A. A. Burton to William H. Seward, January 11, 1866
Mr. Burton to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have the honor to enclose for your directions the annexed papers relating to the alleged misconduct of United States troops in crossing the isthmus of Panama in August and November, 1865, some account of which will be found in the letter of Vice-Consul Robinson, of Aspinwall, dated on August 31st, 1865, attached to my No. 199, marked F.
On receiving the note A of the foreign secretary, I obtained an interview with him and assured him of the sincere regret with which the government of the United States would hear that just cause had been given by its officers or citizens for a modification of the understanding of May 15th, 1865, and that I felt sure the occurrences complained of in his note would be speedily investigated, and the demands of justice satisfied; that no pains would be spared to avoid any irregularity in future, and that I could assert with confidence that my government would be as much pained as his could be to know that its officers had been in the least wanting in the respect due to Colombia, and which it would always be its highest pleasure to see observed.
That on further inquiry it might turn out, as he had intimated as possible, in his note, that the circumstances were not such as they had been represented, and that I regretted the prompt action his government had felt called upon to take, all the more as the government of the United States might in due time adopt measures which would render that action unnecessary. He replied that the conduct of the United States officers on the isthmus of late had somewhat irritated the authorities of Panama, and that the proposed modification was by no means inspired by jealousy, or a captious spirit.
That the only object was to prevent possible collisions, as he hoped I well knew that Colombia desired to comply fully with the spirit of the treaty of 1846; indeed, that his government was disposed to grant us all the favors reasonably to be desired. That the orders to the President of Panama, of May 15,1865, would, for the present, remain unchanged, while a more thorough inquiry into the facts could be made, and that the government of the United States could, in the mean time, have an opportunity to look to these matters. I thanked him for this kindly expression, and assured him that it would be properly appreciated by my government, which desired nothing from Colombia that it was not in strict justice entitled to; reminding him, however, that I did not wish to be understood as giving any opinion on the charges made against the United States officers, but reserved that until the whole fact should be known.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
List of goods belonging to Joseph Heady plundered by the fourteenth United States regiment, on the night of the 26th of August.
| 35 bottles of rum, at 50 cents per bottle | $17 50 |
| 6 bottles of gin, at 50 cents per bottte | 3 00 |
| 4 dozen claret wine, at 6 dollars per dozen | 24 00 |
| 2 dozen port wine, at $12 dollars per dozen | 24 00 |
| 4 dozen pints of ale, at 25 cents per pint | 12 00 |
| 1 bottle of bitters | 1 00 |
| 3 dozen boxes of sardines, at $3 per dozen | 9 00 |
| 2 boxes of cigars, at $5 per box | 10 00 |
| Clothing | 10 00 |
| Cash taken out of the till | 3 50 |
| Bread | 60 |
| Total | 114 60 |
[Translation.]
UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA—SOVEREIGN STATE OF PANAMA, EXECUTIVE POWER OF THE STATE—OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, GOVERNMENT SECTION, NUMBER 291—SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND FOREIGN RELATIONS.
For the knowledge of the citizen President and for the proper purpose, by order of the executive power of the State, I pass to your hands original copies of a note directed by the vice-consul of the United States of America, in Colon, to the prefect of that department, on the claim that Joseph Heady makes for the commercial effects which the soldiers of the fourteenth regiment of said United States took on the night of the 26th of August last, A list of those effects, and a copy of the note of the prefect, with which he passed them to this office.
These, and other acts of like nature, are demonstrating, Mr. Secretary, the little respect that is had for these countries by even the northern soldiers.
Your attentive servant,
MATTEO ITURRALDE.
A copy:
[Translation.]
UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA—SOVEREIGN STATE OF PANAMA, OFFICE OF THE PREFECT OF THE DEPARTMENT—OCTOBER 5, 1865, NUMBER 89—SECRETARY OF STATE.
I have the pleasure to enclose the original documents relative to the claim made through the English vice-consul in this port, by Joseph Heady, of the goods taken by the soldiers of the fourteenth regiment of the United States of North America, on the night of the 26th of August of the present year, in their passage through this city.
You will be pleased to send them to the office of the citizen President, that he may determine what he believes most convenient.
I am, sir, your attentive servant,
JOSÉ A. CESPEDES.
A copy: