Scruggs to Mr. Quijano W, September 26, 1882
Mr. Scruggs to Mr. Quijano W.
Mr. Secretary: I had the honor to receive your excellency’s note of yesterday, in reply to mine of the 2d instant. I am quite familiar with the correspondence of 1881 to which your excellency refers. I was also aware that the inspector of the port at Colon had been instructed to execute the law 40 of 1879, unembarrassed by the local edicts complained of. I was, however, under the impression that those instructions had either been imperfectly understood, or else not very faithfully obeyed.
In a dispatch to this legation dated the 22d of January last, the United States consul at Colon says distinctly that the local edict referred to was still sought to be enforced against merchant vessels of the United States, whilst English vessels were exempted therefrom. I cannot believe that the consul would have made so explicit a statement had there been no foundation for it. Moreover, his statement is corroborated by that of the inspector himself, for in his note of the 20th of the same month to the honorable secretary of the interior, at Bogota, the inspector complains of the consul for refusing to comply with the local law and edict referred to. The inference is legitimate, therefore, that he was still trying to enforce those provisions, against the consul’s opposition to them.
The inspector, in his note referred to, also complained of the consul for having franked letters to the United States at half rates of postage. Investigation proved that complaint to have had some foundation, and immediate steps were taken to prevent a repetition of the offense. But the consul’s just and honorable refusal to respect an unauthorized local edict amendatory of the federal law 40, of 1879, was likewise made a cause of complaint. Hence the occasion of my note of the 2d instant, addressed to your excellency, which, however, seems to have been regarded as the result of imperfect information.
Nevertheless, I am gratified to observe that my opinion touching the validity of the local law, whereby vessels of the United States have been put to so much inconvenience, is fully concurred in by your excellency, and I have no doubt the Government whose foreign relations your excellency so worthily represents, will find prompt and effective measures for putting an end to such annoyances.
I improve, &c.,