Cassius Goodloe to Evarts, April 1, 1880

No. 53. Mr. Goodloe to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: Referring to your circular of date August 9, 1879, I have the honor to inform you that immediately upon its reception I communicated its substance to the minister of foreign affairs and asked the friendly co-operation of the Belgian Government in preventing, so far as the law would allow, any accessions being made to the Mormon colony in Utah. I asked that recruiting in Belgium for such an unlawful purpose be discountenanced, and that every discouragement be given to those who from any quarter sought a Belgian port of embarkation. The minister of foreign affairs assures me that what can be done lawfully will be done gladly to check an object so unhallowed as these misguided people have in view, and that the Government of the United States may rely upon all being done under the laws of Belgium consistent with that amity and comity so happily existing between the two governments.

Further than this, the minister of foreign affairs caused to be published in the Moniteur, the official organ of the government, the laws of the United States applicable to polygamy, that all might be warned of the punishment a violation of the statutes would entail.

My return to America on leave at the time of this publication caused the delay in transmitting to you my action in the matter.

I have, &c.,