José Fernandez to Morgan, May 28, 1884

Mr. Fernandez to Mr. Morgan.

Mr. Minister: As I said to your excellency in my note of the 17th of March last, in reply to yours of the 13th of the same month with reference to the imprisonment of Howard C. Walker, at Minatitlan, this department asked for information concerning the circumstances of the case of the governor of the state of Vera Cruz who has answered that he, in turn, has asked for information of the supreme court of justice of that State.

As well to comply with the courteous application which your excellency made in your note referred to, as well as with the view of bringing to the knowledge of the competent tribunal the irregularities which it is alleged have been committed in Walker’s case, the department under my charge considered it proper to take that step, as it has taken it in other similar cases which your excellency has brought to its notice, but without implying the faculty or the possibility of this department to supervise the judicial proceedings which affect particular individuals, by reason of the independence of the public powers into which the Government, Federal as well as State, is directed.

I consider it the more necessary to make this explanation to your excellency in respect of your note relating to Walker, of the 15th instant, inasmuch as it does not appear from matriculation register that that individual is a citizen of the United States, a circumstance which prevents me from accepting the ulterior official intervention of your excellency in the matter.

I renew, &c.,