Alexander S. Asboth to William H. Seward, August 10, 1867

Mr. Asboth to Mr. Seward

Sir: In connection with my despatch No. 36, dated 26th ultimo, I have the honor to report that the long-looked for account of a decisive action in Paraguay has not yet been received. By latest news the main allied army, consisting as is asserted of about 30,000 men, which, as anticipated in my above-mentioned report, began its flank march on the 22d ultimo, had on the 31st of the same month reached a place called San Solano, to the rear of Humaita, and about a league and a half distant from that fort. President Mitre, who had simultaneously landed at Itapiru following the somewhat original invitation of the Marquis de Caxias, which I beg to enclose, marked A, arrived at headquarters on the same day and at once resumed the command-in-chief. In their circuitous march the allies had met with no opposition from the Paraguayans, who seem to have fallen back within their intrenched lines round Huamita, setting fire to every camp as they retreated. The vanguard under the orders of Osorio had pressed forward to a place further north called Pilar, but the Paraguayans, lurking along the extended line of the invading army, had succeeded in carrying off a troop of 800 cattle, which proves the insecurity of the allied army’s communications with its river base, and the great risk it runs of having its supplies cut off, unless it can put itself in contact with the Brazilian fleet above Humaita. No signs, however, of a movement on the part of the fleet is reported.

The state of affairs in the interior provinces gives room to fear new troubles. The government has received official intelligence that Juan Saá, one of the leaders in the late revolution, after reorganizing a force in Chili, had landed at Oobija and set out on an expedition against the Argentine Republic. Energetic measures to meet the occasion are said, however, to have been adopted, both by General Paunero and by the governor of Salta, by which province it was surmised that Juan Saá intended to invade the Argentine territory.

The house of representatives of the national congress has passed a bill making Rasario the future permanent capital of the republic. The bill is now before the senate, by whom also it will probably be approved.

On the night of the 27th ultimo, a second fire broke out in the government house here, and, with the exception of the documents and the cash kept in the iron safes, destroyed almost everything that had been saved from the former one. The cause of the fire is still a mystery.

The national government has applied to the Provincial Bank for a loan of 2,000,000 of hard dollars, which it will most probably obtain, since the provincial government is in favor of granting it.

* * * * * * * *

Enclosed, marked E, you will moreover please find copies of another note of Señor de Elizalde, dated 1st instant, with the official announcement that Vice President Paz had once more taken charge of the executive, consequent on President Mitre’s departure for the seat of war, and of my reply thereto.

For further particulars I beg respectfully to refer you to my daily memoranda of political events in the river Plata, from 27th ultimo to 10th instant, in enclosure D.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Daily memoranda of political events in the River Plata from the 27th July to the 10th August, 1867.

July 27.—Another fire broke out last, night in the government house here and destroyed what had been spared from the one which occurred on the 14th ultimo, as owing to the very defective arrangements for fire engines and water supply the flames were not got under until they had completely burnt out the whole building. All that was saved was the papers and cash contained in the iron safes. There are naturally some strong doubts of foul play, but they do not as yet go beyond unsupported suspicions.

July 29.—The Tribuna publishes the budget and custom laws submitted by the finance minister to congress. Expenditure for 1868, 8,000,000; ways and means, 10,500,000; extra duties, 3,000,000; surplus income, 2,500,000. The custom laws remain unaltered both in imposts and exports.

The provincial government has offered to make room for the national government in its own house of business, but the latter has accepted accommodations only for the department of the interior.

July 30.—The Pueblo says that in the secret session held last week in congress, a very animated debate took place. Dr. Elizalde, the minister for foreign affairs, was questioned bythe house, which was entirely opposed to him, and the result was the unanimous rejection of the articles of the protocol attached to the triple alliance treaty.

The Martin Garcia fortifications are the great topic of the day in the Rio papers, and the question is likely to assume alarming dimensions. The Tribuna of to-day reproduces and comments upon an article of the Diario de Rio, which insists that no fortifications should be allowed to be raised in Martin Garcia when the treaty of the triple alliance disarms Paraguay. The Tribuna maintains the perfect right of the Argentine Republic to fortify the island.

In Montevideo people look with considerable distrust upon the crisis which the coming elections in November will bring about in the capital. General Flores finds himself at present in a position which will require an extraordinary degree of talent to extricate himself from in any satisfactory manner. The daily increasing risk he runs of being assassinated, unless he puts an end to the present unsettled state of things, and takes some decided step to give to the country its constitutional form of government, is subject of open talk in Montevideo.

July 31.—The question of the permanent seat of government, which is to be brought before the House of National Representatives to-day, has for some time past been extensively discussed by the local press. To-day’s Tribuna contains an article from the pen of Juan Carlos Gomez, one of the most talented writers of the day in the river Plata, advocating the fusion of the Argentine, Uruguay, and Paraguay republics into one nation, “the United States of the River Plata,” having its capital in Montevideo. Señor Gomez is himself an Oriental who lives in voluntary exile because, although he belongs to the Colorado party, he is personally opposed to General Flores. The Tribuna makes some comments favorable to the idea initiated by Señor Gomez.

The following extract from a correspondence from the seat of war in Paraguay is taken from to-day’s Standard, and gives the number of Paraguayan batteries and the strength of the allied army:

“Yesterday there was another grand balloon ascent, taking up four persons. Mr. James Allen is a clever aeronaut. We are on the eve of a dreadful battle, but it will not be the last. The Paraguayans are very strong, and, besides their parks of field artillery, we have counted from the balloon the following batteries:

“The allied forces on march are—

“The division left to protect our camp at Tuyuti comprises 13,120, of whom 12,000 are Brazilians and the rest Argentines and Paraguayan prisoners of war.