Henry G. Worthington to William H. Seward, September 12, 1868

Mr. Worthington to Mr. Seward.

Sir: The unexpected departure of a mail from this port to-morrow affords me an opportunity of communicating to the department the correspondence and circumstances attending my presentation and reception as-minister resident of the United States to the Argentine Republic. On the 31st of August I addressed to Señor Rufino de Elizalde, minister of foreign affairs, a letter informing him of my arrival, and requesting the appointment of a time for my presentation to the President of the Argentine Republic, a copy of which said letter is hereto annexed, marked A. On the evening of the same day I received a reply to the same, a copy of which, together with a translation of the same, is hereto annexed, both of which are marked B. As I informed you in my dispatch No. 2, dated the 11th instant, my presentation was deferred, in consequence of my sickness, by mutual verbal understanding, until the 11th instant, at which time I was waited upon by Señor Delfin B, Huergo, sub-secretary of state, in company with an aide-de-camp of the President, in the government carriage, which the President very kindly put at my disposition, and conducted, in company with Mr. Hollister, United States consul, whom I invited to be present at the ceremony, to the governor’s mansion, where was provided a band of music and the usual military display, which is part of a custom of the country attending this ceremony.

On reaching the governor’s mansion I was most courteously received and taken charge of by Señor Rufino de Elizalde, by whom I was presented to his excellency the President, to whom I addressed the remarks hereto annexed, marked C, a copy of which I had previously transmitted to the minister of foreign affairs. I was received by the President, both in my official as well as in my personal character, with every manifestation of regard and good will, as indicated in his reply to my address, which is hereto attached, with a translation of the same, marked D. The President was surrounded by his entire cabinet, in the uniform of their highest military rank, as well as by a large concourse of citizens who had assembled to witness the ceremony.

After the exchange of remarks between the President and myself, which was followed by a short personal conversation, I was presented to the several members of his cabinet, from all of whom I received expressions of admiration for our government, and their great desire to see cultivated more intimately, if possible, the good relations between the two governments. These ceremonies being concluded, I returned, accompanied by the same escort, to my hotel, after which I made the usual visits to the various officers of the government and members of the diplomatic corps resident here.

All the circumstances attending this ceremony afford the most gratifying assurance of the happy relation existing between the two governments, and I feel confident that I will encounter no difficulty in preserving this good correspondence.

Nothing of any consequence has developed itself since my last despatch, except the speculation indulged in by the press as to who will succeed Señor Sarmiento as minister to the United States. There seems to be considerable unanimity in the belief that this distinction will be accorded to President Mitre, a gentleman of fine martial bearing, and, I learn, of fine cultivation and ability, and, withal, having a high appreciation of the superior excellence and advantage of our system of government and its institutions.

I have the honor to be, very truly, yours,

C.

Mr. President: In presenting myself near your government as the minister of the United States, I am especially charged by the President of my government to communicate to you the great satisfaction with which he regards the harmony and the good understanding which has existed and which has been so successfully maintained between the two governments. He therefore has authorized me to express, in behalf of the Great Republic of the North to her sisters of the South, the best wishes of my government for the development of your resources, for the prosperity of your people, and for the stability of our systems of government, which so eminently testifies the excellence of republican institutions.

In commencing, Mr. President, my official relations with the Argentine Republic, I am inspired with a confidence that those relations, which have been so pleasantly maintained by my distinguished predecessors, and which I shall be so careful to preserve during my residence in your country, will conduce to the benefit of both governments by a preservation of the happy correspondence, and I assure your excellency that, both in my personal efforts as in my official relation, nothing shall be left; undone to contribute to that result.

And now I have the honor of presenting a letter from the President of the United States to your excellency, accrediting me as minister to reside near this government.

D.

Sir: I am pleased with receiving the letter which credits you as minister resident of the United States of America to the government of the Argentine Republic; and I acknowledge the fraternal wishes you express in her name for our prosperity and aggrandizement.

The analogy of our respective institutions and the common interests of both countries will powerfully contribute, sir, as the result of your mission, to render even stronger, if it be possible, the bonds of perfect friendship which happily link them, testifying at the same time the excellency of the republican principles they both profess.

The people and government of the Argentine Republic do not forget what they are indebted for to the Great Republic in the recognition of their independence, and bearing in mind the, high examples given them by her on the track they follow, I greet in their, name, through your distinguished person, the people and government of the United States, praying for their happiness.