Rueda to William L. Scruggs, August 10, 1875

Mr. Rueda to Mr. Scruggs.

The undersigned, secretary of the interior and foreign relations, has the honor to address the honorable minister resident of the United States of America, and to inclose herewith a copy of the Diario Official, No. 3519, in which will be found inserted the bulletin published the 7th instant, for the purpose of manifesting what follows:

Acknowledged as it has been that, by reason of the acts mentioned in the indorsed document, the federal order is found, interrupted, the government of the union deems it a duty, besides procuring the most prompt possible re-establishment of the constitutional authority in all the territory of the republic, to employ every means within its reach to prevent abuses that may arise from a prolongation of the present unhappy state of affairs in the country, prejudicial to those rights and interests of foreigners which it is the duty of the nation to guarantee and protect.

Consequently, since it is probable that the authorities of the State of Bolivar, and possibly also those of one or more other Colombian States, may pretend to adopt measures prejudicial to the rights and interests of pacific strangers, the undersigned is instructed to declare to your excellency that the executive of the Union will consider illegal and null any blockade of the ports of the nation not decreed by his order or authority. He will likewise consider illegal and null any embargo of vessels anchored in the national ports, or of merchandise deposited or existing in those places. He therefore authorizes the non-recognition and the raising of any blockade declared by any authority or pretended authority other than the national executive power. He likewise authorizes the disregard of any and all embargoes of the property of strangers that may be made by any authority or pretended authority other than the national. In like manner the undersigned is instructed to make known to your excellency that should any local functionaries in rebellion against the national government pretend to take possession of the custom-houses, collect fiscal duties, abstract or sell any foreign merchandise in the public offices and warehouses, the national government authorizes resistance to such unlawful acts, and will sanction any refusals to pay customs-duty to any agent or agents other than such as may be acting under its legitimate authority for this purpose. The undersigned improves this occasion to renew to the honorable William L. Scruggs the assurances of his most distinguished appreciation.