Mr. Allan A. Burton to Señor José M. Rojas Garrido, July 5, 1866

Mr. Burton to Señor Garrido

The undersigned, minister resident of the United States of America, has received with feelings of grateful appreciation the resolution of the honorable senate of plenipotentiaries of the United States of Colombia, which accompanied the esteemed note of his excellency the assistant secretary of the interior and foreign relations, of yesterday, commemorative of the national anniversary of the American Union and of the names of Washington and Lincoln, whose memories, linked with those of Bolivar, Santander, and Sucre, will ever be held in sacred veneration by the peoples of the Americas and by the friends of humanity everywhere.

The undersigned prays his excellency to convey to the honorable senate the assurances of the sincere gratitude and esteem with which he accepts on the part of his countrymen this high tribute of respect and friendship, and of their perfect reciprocation of the sentiments which inspired it.

The undersigned would be an unfaithful interpreter were he to forego this opportunity to give expression, likewise, to the peculiar sensibility he has experienced from and with which the government and people of the United States will receive the cordial demonstrations of fraternal sympathy displayed towards them on yesterday by the Colombian government and people of this capital, and hastens to tender his grateful acknowledgment of the distinguished honor done him and his country on that auspicious day.

The undersigned avails himself of this opportune occasion to repeat to his excellency the assurances of his highest consideration and regard.