operations. Will your excellency be pleased to accept the reiterated expressions of the distinguished consideration with which I am your excellency's most obedient servant, ALVARO COVARRUBIAS. The ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY AND MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY of the United States of America. [Translation.] DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHILI. To all to whom these presents may come, greeting: Considering, 1st, that, according to the principles and rules generally adopted by civilized nations, all coal intended for the public vessels of one nation engaged in hostile operations against another must be considered, and, in fact, has been considered, as an article contraband of war; 2d. That, in view of the late acts and declarations, respectively made by the governments of Peru and of Spain, of the law recently proclaimed in that republic, and of the re-enforcements which the cabinet of Madrid is sending to the squadron occupying the Chincha islands, it is impossible not to consider the two countries mentioned, if not in a state of declared war, at least in hostilities de facto; And 3d. That it is the duty of loyal neutrality to prevent the furnishing of contraband of war, by the taking away from the coasts of Chili coal destined for the vessels of either of the belligerents I have set forth the following declaration : 1st. Coal destined for the supplying of the public vessels of a state employed in hostile operations against another state is an article contraband of war. 2d. It is not lawful to take away from the coasts of Chili any quantity of coal whatever destined for the purpose above mentioned. 3. Those authorities of the republic whom it may concern will adopt the necessary measures to prevent the infraction or eluding of the present declaration. Given in the hall of my office, in Santiago, the 27th of September, in the year of our Lord, 1864. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches Nos. 152, 153, and 154, all under date of the 16th of October last. Your correspondence with Mr. Covarrubias, transmitted with your No. 152, returning thanks for the courtesies extended to you on the 4th of July last, is deemed satisfactory and is approved. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. THOMAS H. NELSON, Esq., &c., &c., Sr., Chili. |