Allan A. Burton to William H. Seward, September 15, 1866

Mr. Burton to Mr. Seward

Sir: The secretary of the interior and foreign relations delivered to me on the 4th instant the annexed communication relating to an apprehended uprising on the isthmus against the national authority, and I started copies on the same day to our consuls at Aspinwall and Panama. I assured the secretary that the Colombian government need have no apprehensions as to the course the government of the United States and its agents would pursue in such event; that I believed his information would prove to be greatly exaggerated, and that if any purpose unfriendly to the general government existed on the isthmus, the Panama railroad had nothing to do with it.

The real object probably is to send national troops to overthrow the present State government of Panama, and this alarm feigned as an excuse.

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